Travel to culture: cultural participation and the 20 min neighbourhood

This piece establishes a dialogue between policy on the 20-minute neighbourhood and policy on cultural participation. The 20-Minute Neighbourhoods report (Town and Country Planning Association, 2021) sets out aims and guidance for interweaving essential features for everyday life (e.g., homes; food; jobs; community) with the strategies, policies and plans designed to shape and coordinate everyday life. More specifically, how can people access what they need for their everyday lives by walking, cycling and public transport? Evaluating the concept of the 20-minute neighbourhood, this piece raises questions concerning the presence/absence of culture. Engaging with the Cornerstones of Culture report (Local Government Association, 2022), this piece highlights issues of cultural participation, geographical inequalities and the importance of access to culture within a local neighbourhood. Following this, a proposal is made for evaluating and developing opportunities for cultural participation with reference to accessible and sustainable travel methods – ‘travel to culture’.