GB-Colchester: Cultural Strategy for the Borough of Colchester

Colchester Borough Council wishes to commission a Contractor to develop an overarching Cultural Strategy to cover the remainder of the decade to 2030. This will adopt a broad definition of culture to include not only the arts and the creative industries but also heritage and the public realm, and also taking into consideration the links to green spaces, tourism and events.

It should cover the full spectrum from established arts and culture to grass roots and community activity, assets and aspirations, across the whole geographical spread of the Borough of Colchester. The Cultural Strategy will be developed in the context of existing Council strategic planning, and that of partners including ACE, our local NPOs, the Creative Colchester Partnership, the University of Essex, the Colchester BID and others.

Colchester has recently submitted a Town Deal bid to the £3.6 billion Towns Fund, and is a partner in the Sport England Essex Local Delivery Pilot; the Council is keen to see the Cultural Strategy integrate with these projects if and where possible. The Borough's cultural sector has demonstrated huge and inspirational resilience and ingenuity in the face of Covid 19.

However, the impacts of the pandemic and resultant shutdown have been far reaching and the new strategy must reflect this; incorporating actions to support the recovery in this sector and presenting a positive vision for the post Covid future of arts and culture in Colchester. Full details of the requirements are detailed within the Specification and associated documents.

Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.