Place-Based Peer Learning Newsletter: November 2025
Published on November 10, 2025
Welcome to the latest edition of our Place-Based Peer Learning Newsletter!
As well as our regular selection of the latest events, news and learning from the programme, we’ll also have a focus on:
- Culture and Place Data Explorer
- Let’s Create Peer Learning
- Engaging Communities in Arts and Culture Conference
Upcoming Events
Culture and Place Data Explorer: A practical session on how to use, reflect on data, and maximise potential
Join us for a hands-on, energising session that brings the Culture and Place Data Explorer (CPDEx) to life.
The workshop is designed for people working at the intersection of place, culture, and investment, whether you're shaping local strategy, unlocking partnerships, or advocating for communities.
We’ll explore how CPDEx can support your work through playful activities, real-world examples, and collaborative discussion.
The session is taking place on Wednesday 14 January.
Connect and Reflect
Join our next ‘Connect and Reflect’ session on Monday 1 December.
Each session focuses on a particular theme, we provide suggested questions to start the discussion and then it's over to you to talk about the topic with your peers. December's session will focus on connected communities.
Our ‘Connect and Reflect’ sessions provide the perfect time to digitally connect with your place-based peers, consider a range of themes and come away with new approaches to your work.
Let’s Create Peer Learning
We are delighted to launch Let’s Create Peer Learning.
Let’s Create Peer Learning is our new combined online platform for both Place-Based and Creative Ageing Peer Learning.
The platform will continue to provide the opportunity to connect with others working in place, share resources and join our upcoming events.
You can also download an updated app for the platform on Android and Apple.
Just head to your App Store and search for ‘Let's Create Peer Learning’ and download.
Just head to your App Store and search for ‘Let's Create Peer Learning’ and download.
Engaging Communities in Arts and Culture Conference
The Engaging Communities in Arts and Culture Conference 2025 was a joyful celebration of local creativity. People from all backgrounds - artists, residents, and community leaders - came together to share how they’re making a difference through arts and culture.
Interested in learning more? We’ve shared all day’s resources online.
Conversations in Place
Take a listen to our podcast series, Conversations in Place.
Each episode offers a unique insight into the work happening in each place and its positive impact on the local community. Come away from the series inspired by the case studies shared.
Conversations in Place spotlight the incredible work taking place in BarrowFull in Barrow-in-Furness, Grimm & Co in Rotherham, The Portland Inn Project in Stoke-on-Trent and Culture West in the South West.
Project sharing
Interested in hearing from a variety of projects from across the country? We have a range of 5-minute project share videos to watch.
Tees Valley Museums shared how they have worked as a team to embed programming for poverty awareness throughout their work.
All our project share recordings are available to view on Hivebrite.
Catch Up
How to Activate Creative Citizens
Would you like to engage your community to play an active role in your place? Catch up on our recent session which explored excellence in building community citizens within culture and place.
Bringing together both strategic frameworks and practical examples, the session provided the opportunity to hear from different organisations and partnerships.
An Introduction to Devolution
Catch up on our recent introductory session on the topic of devolution.
Discover more about the impact of devolution across the country and the implications of the English Devolution White Paper for Strategic Authorities and Local Government.
Development of Cultural Compacts
Arts Council England recently commissioned a review of the development of Cultural Compacts over the last five years.
In the recording, discover more about place-based strategy, delve into the report’s findings, and hear case studies from current Cultural Compacts.
Useful Links:
- Let’s Create
- Join our Let's Create Peer Learning Network
- Subscribe to our Place-Based Peer Learning newsletter
Image Credit: Festival of Colours, BarrowFull © John Rennie