Bringing people together through community arts and creativity projects could help build more cohesive communities in the wake of this summer’s riots, according to British Future research.
‘Creating Connections’, a new report, finds a strong and partly untapped public appetite to do more, with 80% of people interested in participating in arts and creative activities – while only 53% did so over the last year. Getting more people involved in creative activities in their community can help address the urgent need to bridge divides in our society following the racist riots of the summer, the research argues.
Arts and creativity projects promote social mixing between people from different backgrounds, which experts say is crucial to breaking down fears and prejudices. Around half of those who have taken part in a creative arts activity over the last year said it helped them to meet people from different backgrounds.
The report calls on the government to ensure that the role of the creative arts is part of a new, comprehensive strategy on social connection and community cohesion in response to this summer’s violent racist disorder. It also highlights the important role that cultural programmes linked to major events – like VE Day 80 next year and the UK hosting the Euros football tournament in 2028 – can play in bringing people together across the nation.
TODAY 10am at Labour Party Conference:
'Can Labour get immigration right?' (10am, ACC Arena) with @oliviabaileymp; @EmilyAGraham2; @sundersays @Holly_JoyB
'A Decade After the Brexit Vote: How Close Should the UK Get to Europe Now?' Today 1pm at Labour Conference with @AnnelieseDodds @RSylvester1 @sundersays and Andrew Lewin MP
https://www.britishfuture.org/event/british-future-at-party-conferences-2026/
Today 11.30am at Labour Conference 'What Do Ethnic Minorities Want from Labour on Race?' with
@AJogee @rokhsanafiaz @JOwusuNepaul @sundersays
and Kudsia Batool, TUC Director of Equalities.
(FGF pod, Arena Room, ACC downstairs)
This morning 9.30 at Labour Conference:
'Bridging Divides: Why Generations Matter' With @pauldaviesmp.bsky.social @sundersays.bsky.social
Olivia Field, @jocoxfoundation.bsky.social
Emily Abbott, Intergenerational England
Shelley Hathaway-Batt, Clarion Futures
'Can Labour get immigration right?' Join us at Labour Party Conference to discuss on Tues 29th (10am, ACC) with @oliviabaileymp; @EmilyAGraham2; @sundersays @_katedevlin + others TBC.
https://www.britishfuture.org/event/british-future-at-party-conferences-2026/
'A Decade After the Brexit Vote: How Close Should the UK Get to Europe Now?' Join us for this Labour Conference fringe panel Mon 28th 1pm with @AnnelieseDodds; @RSylvester1; Andrew Lewin MP; and our @sundersays
Join us Mon 28th 11.30am at Labour Conference for 'What Do Ethnic Minorities Want from Labour on Race?' with @AJogee; @rokhsanafiaz; @JOwusuNepaul; @sundersays and Kudsia Batool, TUC Director of Equalities.
(FGF pod, Arena Room, ACC downstairs)
It finds that people of all backgrounds agree progress has stalled on racial equality and may even be going backwards. Nearly half of white respondents (48%) and ethnic minority respondents (44%) feel racial equality is getting worse rather than better.
'Burnham should scrap Labour’s red lines on Brexit and get closer to EU, voters say' - great write-up today from @_katedevlin @Independent of our new report 'Britain and Europe: How close should we get?'
UK voters urge Andy Burnham to change post-Brexit relationship with EU
New research shows just one in five voters think Brexit has been a success, heaping pressure on the new prime ...
www.independent.co.uk
Ahead of autumn's UK-EU summit, new @BritishFuture research finds that people see Brexit as a failure and want closer EU ties. But voters are undecided about what comes next, with uncertainty about the idea of another referendum, or a return to free movement [1/3]
