Led by the Tourism and Events Hub, CCCU and Visit Kent

Culture Kent – a 3 year project funded by Arts Council England and VisitEngland, as part of the Cultural Destinations Programme.

Led by Turner Contemporary the aims of Culture Kent were to showcase Kent’s cultural assets; extend reach by attracting new audiences; create new strategic relationships and develop the information and knowledge core required to strengthen the Kent cultural tourism offer.

A two-year research programme was commissioned by Culture Kent to provide research and evidence required to help the Project to achieve key outcomes.  The findings of the research and supporting resources produced by the Culture Kent Research Programme can be accessed below.

View Research Findings

View Industry/Practitioner insights/resources

Research Findings and supporting summary pdfs

For a summary of the full Culture Kent Research Programme, refer to:

• Culture Kent Research Programme – Summary of Findings Report

Three brief Research Insights Papers –summarise the three key elements of the research:

• Research Insights Paper 1 – Cultural Tourism Landscape
• Research Insights Paper 2 – Organisational Perspectives
• Research Insights Paper 3 – Consumer Perspectives

For detailed findings and evaluations developed from the Culture Kent Research Programme, refer to:

• Report 1- Audit of the Cultural Tourism Landscape (Parts 1)
• Report 1- Audit of the Cultural Tourism Landscape (Parts 2)
• Report 2- Organisational Perspectives on Collaboration/Partnerships and Cross-Sectoral Working
• Report 3- Consumer Perspectives

Further resources produced by the Culture Kent Research Programme:

Culture Kent Pilot Project Case Studies 1-6 – To provide insights into the pilot projects, key outcomes, issues and opportunities, key learnings and legacy/ ways forward:

1. Margate Pilot Project- led by Turner Contemporary – Summer of Colour- art where you least expect it.
2. Folkestone Pilot Project – led by the Creative Foundation – Engaging cultural tourists with Folkestone Triennial.
3. Dover Pilot Project led by Dover Arts Development (DAD) – Introducing existing tourism audiences to new works and experiences.
4. Canterbury Pilot Project – led by Gulbenkian – Putting culture at the heart of tourism marketing.
5. Whitstable Pilot Project – led by Whitstable Biennale – Expanding audiences to attract cultural tourists to Whitstable Biennale.
6. Medway Pilot Project – led by Historic Dockyard Chatham – Raising culture’s profile through heritage.

Round Table Discussion Event Summary Findings (attended by 25 stakeholders in the Culture Kent Pilot Projects together with some key representatives from tourism, culture/the arts):

• Best Practice for Building Cultural Destinations
• Legacy and Ways Forward for Cultural Tourism in Kent 

Contact us

Dr Karen Thomas
Director, Tourism and Events Hub
T: 01227 922691
E: karen.thomas@canterbury.ac.uk

Hub Administrator
E: tourismhub@canterbury.ac.uk

“The Culture Kent Project gave us important new insight into cultural tourism to the county. This new research allows us to understand our audiences better, meaning we are now able to deliver a real step-change in the visitor economy. We know that in order to become a really successful ‘cultural destination’ we need to be a networked area, delivering a total experience to visitors that helps them understand a location and its people, through history and contemporary culture. “

Sarah Dance, 
Project Director Culture Kent

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