1.
'Give them roots to give them wings': How
Leeds co-creates culture for wellbeing
Kate Fellows,
Head of Learning and Access
Leeds Museums and Galleries

2.
Where in the world are we?

3.
Leeds, Leeds, Leeds!

4.
Chief Executive
Resources
HR and finance
Communities,
Housing and
Environment
Libraries
Children and
Families
Adults and Health City Development
Regeneration,
planning and
highways
Sport Culture
Museums and
Galleries
Arts and Events
Culture team
(2023 link)
Employment and
Skills
Leeds City Council structure: Voluntary
and
community
sector
Green = Leeds City Council departments where
we have formal partnerships, and / or deliver on
their outcomes.

5.
Leeds City Council Inclusive Growth:
• Not leaving anyone behind
• Economic benefits supported by culture

6.
Doughnut Economics
(Kate Raworth)
• Sustainable development: social and ecological
• Example: Cornwall Council
Five Ways to Wellbeing
(New Economic Foundation)
• Connect
• Be active
• Take notice
• Keep learning
• Give
• Examples: National Health Service (NHS), Happy
Museum, Mind (mental health charity)
Research basis of inclusive growth:

7.
What does this look like in practice? Careers for All
‘I don’t want to sit at home doing nothing, I want to do something with my life… and
this is my first stepping stone’, M, Careers for All
Meaningful work experience opportunities for
people with lived experience of disabilities and
neurodiversity
• Partnerships with schools, settings, third sector
• Funded by Employment and Skills, Leeds City
Council
• Positive progressions into employment,
education or further training

8.
What does this look like in practice?
Co-creating exhibitions
Every exhibition and display is co-curated with
the communities of Leeds
• Long term, mutually beneficial partnerships
• Empowerment, ownership
• Funded by Leeds City Council, Arts Council
England
• Aiming for an Asset Based Community
Development model

9.
What does this look like in practice?
School curriculums
Every child has access to arts and culture for
mindfulness, mental health and wellbeing
• Leeds Curriculum > school membership
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health Curriculum
focused on mindfulness and slow looking using
natural sciences and nature in collections
‘Together, we have created a first class, bespoke, enquiry-based Leeds Curriculum
relevant to our community.’ Headteacher

10.
Head of Service (David
Hopes)
Learning and Access Collections
Specialist curators
Community curators
Youth Engagement
Registars and
conservation
Operations and
Enterprise
Venue management
Catering, retail and
events
Audience development
(marketing and social
media)
LMG structure:
• 2007: Restructure – equal
balance to Collections and
Learning, start community
programmes
• 2009: Addition of more
Community Curators
• 2010: Youth Engagement
• 2014: Begin to research
Learning programmes

11.
Any questions?
kate.fellows@leeds.gov.uk
@KateHFellows @mylearning_org @LeedsMuseums

12.
Follow up links:
Leeds:
• Short film about Inclusive Growth in Leeds: https://youtu.be/PYViAc2tQAQ
• Inclusive Growth Strategy document: Leeds-Inclusive-Growth-Strategy-FINAL.pdf (leedsgrowthstrategy.co.uk)
Leeds Musuems and Galleries:
• Strategy: Our Strategy - Leeds Museums & Galleries
• Podcast and blog: Museums n'that - the Leeds Museums & Galleries podcast
Research:
• Exeter University analysis of Cornwall Council use of Doughnut Economics: Impact - Towards a Sustainable Cornwall
| Working with natural systems for sustainable futures | University of Exeter
• Five ways to Wellbeing: Five ways to wellbeing | New Economics Foundation
• Happy Museum (use of five ways of wellbeing and environment in culture): Happy Museum Project
• Whose Cake is it Anyway? Whose cake is it anyway? - Paul Hamlyn Foundation (phf.org.uk)
• Asset Based Community Development: Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) - Nurture Development
• ABCD in Leeds:Asset-based approaches in local authorities: the Leeds experience | Local Government Association