In a groundbreaking move, Nottingham’s New Art Exchange (NAE) has become the first cultural institution in the world to hand permanent leadership to a citizens’ assembly. This diverse group of 40 residents from the Hyson Green neighbourhood, representing 52 different languages, are now shaping the gallery’s future, from programming decisions to budget allocation and artist selection.
“Without citizens and the community around the table shaping the direction and showing the horizon, we would quickly become an average organisation,” says Saad Eddine Said, the chief executive and artistic director of NAE, the UK’s largest gallery dedicated to African, Caribbean and South Asian artists.
The assembly’s impact has been profound. They removed a street gallery that was seen as intimidating, and instead invested in making the cafe a more welcoming space to attract visitors. They also started hosting social events like poetry readings and DJ nights, responding to the community’s need for more Friday evening socialising options.
“We believe in [the assembly] and we don’t want it to become just a trendy thing, just ticking boxes,” says Said. “Removing the street gallery felt counterintuitive to us. But straight away that street gallery was in the bin, and in the bin for ever.”
Adam Roe, the gallery’s executive director, sees the citizen-led approach as empowering rather than limiting. “I’ve been asked: ‘Do you think that you’ve lost power as a result of this?’ Actually, I think I’ve gained power. Collectively, we’ve got so much more knowledge because we’re doing the things we know we need to do.”
The assembly’s recommendations have had a tangible impact. Overall engagement at NAE is up 22%, and the number of visitors from global ethnic majority backgrounds has grown by 48%. The gallery’s blueprint for citizen-led cultural institutions is now being closely watched by others, including the National Gallery and Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, which have recently launched similar initiatives.
“Lots of people were very sceptical and wondering whether anything would come of this,” says Lily, a 21-year-old fine art graduate and assembly member. “I’m impressed they’ve actually done the things we said.”
For Kathy, a retired resident, the citizen-led approach has been a “real boost” for a community that has long felt ignored. “This area has been ignored and if people experience the negative for too long, it can disempower them. So for me, it has been a real boost. I feel invigorated by being part of this process.”
As cultural institutions grapple with the challenges of the pandemic and changing societal expectations, the New Art Exchange’s pioneering model offers a blueprint for a more inclusive, community-driven approach to the arts.
