ESSEX CULTURAL
STEERING GROUP

Culture. Strategy. Impact

About the Essex
Cultural Steering Group .

Celebrating Essex’s creative spirit through collaboration, leadership, and cultural ambition

The Essex Cultural Steering Group is a county-wide alliance of cultural leaders, creative practitioners, place makers and strategic partners working together to support the future of Essex’s cultural and creative industries.

We were formed following the recommendations of the Essex Creative Evidence Report, commissioned by Culture Essex which identified a powerful opportunity to strengthen Essex’s creative ecosystem.

Our mission is to activate Cultural Ambassadors – individuals who bring insight, leadership, and advocacy – to help Essex thrive as a nationally recognised hub for creativity, innovation, and investment.

Image: Tech Art Festival. Photo: Realm Video. 

Championing Essex

Our members represent cultural organisations and networks, creative Industries, businesses, and practitioners along with local authorities and supported by specialists from education, skills, community, and tourism sectors as well as regional and national bodies.

Together, we are committed to:

  • Championing culture across Essex
  • Driving inclusive and sustainable development
  • Co-designing initiatives that reflect the diversity and creativity of our communities
  • Influencing policy and investment through evidence-based leadership
  • Turning ambition into action

Image: Essex Cultural Ambassadors Launch 2024

Turning ambition into action

We recognise that time is precious, particularly for those operating in the cultural and creative industries today, so we have engaged the expertise of Dr Natasha Richards-Crisp, an Essex-based researcher and facilitator, whose role is to help turn shared ambition into action and to support and guide the Essex Cultural Steering Group toward a sustainable future.

The Steering Group is built on principles of transparency, collaboration, and representation, ensuring that Essex’s cultural sector is not only celebrated – but empowered to lead.

Image: Flex Youth and Community Group. Photo: Realm Video.

Driving cultural growth across Essex -
where creativity meets community, economy, and wellbeing.

The purpose of the Essex Cultural  Steering group is provide strategic leadership, advocacy, and coordination for culture across Essex. Our mission is to ensure culture contributes meaningfully to:

  • Place-making: Creating vibrant, inclusive communities and fostering pride in place
  • Economic growth: Supporting creative industries and cultural tourism
  • Wellbeing: Enhancing mental, emotional, and social health
  • Community identity: Celebrating Essex’s unique stories and voices

We work in partnership to co-design initiatives, share knowledge, and champion culture as a driver of positive change.

Image: Essex Cultural Ambassadors Launch 2024

Why we need the Steering Group

Essex is navigating a period of significant transformation – socially, politically, and culturally.

  • Devolution is reshaping how decisions are made and services are delivered, creating new opportunities for local leadership and innovation.
  • The cultural landscape is changing, with growing demand for inclusive, community-led, and sustainable cultural development.
  • Essex’s creative sector is rich and diverse, but it needs coordinated support to thrive, attract investment, and influence policy at regional and national levels.

  • Positioning culture at the heart of placemaking turns places into powerful expressions of community – driving pride, participation, and purposeful growth

The Essex Cultural Steering Group exists to ensure that culture remains central to Essex’s future – by connecting people, shaping strategy, and amplifying the voices of creatives, communities, and cultural leaders.

Image: Modern Mythologies, Walter and Zoniel. Thorndon Country Park.