The current arts scene in Derby is, at one and the same time, both full of promise and full of uncertainty. The promise emanates from a wide range of artists and arts organisations, across all art-forms and across the voluntary and professional sectors, which provide Derby with a high quality and enviable quantity of arts provision. Certain artists and arts organisations in Derby are forging reputations which impact beyond the local, the regional and even the national to help take the name of Derby into the international arena. This artistic offer is supported by levels of funding from the Arts Council, the City Council and the private sector which stand comparison with most of the UK’s cities. The city’s physical arts infrastructure is, however, somewhat less secure. On the one hand, we have a capital development such as QUAD which symbolises and encapsulates Derby’s artistic ambition and vision. On the other hand, at the time of writing, we have a theatre – Derby Playhouse – which is dark and whose date of re-opening is unknown.

This is the first Arts Strategy for Derby since Right Here Right Now which was published in 2000. The methodology for this strategy is detailed in a separate section but, in essence, it is the work of many leading players within Derby’s arts infrastructure and has involved consultation with literally hundreds of respondents over a period of approximately two years. Derby’s Arts Forum Steering Group has taken the editorial responsibility for this strategy. Thanks are due to all those who have contributed to this important piece of work.

It is divided into almost twenty chapters – all of which are self-explanatory and all of which have been kept electronically separate so that inquirers can go straight to the contents which are of most relevance to them. Each chapter is of approximately 1,500 words and is divided into four sections:
1. Where are we now?
2. Where do we want to be in 5 years time?
3. How do we get there?
4. How will we know when we’re there?

The strategy has also taken into consideration a variety of publications including numerous ones from the Arts Council, the Culture East Midlands Strategy, and the Strategy for the Cultural City Executive of Derby City Partnership. All documents and their specific inter-relatedness with this strategy are cited where appropriate.

The strategy is to be regularly reviewed and monitored. The Arts Forum Steering Group and the City Council’s Arts and Events Team will have lead responsibility for this process but other organisations also have certain specific review responsibilities which are detailed in the Action Plan. It is to be hoped that this Action Plan – and the broader Strategy of which it is a part – will help to delineate and to lead the way forward for the arts in Derby over the next five years.