West Cheshire Culture Partnership launches Culture Manifesto at Theatre Porto

Members of the West Cheshire Culture Partnership came together this week at Theatre Porto for a dedicated member event to mark the completion and launch of the new Culture Manifesto.

Attended by more than 50 Partnership members, the evening was designed as an opportunity to introduce the Manifesto to those who helped shape it, reflect on progress made over the past year, and explore how it can be used collectively and individually to strengthen the role of arts and culture across West Cheshire.

A shared resource for members

The Culture Manifesto sets out a shared vision for culture in West Cheshire, grounded in the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in cultural life. It articulates the Partnership’s ambitions for place-making, economic growth and creative enterprise, children and young people, and health and wellbeing – providing a common reference point for members working across different places and sectors.

At the event, members were also introduced to the Partnership’s newly launched website, including a dedicated members’ area, and invited to ensure their information and imagery are up to date as the Partnership’s digital presence develops.

Turning the Manifesto into action

A central focus of the evening was how the Culture Manifesto can function as a practical advocacy tool. Following short presentations, members took part in facilitated discussions considering how the Manifesto might be used in specific contexts, including:

• Devolution and the development of a new Combined Authority
• Creative education and work with children and young people
• Funding, development and attracting investment
• Community development and partnership working

Alongside this, a dedicated conversation explored how the Partnership itself might use the Manifesto collectively, helping to shape priorities and next steps.

Groups were invited to share practical ideas for how the Manifesto could help unlock influence, partnerships and investment, as well as suggestions for what might form part of a future advocacy toolkit for members.

What happens next

The Theatre Porto event marked an important internal milestone: a moment to share the Manifesto with the Partnership’s membership. The Manifesto will be shared more widely in due course, alongside further opportunities to engage with partners, stakeholders and communities through future activity and events.

You can view the Manifesto here: Resources.