Culture should be recognised as essential social infrastructure, according to a new toolkit urging policymakers to embed arts, heritage and everyday cultural life into neighbourhood planning.
The report, Culture in Climate Action: Integrating Culture into 20-Minute Neighbourhoods, argues that while culture plays a crucial role in shaping identity, wellbeing and community resilience, it remains underrepresented in Scotland’s placemaking and planning frameworks. The authors warn that overlooking culture risks missing opportunities to strengthen communities’ ability to respond to climate and social challenges.
Produced by a partnership including Culture for Climate Scotland, Collective Architecture, North Edinburgh Arts, Open Road and engineering consultancy Ramboll, the toolkit sets out practical recommendations for integrating culture into Scotland’s ’20-minute neighbourhood’ model, where people can access most everyday services within a short walk or cycle from home.
Rather than viewing culture solely through the lens of theatres, museums and galleries, the report calls for a broader definition encompassing community hubs, sports clubs, pubs, choirs, local festivals, oral histories and other grassroots activities that connect people with place and one another. It argues these everyday cultural assets should be treated as a fundamental part of community infrastructure alongside housing, transport and public services.
Stefanie O’Gorman, Director Sustainable Economics UK at Ramboll, said: ‘When culture is explicitly considered in placemaking, places become more meaningful, inclusive and resilient. Culture strengthens wellbeing and community cohesion by recognising what people value about where they live and, in doing so, can also support more effective local responses to climate change. Ramboll are delighted to have been able to bring our depth of experience across these themes to support the toolkit development and look forward to seeing it in operation.’
The toolkit recommends new planning tools, governance arrangements and funding models that support community-led cultural activity while removing barriers that prevent local people from shaping their neighbourhoods.
While the report highlights the economic significance of Scotland’s cultural sector, noting that creative industries contribute around £5 billion annually to the economy and support more than 155,000 jobs, it also points out a decline in local authority investment in culture, sport and leisure services over the past decade, arguing that long-term support is needed if communities are to benefit fully from culture’s contribution to placemaking and climate resilience.
The toolkit can be accessed here.
Photo: TCFA
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