A permanent local institution
An independent board, professional leadership and a clear public purpose, accountable to the place it serves.
More Than Bricks · Founding town opportunity
A cultural legacy
built to last.
Your town. Your people. Your story.
Imagine a Britain whose culture is developed locally and shared nationally. Where artists can build a future, high streets become places to gather, and cultural life creates opportunity throughout the year.
We are looking for the first town or city to help prove the model.
A proposed initiative from Moutrey Creative Enterprises. The founding place, funding and delivery programme are still to be established.
The national ambition
Culture as economic infrastructure.
Culture gives people reasons to make, meet, travel, learn and spend time in a place.
More Than Bricks proposes a permanent institution to connect that cultural energy with the buildings, businesses, transport and public spaces around it. Local artists gain opportunities. Visitors have reasons to stay. Communities help shape what happens next.
The ambition begins with one place. If the founding model succeeds, independent local institutions could connect through a national network, sharing productions, equipment, knowledge and opportunity while retaining their own identity.
What a place would build
One institution. A whole town of possibilities.
A locally governed cultural institution with the people, resources and partnerships to build lasting capacity.
Artists and audiences
Year-round development, paid creative opportunities, learning and participation, alongside an ambitious annual cultural season.
Places brought to life
Underused shops, civic buildings and public spaces connected to studios, galleries, workshops, performance and local trade.
A joined-up visitor experience
Travel, wayfinding, accessible venues, accommodation, food and evening transport planned as part of the cultural experience.
A resilient income model
Permanent capital for core capacity, alongside earned income, sponsorship and philanthropy for an ambitious programme.
Evidence that matters
Baselines and transparent reporting on local participation, paid work, visitor activity, business benefit and financial resilience.
Design · Launch · Transfer · Independence
Four years to make it locally led.
Following feasibility and the necessary agreements, Moutrey Creative would help establish the institution and progressively transfer responsibility to local leadership.
- Year 01
Design & establish
Shape the institution, recruit its founding board, develop the capital strategy and plan property, partnerships and programme.
- Year 02
Launch
Deliver and evaluate the first major season. MCE and the local executive team co-lead implementation as operating systems take root.
- Year 03
Transfer
The local institution leads, with targeted support from MCE and clear tests of financial, operational and governance capability.
- Year 04
Independence
The local board and team hold full operational responsibility. Any continuing MCE or network relationship is optional and separately agreed.
This is the proposed sequence. A town-specific plan would establish dates, delivery conditions and the evidence required at each stage.
Your town remains your town
Local identity.
Local leadership.
Lasting independence.
Each place should be unmistakably itself.
- Independent governance. A local board with the skills, accountability and community connections to act in the institution’s interests.
- A stronger local cultural ecology. Work with existing artists, venues and organisations, identify gaps and create additional opportunity.
- Community influence. Structured participation for residents, young people, businesses and access representatives.
- Artistic independence. Transparent partnerships and safeguards against control by any single sponsor, company or public body.
- National connection. A future network could share resources and opportunity while protecting local autonomy.
Designed for longevity
Build the foundations. Keep creating value.
The proposed model combines permanent capital, a professional local team and a diversified programme income.
An endowment would support core capacity under an agreed spending policy. Tickets, commercial partnerships, sponsorship and philanthropy would contribute to cultural activity. Property, hospitality and transport partnerships would help the whole place participate.
The aim is a model that does not depend on recurring taxpayer subsidy. Public bodies may still have an important enabling role through assets, access, infrastructure and coordination.
Costs, capital requirements and income assumptions must be tested through place-specific feasibility. No financial return, funding commitment or economic outcome is guaranteed.
The first place
Could your town be the beginning?
We are looking for a place with distinctive character and the ambition to build something that endures.
A founding partnership could bring together civic leaders, cultural organisations, businesses, property owners, funders and residents.
- A shared civic ambition and people who can bring partners together.
- Existing creative talent and cultural organisations ready to help shape the model.
- Buildings, streets or public spaces with untapped potential.
- A credible transport and visitor-economy opportunity.
- A plausible route to permanent capital and launch resources.
- A commitment to independent governance, access and honest evaluation.
Before we begin
A few practical questions.
What is the immediate ask?
A structured founding conversation, followed by agreement on a paid, place-specific feasibility and development phase. That work would map assets, consult local partners, test the economics and recommend whether to proceed, revise or stop.
Has a founding town been selected?
The initiative is seeking its founding place. The website describes a proposed model; it does not announce a secured town, funded programme or delivery date.
What does Moutrey Creative contribute?
MCE is the originator and proposed institutional design and implementation partner. Its role would cover the methodology, establishment process, creative and commercial development, operating systems and planned transfer to local leadership. The founding model still needs to be tested in practice.
Is this an investment offer?
This page is an invitation to explore and develop the proposition. Funders, donors, sponsors and commercial partners may have different roles; any rights, commitments or investment terms would be developed separately through appropriate agreements.
Can we see the detailed proposal?
Yes. Request the Founding Town Charter through the form below. It sets out the proposed governance, capital framework, partnerships, delivery stages and decision gates for discussion.
Can a city or a group of local partners enquire?
Yes. We welcome an initial approach from a town, city or cross-sector group. A first conversation can establish who else needs to be involved and whether a place-specific study would be useful.
Start here
Tell us about your place.
Where is it? What makes it distinctive? Who could help bring the idea to life?
We welcome conversations with local leaders, cultural organisations, prospective funders, property owners and founding partners.
More Than Bricks
For stronger towns.
Brighter tomorrows.
