V3.2 Aug 2024
Tunbridge Wells Creative Economic Strategy
Heritage
Heritage is a proven to be a gateway into the wider creative and culture sectors, recent studies show that the presence of Heritage spaces and visitor attractions can positively increase both creativity and economic development. A successful heritage sector is both a symptom and driving cause of a healthy creative economic ecosystem. Furthermore, having a shared cultural heritage fosters better civic pride and is a keystone of place-making. In Tunbridge Wells, the presence of the Amelia Scott as a central hub for both heritage and civic services underscores the vital role that heritage plays in the wider creative economy.
The Amelia Scott, as the major museum in Tunbridge Wells, occupies a unique and multifaceted role within the town’s cultural and civic life. Reopened in 2022, this institution not only serves as a museum but also houses the town’s library and acts as a gateway for various council services. This convergence of cultural, educational, and civic functions within a single building presents both challenges and opportunities. One key challenge is balancing the diverse needs and expectations of its different user groups—museum visitors, library patrons, and those seeking council services—while maintaining a cohesive identity and ensuring that each function operates effectively. However, this multi-functionality also presents an opportunity to draw in a broader audience, offering a more integrated and holistic experience that can increase footfall and engagement across all areas.
Heritage is a cornerstone of the creative economy, providing the narrative and context that inspire contemporary creative endeavours. The Amelia Scott, by serving as a custodian of the town’s heritage, plays a crucial role in this ecosystem. It can act as a catalyst for creativity by hosting exhibitions, events, and workshops that draw on historical themes and artefacts, thereby stimulating new artistic and cultural productions.
The Amelia Scott, as the flagship museum in Tunbridge Wells, is well-positioned to elevate the broader heritage work across the town, including that of smaller museums and heritage sites. By acting as a central hub for heritage activities, the Amelia Scott can provide leadership, resources, and expertise to these smaller institutions, helping to raise their profiles and integrate them into a cohesive narrative of the town’s history. Collaborative efforts such as joint exhibitions, shared marketing campaigns, and educational programs can create a more unified and compelling heritage experience for both residents and visitors. The Amelia Scott already host symposiums for the wider heritage sector, regularly publish about our work in professional journals and are involved in several regional networks.
With two years of operating under their belts, The Amelia Scott is now able to better understand it’s business model – this is crucially important as it pivots away from ‘a newly launched cultural facility’ into a longer-term operating strategy for the community. This natural process of maturation will see it continue to refine best practice, but refine how it delivers to the community that has accepted it – and create even more tangible and targeted results. This process will continue to be, as is everything in The Amelia Scott, an organic one, that responds to the changing needs of it’s community and the cultural picture nationally – in order to provide a resilient and well connected service, that remains best-value for the people it serves.