Cultural Strategy 2026 - 2036
Community consultation
Kirklees is made up of different places, people and cultures. Our district brings together lively towns and villages, beautiful landscapes and diverse communities. We have many stories to share and a strong creative spirit.
The cultural strategy for Kirklees: Culture is Ordinary lays out how culture will continue to play a central role in the future of Kirklees. This strategy is not only about enjoying and creating great cultural experiences but also about regenerating places, improving health and wellbeing, supporting the local economy and strengthening community bonds. We want to celebrate our district's rich cultural life whilst enabling communities to shape and lead their own cultural futures.
The title is inspired by words from the words of writer and social commentator Raymond Williams, who reminds us that culture is part of everyday life. Culture is something we inherit and continually recreate. This strategy celebrates both our shared traditions and fresh ideas. Our ambition is to keep culture at the heart of life in Kirklees - a place where creativity is nurtured, everyone feels like they belong, and new voices are encouraged to shine.
For the purposes of this strategy, we define culture as the shared expressions, values, traditions and creative activities that help communities live well, connect with each other and thrive. It includes things like art, music and theatre, as well as things like festivals, cinema, crafts and the everyday creative things people do. We recognise that culture reflects who we are, but it also drives social and economic change. This strategy aims to support this broad and inclusive view of culture by encouraging participation, creativity and collaboration across all sectors.
This strategy will sit alongside our new Heritage and Tourism Strategies, encouraging collaboration and promoting Kirklees through its wide wealth of offers, and attracting more investors to our district.
We hope you'll continue to shape this strategy and our approach to culture in the future of Kirklees by getting involved and sharing your views.
Have your say
The public consultation runs from 24 June 2026 to 22 July 2026. During this period, we are gathering feedback from residents, businesses, visitors, and stakeholders to refine and finalise the strategy.
You can get involved by
- Reading the draft strategy - to see the key proposals and priorities.
- Submitting your feedback - share your views through our online survey.
- Attending our consultation drop-in sessions:
- Thursday 9 July, 3-7pm, Council Chamber at Dewsbury Town Hall
- Thursday 16 July, 3-7pm, Reception Room at Huddersfield Town Hall
Online survey
Complete the survey to share your views and feedback on the Cultural Strategy:
Your feedback will play a crucial role in shaping the final strategy, which we aim to publish later in 2026.
