Arts Council
Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives. As the national development agency for the arts, we support a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, carnival to crafts.
Great art inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2008 and 2011 we’ll invest in excess of £1.6 billion of public money from the government and the National Lottery to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.
OPUN:connect is the advisory group to guide development and delivery of OPUN’s Design Review and Design Support Services. Members of the OPUN:connect group include representatives from the following organisations:
RTPI East Midands, RIBA East Midlands, RICS East Midlands, Arts Council East Midlands, English Heritage East Midlands, Landscape Institute East Midlands, East Midlands Councils (EMC), Architecture Centre Network, Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), HCA ATLAS (Advisory Team on Large and Sensitive Applications) and Design Council Cabe.
OPUN:connect meets on a quarterly basis, the terms of reference can be read here. To find out more about the group please contact Dharmista@opun.org.uk.
Design Council CABE
In April 2011 CABE merged with the Design Council and the organisation emerged as a charity Design Council Cabe with a focus on achieving good design in the built environment. CABE’s Design Review Service, delivered in the East Midlands by OPUN, provides expert advice to councils, developers and communities through reviews of major proposed projects.
Promotion of the value of good building and spatial design to businesses and communities will continue and there will be a strong focus on securing good design in neighbourhood planning. The merged organisation will continue to provide mentoring and advice to business and public services on the strategic use of design. High profile design challenges will develop innovative solutions to national issues in health, security and sustainability
Advice will be given direct to government on the value of design and support for the design sector via an expanded body of experts drawn from industry, design, architecture, public services and education.
Architecture Centre Network
Architecture Centre Network is the national development and advocacy organisation for 22 independent architecture centres in the UK. We work together to promote engagement with architecture and the built environment. This national network of local organisations is the ‘localism infrastructure’, providing a vehicle for local authorities and communities to respond to the Big Society agenda.
The architecture centres are independent, influential, and inclusive, providing expertise, experience and creativity – they have the understanding of the specific local conditions, critical to providing meaningful design advice and support. With a collective expert staff of over 135, supported by over 450 volunteers and 200+ built environment design professionals, the centres have a significant impact (see the stats on the find a centre page).
English Heritage
English Heritage is the Government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment. They champion and care for the historic environment by:
• Improving understanding of the past through research and study.
• Providing conservation grants, advisory and education services.
• Identifying and helping to protect buildings and archaeological sites of national importance.
• Maintaining over 400 historic properties and making them accessible to the broadest possible public audience.
• Maintaining the National Monuments Record as the central publicly accessible archive for the historic environment in England.
They are sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which has overall responsibility for heritage policy in England and from whom they receive around 75% of their funding. They also work closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
East Midlands Councils
East Midland Councils Is a consultative forum for local government in the East Midlands. It represents the interest of local councils to national government and other organisations. EMC enables local councils to work together on key issues of common concern. EMC:
• Supports the improvement and development of local councils and their workforce.
• Brings together political group leaders.
• Makes appointments to national and regional bodies.
• Provides a reporting and governance mechanism for regional local government .
• Partnerships e.g. Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP).
• Establishes and maintains an effective relationship with the national Local Government Association (LGA).
The Design Network
The Design Network is the leading source of independent design advice, affiliated to Design Council CABE.
Our established network of not for profit organisations, with similar ‘panel’ based delivery model and with cooperation agreement in place though a Memorandum of Understanding. We provide design advice and support to communities, Local Authorities & the development sector throughout England.
