Client
The University of Durham

Brief
We own a wide variety of cultural assets, including a Norman castle, a world-class Oriental Museum, and a popular Botanic Gardens. Our staff and students take part in many cultural outreach activities, from classical concerts to regattas to science fairs. But how well do they meet the needs and ambitions of the wider community? And what might our future role in community and cultural development in County Durham and the Tees Valley be? How best can we incorporate ‘culture’ into our long-term vision and plans?

Approach
First, we mapped the current cultural provision across the university, by conducting a telephone survey of all departments and colleges, as well as meeting face-to-face with over 75 people across the university, city and region. We then evaluated those activities in the light of international best practice, and the university’s own long term strategy, to identify opportunities and threats.

Outcome
A report was presented to the University Executive Committee, outlining a vision, strategy and short-term action plans for how to get there. Twenty key recommendations were produced, including eight major opportunities for the University and its regional partners, along with advice on how to manage and promote the many latent assets the University owns. The findings are being incorporated into the University’s strategic planning process.

Feedback
“Your research unearthed an amazing diversity of assets and activities - many of them unsung and unheralded – along with some significant future opportunities both for the university and the wider region. Based on your report, Durham University has now embarked on a more concerted approach to culture, working in partnership with bodies across Durham City and the North East.”
Katharine Ridley, Head of Regional Regeneration, Durham UniversityBuilding Stragies - II