Introducing the Citizens In Power Network
12th February 2025
This network is designed to rethink the way that decisions are made in the cultural and creative sectors. The network begins life with 65 members, associates and experts and remains open.
Cultural decision-making has long been dominated by privileged groups. The Citizens In Power Network is established with a clear belief that decision-making processes should reflect the diversity of the people they affect.
This is not just a matter of equity; it’s about harnessing diverse perspectives to make better decisions. This is about better solutions, better governance and better policy-making.
The network will embrace democratic models such as citizens’ assemblies and citizens’ juries to lead decision-making processes; in which citizens are people who live, work or stay in a place; i.e. everyone
Network Members at the first residency, October 2024; photo taken by James Allan
The network will run from 2025 to 2027 and will bring together practitioners, organisations and governments who want to explore how communities can take the lead in shaping their creative and cultural lives. We will test approaches to community-led decision-making which could also work in other situations and for other sectors.
The network will test models by applying three core principles:
Authority Giving: to build systems that gather authority and grant real power to citizens and ensure their decisions are implemented meaningfully.
Civic Lottery: to use random selection to create diverse groups that reflect communities so that decision-making is more inclusive and representative.
Deliberation: to shift from adversarial debates to thoughtful, evidence-based discussions where all voices contribute to a facilitated and consensus-based approach.
What will the network do?
The network is about imagining change. But is also about doing the hard work of making change happen. Through workshops, field trips, and collaborative residencies, network members will test and refine innovative models of citizen-led decision-making.
Together, we aim to illustrate ways to deliver more equitable and impactful decisions, to create more open governance structures and influence statutory, policy and funding frameworks.
The network is a space for people to learn, experiment, and lead.
First network residency for members at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, October 2024; photo James Allan
Advocacy and systems change
The decision-making structures we currently use, such as voluntary governance for charities, often reinforce systemic inequalities. These models tend to favour those with existing power, privilege, and access to networks, making it harder for diverse voices to shape decision-making in a meaningful way. To achieve democratic governance, we need to rethink these systems.
The network will work together to make the case for wider systemic change to enable democratic decision-making. As an example, we want to meet with the Charity Commission to explore governance models which embrace citizen-led decision-making. We also recognise the need for reform in other areas where decision-making structures reinforce inequality, including:
Public sector & local government decision-making – ensuring councils and public services embed participatory and deliberative approaches.
Funding & philanthropy – shifting how grants and resources are allocated to be more transparent and citizen-led.
Cultural & arts institutions – opening up governance, programming, and funding decisions to be shaped by citizens.
Political decision-making & democratic institutions – challenging hierarchical systems that limit public influence in policy-making.
Why Now?
Trust in decision-making and in conventional institutions is at an all-time low; whether in politics, business, or in arts and culture. Many people feel disconnected from the decisions that affect their lives.
This network is a response to that. It’s about testing whether citizen-led models can offer something more equitable and sustainable — something that feels human rather than institutional.
We don’t think this is a quick fix or a silver bullet. But we do believe that by working together, we can contribute towards a wider movement of citizen-led decision-making.
Ultimately, we would like to see a House of Citizens in Parliament - imagine a House of Citizens instead of the House of Lords. We want the Citizens In Power Network helps to build momentum for a new kind of decision-making.
First network residency for members at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, October 2024; photo James Allan
Who is involved?
The network came together via an open call made by Citizens In Power between September and December 2023. The ideas for the network and how it will operate were shaped by the people and organisations who responded to that open call.
The network includes:
Members - actively delivering citizen-led decision-making projects during the life of the network
Associates - engaged as a wider learning community for citizen-led decision-making
Experts - providing specialist knowledge to members and associates
There is a list of current Members, Associates and Experts at the bottom of this webpage.
How can I find out more?
If you want more information about how the network operates, we have created a memorandum of understanding primarily as a framework for members and associates which is a useful source of info. We also have a strategic road map which sets out our ambitions.
How is the Network funded?
We are grateful to Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation for their pioneering spirit and for supporting the network with funding for an initial three years.
How to stay connected?
The Associates and Experts strands remain open, so if you are interested to join the network please get in touch.
If you’re interested in following the journey of the Citizens In Power Network you can also stay updated by signing up for the Citizens In Power newsletter.
We will share stories from the network, reflections on what we are learning, and resources for anyone curious about this approach on this website.
For now, we’re just getting started. There is a lot to figure out and we are excited about the potential of the network to inspire change. Let us know what you think. Do you want to join as an Associate or Expert? Are there things we should be exploring? People we should connect with? Drop us a line—we’d love to hear from you.
Member residency at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Oct 2024; photo James Allan
Network members
Birmingham Museums Trust, Citizens' Jury: Rob Lewis; Rosie Barker; Sara Wajid MBE; Zak Mensah
Citizens for Culture, West of England: Anjali Prashar-Savoie (Trinity Community Arts); David Jubb (Citizens In Power); Emma Harvey (Trinity Community Arts); LaToyah McAllister-Jones (St Pauls Carnival); Sarah James (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority)
Creative Barking and Dagenham, London: Sarah Wickens
Everyone Here, Jury for Joy, West Cumbria: Kieran Sheehan; Sam Hunt; Unique Spencer
Metal Culture, Liverpool, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea:: Laura Hensser; Susie Thornberry
Moseley Road Baths CIO, Birmingham: Lucy Reid (Chair) and Trustees
New Art Exchange, Voice Assembly, Nottingham: Adam Roe; Saad Eddine Said
We The Curious, Bristol: Mark Pickering; Nicole Briggs; Rosalie White,
Network associates
All Change
Articulate Cultural Trust
B&G Partners LLP
Campaign for the Arts
Chris Pointon, Cambridgeshire Climate Emergency
Creative Lives
creativeShiftcic
Culture Co-op, Greg Bond (Director)
Deveron Projects
Doorstep Arts
Dr Charlie Ingram, Coventry University
Eden Court Highlands
Fun Palaces, Amie Taylor
iCCi at The University of Kent
In Place of War
Ismail Khokon, CVAN EM Steering Group Member
Julia Turpin
Karen Pilkington, The Village Hub, Plymouth
Kirsty Lothian
Make/Shift
Moor Imagination Collective
Nikki Williams, The Wildlife Trusts
No Jobs in the Arts CIC
People United, Jo McLean, Clare Callan
Sarah Bradbury, Participation Consultant
Simon Coates, Participation Consultant
Sophie Forge (ActionFunder)
Stuart Mullins
Tamasha
Together Gloucester
Network experts:
Katy Rubin, Legislative Theatre
Lucy Reid, DemocracyNext
Rich Rippin, Sortition Foundation
Sarah Allan, Involve Associate
Yvonne Murphy, Talking Shop
Network funders:
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Network convenors:
David Jubb, Citizens In Power
Saad Eddine Said, Citizens In Power
The Associates and Experts strands remain open, so if you are interested to join the network please get in touch.