Oct 14 • Jo Cox-Brown

How Do We Define Culture?

People often ask me how I define culture.

It’s a surprisingly hard question to answer, not because culture is complicated, but because so many official definitions make it sound like the dullest thing on the planet.

Take this, for example. Here’s how Arts Council England defines it:
Culture means many things to many people and is often used to refer to food, religion and other forms of heritage. Here, though, we use it to mean all those areas of activity associated with the artforms and organisations in which Arts Council England invests: collections, combined arts, dance, libraries, literature, museums, music, theatre and the visual arts.
Arts council england

It’s accurate, but it doesn’t exactly stir the soul.

And we all know that culture stirs the soul. It rips us open, delights us from the inside out, and creates memories we treasure for life.

It’s the heartbeat of our communities, families, and personal stories. We treasure it, feel rooted in it, and take it with us wherever we go. 

When asked what culture is to me, it’s my Irish roots, my English schooling, and my friends from around the world who’ve introduced me to their cultures. It’s the places I’ve lived and the places I get to call home. I am not just one culture but many adopted cultures, blended into a unique life story. Yesterday, a client asked me to write them a paragraph on how they could define culture to their staff.

I wanted to capture something that felt alive, something that reflects how I experience culture every day, as part of my job.

So, here's what I wrote:

We define culture as the living expression of creativity, identity, and connection that shapes how people experience the world around them. Culture spans the full spectrum of combined arts, dance, theatre, music, literature, visual arts, crafts, and design, as well as the places and stories that hold them. From our vast warehouses to our smaller heritage venues and vibrant festivals, each is a stage for community, ritual, and shared experience, creating unforgettable, multisensory moments that delight the soul.
 
We see culture as both ancient and emergent, rooted in heritage yet constantly evolving through innovation and collaboration. Whether expressed through a showcase performance, a piece of music, a DJ set, dramatic lighting and stage design, or the experiential language of food and fashion, culture reveals who we are now, where we’ve come from, and what we can imagine becoming together. Through culture, we are not only the music makers but the dreamers of others’ dreams.
 
Culture is also the lifeblood of the night time economy. It’s the reason people go out, not just to consume, but to connect, to feel alive, and to belong. From late-night theatres and grassroots music venues to independent restaurants, clubs, and creative workspaces, culture fuels the experiences that give our towns and cities their character. When businesses embed culture into what they do, from the creativity they program to the communities they engage with, they don’t just drive footfall; they build identity, loyalty, and pride of place. A thriving night time economy isn’t separate from culture. It is culture in motion, a living ecosystem where art, hospitality, safety, and community come together to create something unforgettable.
Jo cox-brown

Reflecting on Your Place: What Does Culture Mean to You?

Every place has its own cultural heartbeat, a rhythm, a flavour, a story that makes it distinct. To help you shape your own Night Time Culture Statement, here are some questions to reflect on:
  • What does culture look, sound, and feel like in your place after dark?
  • Who is creating culture in your area right now, and how are they supported to thrive?
  • Which cultural experiences make people feel they truly belong here?
  • Are you creating spaces where people from different backgrounds can connect through shared experience?
  • How do your venues, public spaces, and events reflect your community’s unique identity and story?
  • How do safety, inclusion, and accessibility form part of your cultural offer?
  • What does culture look, sound, and feel like in your place after dark?
  • What role do food, fashion, and local traditions play in shaping your night-time identity?
  • How can your local businesses and artists collaborate to create unforgettable, multisensory moments?
  • What does culture look, sound, and feel like in your place after dark?
  • And finally, if someone visited your place for the first time at night, what would they remember, and what would they feel?
Write your awesome label here.

To me, that’s what culture is really about.

It’s not a list of art forms or a funding category.

It’s the beating heart of who we are, the stories, sounds, and shared moments that remind us we belong.
 
If you are building a night time culture strategy or night time strategy, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for help, we are night time strategy specialists.