Culture Inquiry gets underway with first in-person evidence session in Worcester

This week so far, the Culture Inquiry has reached an important milestone with the first in-person evidence session taking place in Worcester.

CalComms is thrilled to be acting as Secretariat to the APPG for the West Midlands and to be supporting this important piece of work. Having grown from strength to strength as a Secretariat, we are delighted to be in the midst of the Culture Inquiry - one of our principle workstreams for the APPG, focused on gathering robust, practical evidence to inform meaningful recommendations.

The Worcester session marked the beginning of a wider programme of evidence gathering designed to ensure that the Inquiry’s conclusions are shaped directly by those working across the cultural sector. This includes both in-person and written evidence, allowing a broad range of voices to contribute. Contributors reflected on their lived experience of delivering culture across Worcester and the wider region, highlighting both the opportunities and pressures facing the sector. Despite coming from different organisations and contexts, discussions repeatedly returned to the same priority: working more closely across boundaries to better align activity and ambition.

About the Inquiry and Call for Evidence As part of the Inquiry, the APPG has issued a formal Call for Evidence, inviting expert testimony to help build a strong and credible evidence base. The Call for Evidence is shared with MPs and Peers via the APPG Parliamentary Bulletin and direct email, with a particular focus on engaging representatives from across the West Midlands. MPs are also encouraged to connect the Inquiry with relevant organisations and stakeholders in their constituencies.

Evidence is gathered through both oral and written submissions. Oral evidence sessions are chaired by members of the Advisory Board and supported by CalComms, which provides logistical coordination, recording, and transcription support where required. All evidence is reviewed and collated to inform a set of robust, scrutiny-ready recommendations, supported by a summary of findings and, where appropriate, verbatim evidence. From Evidence to Impact The discussion in Worcester was guided by Dave Robertson MP, with panel support from Tom Collins MP, Erica Love - Chair of the Advisory Board’s Culture Workstream and Chief Executive of Culture Central - and Antony Calvert - Managing Director of CalComms, attending as Group Secretariat. Their leadership helped create a focused and constructive session, grounded in real-world experience.

Once complete, the Inquiry’s recommendations will be shared with MPs and used as a platform for broader parliamentary and public engagement, including a Parliamentary Reception and further engagement with Ministers and the sector. This Worcester session is the first of several in-person evidence sessions taking place as part of the Culture Inquiry, with further sessions planned in Stafford and Birmingham. With strong engagement already underway, the Inquiry is now firmly moving into its next phase. We would like to recognise the work that went into delivering the session, with particular thanks to James Jones, Secretariat to the APPG, and to Worcester City Council for providing such a fitting setting. Thanks also to all those who contributed their time and insight on the day.