National cultural leaders to headline Barrow Arts Dividend Summit at University of Cumbria

Taking place on 8 June at the University of Cumbria’s Barrow campus, the Barrow Arts Dividend Summit will bring together civic leaders, creatives and community partners to shape the town’s cultural future.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England and author of The Arts Dividend, has been a leading national voice on how investment in culture drives happier lives, stronger communities and economic growth. His presence signals the national significance of Barrow’s ambitions and its growing role within the UK’s cultural landscape.

Joining him is Wayne Hemingway MBE, Chair of Barrow Creative and one of the UK’s most respected designers and place makers. As co-founder of HemingwayDesign and the iconic Red or Dead fashion label, Hemingway has spent decades transforming towns and cities through creative, people-centred design. His work spans regeneration, festivals and community-led cultural development, making him a key figure in shaping Barrow’s next chapter.

The summit will explore how creativity can power Barrow’s transformation, aligning with major regeneration plans and ambitions for UK Town of Culture 2028. With Henley and Hemingway at the forefront, discussions will bridge national policy and local lived experience – ensuring Barrow’s cultural strategy is both ambitious and grounded.

Hemingway and Henley will bring together creative leadership and national cultural strategy throughout the summit – with Hemingway leading hands-on sessions alongside artists, designers and local voices to reframe Barrow’s story and uncover bold, place-specific opportunities, while Henley contributes strategic insight into the role of arts investment at a national level, reinforcing how Barrow’s approach could become a model for towns across England.

The summit is designed to move beyond discussion, producing clear outcomes including:

• A shared cultural vision for Barrow
• A set of prioritised opportunities for investment and action
• The foundations of a long-term Arts Dividend Roadmap

Delivered in partnership with the University of Cumbria, Westmorland and Furness Council, Arts Council England and Barrow Creative, the summit marks a defining moment for the town.

Claire Aindow, Pro Vice Chancellor in Growth & Development, University of Cumbria said: “We are delighted to host the Barrow Arts Dividend Summit at our Barrow campus and to welcome influential cultural leaders such as Darren Henley and Wayne Hemingway to the town. At a time of major change and opportunity for Barrow, this summit highlights the vital role that arts and culture play in shaping a creative and connected future for the community.”

With national leaders like Henley and Hemingway actively shaping the conversation, Barrow is positioning itself at the forefront of a growing movement to place culture at the heart of community transformation.