Capacities for Cultural Strategies (November and December 2026)
As part of the LGA’s Cultural Strategies Think Kit research partnership with the University of Southampton, insights are being sought from local authorities on different approaches to cultural strategy development and questions of capacity and resources.
Please review the participation information below. To discuss accessibility and ways to support participation, please contact Dan Ashton (d.k.ashton@soton.ac.uk.
To participate, please access the form and complete consent box form:
The form will be available until 11th December 2026.
What is the research about?
My name is Dan Ashton and I am a Professor in Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. I am inviting you to participate in a study regarding different approaches to cultural strategy development and questions of capacity and resources.
This study was approved by the Faculty Research Ethics Committee (FREC) at the University of Southampton (Ethics/ERGO Number: 117330)
What will happen to me if I take part?
This study involves completing an anonymous questionnaire which should take approximately 10 minutes of your time (completed in one go). If you are happy to complete this survey, you will need to tick (check) the box below to show your consent. As this survey is anonymous, the researcher will not be able to know whether you have participated, or what answers you provided.
Why have I been asked to participate?
You have been asked to take part because of your role with a local authority relating to arts and culture. This invitation has been circulated via the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport newsletter and the Cultural Studies Network LinkedIn Group.
What information will be collected?
The questions in this survey ask for information in relation to different approaches to cultural strategy development and questions of capacity and resources.
Some of the survey questions contain textboxes where you will be asked to type in your own answers. Please note that in order for this survey to be anonymous, you should not include in your answers any information from which you, or other people, could be identified.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
If you decide to take part in this study, you will not receive any direct benefits; however, your participation will contribute to knowledge in this area of research and shared as part of the open access resource Cultural Strategies Think Kit.
Are there any risks involved?
It is expected that taking part in this study will not cause you any psychological discomfort and/or distress, however, should you feel uncomfortable you can leave the survey at any time or contact the following resources for support:
What will happen to the information collected?
All information collected for this study will be stored securely on a password protected computer and backed up on a secure server. In addition, all data will be pooled and only compiled into data summaries or summary reports. Only the researcher will have access to this information.
The information collected will be analysed, written up for and shared as part of the open access resource Cultural Strategies Think Kit and for further presentations and publications.
The University of Southampton conducts research to the highest standards of ethics and research integrity. In accordance with our Research Data Management Policy, data will be held for 10 years after the study has finished when it will be securely destroyed.
What happens if I change my mind?
You can withdraw from the survey at any point before final submission, by closing the survey window. However, we are unable to guarantee the deletion of any responses already submitted before you close the window or after the responses have been submitted.
What happens if there is a problem?
If you are unhappy about any aspect of this study and would like to make a formal complaint, you can contact the Head of Research Ethics and Governance, University of Southampton, on the following contact details: Email: rgoinfo@soton.ac.uk, phone: + 44 2380 595058.
Please quote the Ethics/ERGO number above. Please note that by making a complaint you might be no longer anonymous.
More information on your rights as a study participant is available via this link:
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/governance/participant-information.page