Programme Policy

Introduction

This is an overview of our Programme Policy for Arts in Libraries (AiL) at St Helens Borough Council (SHBC). We deliver a programme of arts and cultural events across the network of seven Libraries within the borough. AIL is part of St Helens Library Service, which sits in the Place directorate of the Council.

AiL is largely funded by Arts Council England (ACE). We are required to report to the Cabinet of the Council, but we also have a separate Advisory Board which oversees governance in line with ACE's requirements.

The AiL programme seeks to offer diverse creative opportunities in library spaces, online, and in the community. It showcases national work, supports community arts participation, and commissions local artists to work professionally, sometimes for the first time.

In line with our funder, we consider that freedom of expression is essential to the Arts in Libraries programme. We also want to foster positive connections in our working community and strengthen the role that libraries play is fostering democratic principles.

Our duty to artists and communities

Since the Library Service is a universal offer, AiL aims for a varied programme to engage the breadth of St Helens communities. Our delivery plan also contains specific targets to engage with key local priority groups which currently includes residents from low socio-economic groups, young people and d/Deaf and d/Disabled people.

Within this, we have identified specific types of content that might need more specific care and attention within our programme. These are:

• Work which is family friendly.
•  Programming or collaboration with artists and communities with protected characteristics and/or and material that alludes to these characteristics.
• Artistic reflections on socio-political events.
•  Profanity and other linguistic sensitivities.
• Work that contains nudity.

We have considered how we may approach each of these areas in context. This includes factors such as online safety, mis and disinformation, the need for greater social cohesion and the rising use of AI.

Our full policy outlines how we approach this in more detail, but broadly we will  assess:

• What the value is to our community, aligning with both ACE policy and SHBC priorities.
• The processes required to carry out the work safely.
• Our capacity to support the work and/or artist or community members.
• How the work would need to be mediated should it take place.
• When we may refer programme decisions to our Advisory Board and/or elected members.

Review process

We will continue to develop our approach as we develop work with partners, colleagues, residents and artists. For note, we are constantly looking for ideas for 
work within our Library spaces and welcome any approach from new or existing artists or providers, outside of this review process.

The policy is reviewed formally every two years by the Advisory Board for AiL