Herefordshire Cultural Partnership
Herefordshire Cultural Partnership is an independent consortium of arts, culture and heritage organisations, local government and businesses with a shared vision: celebrating the County’s creative and entrepreneurial spirit. It exists to drive forward Herefordshire’s cultural strategy, create connections and spread the word that arts, culture and creative engagement plays an essential role for all people and places in Herefordshire.
FORMATION
Herefordshire Cultural Partnership has taken a leading role in developing and overseeing cultural strategy for the county since 2015, when Herefordshire Council reduced its arts and cultural development team. In 2016 Hereford launched a bid to become City of Culture 2021 with countywide public consultation about culture. Although the bid was unsuccessful, the project served to bring together like-minded cultural organisations and other stakeholders keen to champion and grow the cultural sector in Herefordshire. Herefordshire Cultural Partnership was registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 2018.
OPERATION
- Herefordshire Cultural Partnership is an independent constituted organisation with a commitment to cross-sector membership.
- Board members contribute on a voluntary basis. Coordination has been paid for by ad hoc funding availability since 2018.
- Meet quarterly rotating around member bases.
- Focusing on cultural organisations and creative industries and does not include sports and leisure.
- All 6 National Portfolio Organisations are represented on the Board.
- In 2025 the Partnership reviewed its governance documentation improving its membership Terms of Reference and Conflicts of Interest declaration, EDI policy and financial management processes.
BOARD MEMBERS
- Nic Millington – Chair of Herefordshire Cultural Partnership and CEO of Rural Media
- Clare Purcell – HCP Secretary and Executive Director, Meadow Arts
- Abigail Appleton – Principal, Hereford College of Arts
- Ian Archer – CEO and Artistic Director, The Courtyard
- Ana Carter – Regional Manager, National Trust
- Amy Howard – Director, Ledbury Poetry
- Robert Elliot – Herefordshire Chamber of Business and Commerce
- Liz Womack – Leominster Cultural Consortium
- Diane Mansell – CEO, Herefordshire County BID
- Sarah Lee – Culture & Leisure Lead, Herefordshire Council
- Damian Etheraads – Museum & Art Gallery Lead, Herefordshire Council
- Bruce Herriot – Chair, Three Choirs Festival
- Lisa Sullivan – Arts Alive and Flicks in the Sticks
- Lisle Turner – Creative Director, Open Sky
- James Pacey – Chancellor, Hereford Cathedral
- Tom True – Executive Director, Hay Castle Trust
- Cliff Woollard – CEO, Encore
- Sophie Heath – CEO, Sidney Nolan Trust
STRATEGIC ROLE OF HEREFORDSHIRE CULTURAL PARTNERSHIP
- Leads cultural sector development in the county and informs wider county-wide policy.
- Is responsible for the Cultural Strategy 2019–29 and delivering across five strategic priorities: Great Place, Children & Young People, Creative Economy, Cultural Democracy, Cultural Tourism.
- Supports other networks including Arts Council England LCEP, Herefordshire’s National Portfolio Group (NPOs) funded by Arts Council England, and the Creative Pathways volunteering network.
- Runs a dedicated website The Shire providing information on the Cultural Partnership, sector news, and creative opportunities.
