Visioning a Creative and Cultural County (VCCC) is a collaborative, academic-policy research impact project between the University of Nottingham (UoN) and Leicestershire County Council (LCC).

Guided by a strong co-production ethos, VCCC is identifying LCC's policy needs in relation to joining up cultural provision, heritage service delivery, and creative practice under a Cultural Strategy. To this end, VCCC is developing a programme of research activities, consultation exercises and knowledge exchange events to inform evidence-based policymaking at local and regional levels and to articulate how the process of Cultural Strategy development will support sustainable policy development and related impact going forward.

To deliver this vital work meaningfully and effectively, VCCC is working in close collaboration with a range of regional and national policy partners, statutory and non-statutory bodies, and diverse local communities.

VCCC has been funded by UKRI Research England Quality-Related Policy Support Fund via the Institute of Policy and Engagement to support the first phase of Cultural Strategy development (January 2023 - March 2024).

Appropriate funding is currently being sought to support the second phase of Cultural Strategy development which will culminate in the publication, launch and roll-out of LCC's Cultural Strategy. Subsequent work will focus on continually:

• generating policy evidence to inform strategic decision-making at LCC;
• tracking policy and societal impact to assess efficacy and inform a Cultural Strategy refresh in 5 years' time; and
• identifying new areas of research and policy need to support efforts to contribute to achieving LCC's evolving Strategic Priority Outcomes and UoN's Research and Civic Strategic Delivery Plans.