The City of Bristol
From its early twentieth-century history as a major port, aircraft manufacturing hub, and collection of textile mills, culture is now the city of Bristol’s ace in the hole.
Why such a big change in direction?
Bristol understands that culture is more than a tool for improving quality of life—it’s a key economic driver of its future.
In the innovation economy, money follows talent, and talent is attracted to inspiration and energy. So, Bristol’s city leaders traded past economic models, based on factories and the Avon River, for a new focus on industries based on creativity and knowledge.
In 2011, Bristol made a long-term commitment to become “culturally ambitious”, to turn the city’s cultural organizations and creative industries into a world-class economic asset.
They succeeded.
“[Bristol’s culture strategy] seeks to capture a commitment to the principle that every Bristol citizen should be able to participate in and benefit from the city’s cultural life and economy and the belief that they, in turn, will contribute to the success of the city.”
Today, Bristol’s culture strategy is more than just about fun (and free) things to do in the city—it’s about using culture to address the city’s many social and economic challenges.