Enhancing Community Engagement in Croydon's Cultural Sector
Project Overview
Culture Croydon is committed to ensuring that everyone in Croydon has the opportunity to engage with and benefit from the borough’s rich cultural offerings. To achieve this, Culture Croydon has commissioned Cottage Factory to conduct an in-depth engagement research project. This project seeks to understand the current landscape of community engagement in Croydon, identify gaps and barriers to participation, and develop strategies for more inclusive and effective community engagement. The research will directly inform how cultural activities and events are designed, promoted and delivered.
Why is this important?
Croydon has a vibrant and diverse community, but not everyone has equal access to cultural opportunities. This research is crucial for:
Identifying underrepresented communities and understanding their specific needs and challenges in accessing cultural events.
Uncovering barriers to participation, such as financial constraints, accessibility issues, and lack of awareness of local events.
Improving communication by determining the preferred channels for reaching diverse communities.
Ensuring all residents can enjoy and contribute to Croydon's cultural life.
Informing the work of Culture Croydon and other organisations working to broaden engagement in the borough.
Connecting with existing work such as the Stanley Arts CPP, that seeks to engage under-represented communities.
What will the research involve?
The engagement research will utilise a mixed-methods approach to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. This will include:
Analysis of Existing Data: A thorough review of data from the London Borough of Culture (LBOC) period and subsequent months will pinpoint trends and gaps in engagement, identify geographic cold-spots and themes for further investigation.
Community Mapping: Mapping current engagement activities against Croydon’s diverse communities will highlight areas with limited reach and potential underserved communities.
Interviews and Focus Groups: Engaging directly with representatives from underrepresented communities and organisations, this will explore barriers to engagement, uncover preferred communication channels, and explore potential solutions to improve engagement.
Surveys: Surveys will be distributed across Croydon to assess community preferences and gather feedback on existing engagement practices.
How the access tiers inform the research:
The research takes into account the different levels of experience and resources among cultural organizations and artists by considering Culture Croydon's access tiers:
Tier 1: Limited Experience: This includes organizations/artists with little to no experience in providing access. Research will focus on understanding their basic understanding of access and identifying specific challenges and barriers that prevent them from making their events more accessible.
Tier 2: Some Experience: This involves organizations/artists who have taken some steps to provide access, but wish to progress further. The research will delve into which areas they want to develop (e.g., captioning, BSL, audio description) and how the research project can assist them.
Tier 3: Experienced: This tier includes organisations/artists who are already familiar with access and are actively working to broaden their inclusion goals. The project will identify best practices and explore how they are advancing their inclusion goals, using this data to further develop accessibility initiatives.
The research will also explore how each tier measures scale so that resources can be deployed effectively and equitably.
Project Timeline
The project is structured in phases with built in flexibility, with the main research and data collection taking place during January and February 2025:
January 2025: Project kick-off, data analysis, community partner identification.
February 2025: Design research tools, interviews and focus groups, survey distribution.
March 2025: Analysis of findings, development of recommendations, and final report drafting.
Expected Outcomes
This research will provide:
A comprehensive summary of key findings regarding community engagement in Croydon, including barriers and potential solutions.
Actionable recommendations for enhancing community engagement strategies.
A deeper understanding of how to reach and engage diverse communities in Croydon effectively.
Improved access and inclusion in Croydon's cultural sector.
Call to Action: Get Involved!
We need your help to make Croydon’s cultural sector more inclusive and accessible for everyone. Whether you live or work in Croydon, your voice is important. If you are:
A resident of Croydon.
An artist or creative practitioner working in Croydon.
A representative of a community group or organisation in Croydon.
An employee in the cultural sector.
Have taken part in any of Croydon's cultural events.
Are a member of an under-represented community.
We want to hear from you!
How to Participate
Share Your Story: If you have experiences or insights related to cultural engagement in Croydon, we would like to invite you to participate in an interview or a focus group. You can express interest by emailing Clem Akran at cakran@cottagefactory.co.uk.
Complete a Survey: We will be distributing online surveys to gather your views about accessing cultural events and activities. Check back here for a link to the survey.
Join the Conversation: Follow Culture Croydon and Cottage Factory on social media for project updates and opportunities to share your thoughts.
Your participation will help shape a more vibrant, inclusive, and accessible cultural landscape in Croydon. We look forward to hearing from you.
This case study provides a comprehensive overview of the engagement research project, highlighting its importance, methodology, and expected outcomes, while also encouraging participation from the Croydon community. The call to action is clear and actionable, making it easy for people to get involved.
