In response to the BBC Charter review, our Policy Director, Jess Plant, reflects on a 20-year partnership that proves why the BBC is uniquely positioned to be more than just a broadcaster.

At Creative Lives, we believe art and creativity should be for everyone, not preserved for the elite few. We champion community and volunteer-led activity, helping creative groups up and down the country to thrive, and witnessing creativity in our community centres, libraries, church halls and kitchen tables. On the ground we see the impact of TV shows such as The Great British Sewing Bee and The Choir, where viewers watch ordinary people showcasing their passion and ability, inspiring millions of others to do the same.

We agree with the Campaign for the Arts’ ‘A Stage for the Nation’ report, which states that the BBC has a unique role in ‘fostering a shared sense of belonging, reflecting the country’s diversity and bolstering the creative ecosystem’. And our long-running partnership with the BBC has always aimed to change the perception of the arts, from something inaccessible to something we can all enjoy in our daily lives. 

In 2015, Creative Lives (driven by the Warwick Commission, to tackle inequalities in the arts), partnered with BBC Arts and others to launch Get Creative. This wide-ranging collaborative campaign celebrated and supported everyday creativity happening in people's homes and public spaces.

It encouraged people to have a go - join a choir, start a painting or writing group, make jam, or sketch outdoors. The campaign showcased celebrities, hobbyists, and artists trying things for the first time, making arts and creativity accessible. It also played a major role in supporting people to be creative through the pandemic in 2020.

Even more long-standing is Creative Lives On Air - our partnership with BBC local radio. Since 2009, we have embedded producers within 19 BBC radio stations across England and Wales. This unique model spotlights local creative groups and artists, with segments on poets, musicians, and makers, reaching those who might otherwise feel unheard. 

BBC local radio is a vital tool against digital exclusion and loneliness, helping to connect communities. It provides a platform for disparate voices across the UK, and fosters social cohesion by bringing stories of real, relatable people to wide audiences. Through this partnership, we have developed photography exhibitions, helped new clubs to form, showcased singing for health, run pop-up workshops in shopping centres - all inspiring new, diverse audiences and showcasing local creative talent. 

When the BBC works with partners such as Creative Lives, or commissions content like The Great British Sewing Bee or The Choir, it does more than entertain; it validates the skills of ordinary people and inspires a nation to create and connect. Developing this type of programming with community partners could further enhance their reach and success, improving lives at scale. As Professor Daisy Fancourt highlights in her new book, Art Cure, engagement in the arts is a proven catalyst for better health, reduced loneliness, and longer lives. 

As the nation’s mental health crisis rises, loneliness increases, and wellbeing plummets, the BBC has a crucial role to play in delivering inclusive, creative broadcasting for the public good. It is uniquely placed to foster a shared sense of belonging, drive innovation, and support creativity across the nation. 

But to truly deliver on that promise, the BBC must continue to support everyday creativity - by doing that, it will not only reflect the nation, it will help to heal it.

[Pictured: top right: Jess Plant; bottom right: Writing For Wellbeing workshop in partnership with BBC Radio Berkshire]