We want Letchworth Garden City to be known for its vibrant cultural scene and diverse leisure opportunities, with more people able to enjoy arts, heritage, sport and entertainment. Through our venues, events and partnerships, we’re creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to participate, develop new skills and connect with their community.
For the latest updates on our projects and progress towards this aim, visit our Our Impact page, updated quarterly to reflect our ongoing work and achievements.
2025 Highlights
- Celebrating local creativity: The fifth Letchworth Open Exhibition showcased a record-breaking 446 artworks at Broadway Gallery, celebrating creative talent from across the community.
- Bringing learning to life: Our Teacher-Artist Exchange programme delivered 94 hours of classroom activity, with 180 children directly benefiting from collaboration between teachers and local artists.
- Making culture more accessible: Broadway Cinema and Theatre welcomed 3,500 pupils, teachers and helpers through Into Film activities, with participating schools also receiving free return tickets for families.
- Supporting local cultural organisations: Worked with partners including Letchworth Festival, Letchworth's Singing Cactus and Eastcheap Projects, while prioritising local artists across our programmes.
- Growing family experiences: Standalone Farm welcomed 116,219 visitors, including 10,115 visitors to its Halloween Pumpkin Patch.
- Investing in sport and leisure: Established a £20,000 Sport, Recreation and Leisure grants programme to support sports clubs, facilities and young people's skills development.
- Strengthening our venues: Completed development of the MyBroadway loyalty scheme, launching in January 2026 to improve the customer experience and reward regular visitors.
Progress Against Strategy 2028
- A thriving cultural offer: Strengthened partnerships with local cultural organisations and supported a diverse programme of exhibitions, festivals, performances and heritage activities.
- Accessible opportunities: Continued developing inclusive experiences for families, young people and underrepresented communities, helping more people participate in culture and leisure.
- Learning through culture: Expanded opportunities for children and schools to engage with arts, film and heritage through our venues and partnerships.
- Long-term sustainability: Developed the MyBroadway loyalty scheme and secured a further £43,411 from the Peter Sowerby Foundation to expand cultural learning opportunities.
Priorities for 2026
- Submit a £5 million bid for a new Arts & Heritage Centre in the town centre, bringing together key cultural and heritage assets with local partners.
- Work towards 230,000 visits across Broadway Cinema and Theatre, Standalone Farm, Broadway Gallery and our Micro Museum.
- Grow income from fundraising, events and private hires by 20%.
- Lead the development of Letchworth's 125th anniversary celebrations, with active community involvement.
- Continue expanding accessible cultural, heritage, sport and leisure opportunities for residents and visitors.
Our ambition is to make culture and leisure a defining part of Letchworth's identity, enriching lives and bringing the community together.
Letchworth’s Culture Strategy
This is Letchworth’s culture strategy to 2026 and beyond. Please read it and consider how it will impact your life and what you stand to gain by being involved in its development and delivery. Then get in touch with us to find out how you can play your part in imagining a bolder, brighter future for Letchworth and bringing our shared vision to life.
