Culture Burnley

Culture shapes who we are as individuals and how we define our place in the world – our sense of belonging to a place or group of people. It is a powerful tool that can unite, inspire, educate, and transform lives.

Supported by contributions from over 400 individual community members, cultural professionals, civic leaders, funding bodies, key local businesses and regional stakeholders, Burnley’s cultural framework sets out a shared vision to transform Burnley into a thriving cultural centre.

To help us to better celebrate and connect the great things that are already happening, and to grow and deliver more over the next few years, we are developing plans for Burnley 2027 Year of Culture.

Between now and 2027 we will build partnerships, cultural initiatives, events, and projects that breathe new life into our venues, streets, parks, and public spaces across the borough.

We will:

• Involve more people from the local community in planning and shaping the activities that are delivered through forming a community panel.
• Work more closely with schools and youth organisations through the Local Cultural Education Partnership to create more opportunities for young people.
• Work with partner organisations to better promote what is happening across the borough.
• Work with others to deliver more, and bigger events.
• Upskill and employ more people.
• Ensure that we are better responding to diverse needs and interests to allow more local people to take part.
• Raise funds to invest in our cultural buildings, organisations, creative individuals and grass roots community programmes.

Burnley has world class cultural assets and a wealth of local talent that deserves to be showcased. 2027 will be an opportunity to celebrate local pride in our cultural heritage and to also look to the future of what Burnley can offer to residents and visitors as a vibrant destination.

Our collective ambition for 2027 is to create projects that involve, engage and inspire local people, creating new public art, theatre, film, music, literature, digital and more. It will be the start of a new chapter for Burnley, creating a legacy of projects and programmes that take us into an exciting future.

Burnley is getting ready for it’s Year of Culture in 2027 – are you?

If you would like to be part of the conversation then register your interest here or get in touch with csteels@blcgroup.co.uk and follow our @CultureBurnley Facebook Page

Find out more by viewing the Cultural Framework using the link below and access films from Burnley’s Cultural Ambassadors at @CultureBurnley