Culture & Leisure

Cultural Improvement Partnership East Midlands

Introduction
CIPEM was set up in 2007 as a three year programme to improve local government Culture and Sport services in the East Midlands. The programme is funded by EM IEP and the regional cultural agencies; Sport England, Arts Council England, Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA) The programme team consists of part time seconded senior local government cultural services officers, a part time programme manager and support from the regional cultural agencies and the culture manager at Government Office East Midlands (GOEM). The value of Programme 2007 - 2010: £600k; including £180k for 2009/10.

Engagement
CIPEM's programme has increase the impact and value of cultural services to the communities of the East Midlands by facilitating continuous improvement, efficiency, effective delivery and shared service provision.

Benefits Delivered

CIPEM 2009/10 Regional Work Programme delivered the following outcomes:

1. Produced bespoke guidance and support to help the sector prepare for Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA)
2. Targeted support to authorities with cultural indicators in their LAA's
3. Supported the efficiencies agenda through joint working, shared service provision and more effective use of cultural assets, as demonstrated through the Maximising Efficiencies Event
4. Improved performance management by introducing sub regional outcomes frameworks, supporting self assessment, peer challenge and self improvement
5. Improved leadership and capacity building via ‘hot topic' events, leadership training, sharing best practice and through a network of sub-regional partnerships
6. Support provided to Elected Members via bridging to CAA, IDeA leadership academy, sub regional Cultural Member Forums

Maximising Efficiencies - CIPEM's Maximising Efficiencies Event held in November 2009 brought senior culture and sports officers from around the region together to look at how local authorities can deliver more for less through culture and sport. Highlights included the sharing of best practice from the Wigan Culture & Leisure Trust, how the use of Mietool can help the sector to evidence cashable savings and the launch of CIPEM's 12 month Cultural Leadership and Skills Development Programme.

Feedback from event delegates has influenced the core content of the Leadership Development Programme, as once again, CIPEM leads the way in offering regional, targeted support to the sector. The programme is helping to develop the careers of 21 aspiring local authority Cultural Senior Managers, providing the East Midlands with a network of dedicated and influential individuals. These officers will help to deliver cultural services in a more streamlined and cost effective way. Throughout 2009/10 CIPEM has continued to play a key role in Delivering ‘A Passion for Excellence' the national improvement strategy for culture and sport:

"CIPEM has been at the leading edge of the work to improve culture and sport locally and regionally and the lessons learnt in the East Midlands have helped underpin the national strategy and other regions have now gone on to copy their success".

Martyn Allison
National Advisor Culture and Sport
Improvement & Development Agency (IDeA)