Derby, the city at the heart of the country, with culture at its heart.
The people of Derby are its greatest cultural asset, with a diversity of backgrounds, knowledge and ideas, creating a rich cultural mix.
Our city and its communities are a physical expression of Derby’s history, heritage and culture.
Innovation and creativity have been shaping Derby from the birth of the industrial revolution and are informing our future ambition.
Culture will be a driver for place making, creating a vibrant city where people want to live, work, visit and invest.
“Derby and its people have a rich cultural heritage; we are a city of many voices and languages, with a desire to learn, create and celebrate.”
Culture is fundamental to Derby's ambition to create a confident, diverse economy, and a place of health and happiness.
"Derby is a city that has always had creativity and innovation at its heart but more importantly we believe that every resident and visitor should benefit from the power of arts and culture to make change for the better.
"Derby is a diverse, global city and our City of Culture bid will reflect both the unique qualities of the city and the unifying human qualities that bind us together."
Adam Buss, CEO, QUAD
Culture Strategy
The strategy presents our 10 year vision for culture in the city, building on our rich heritage and setting our ambition for the future.
Latest News
January 21, 2022
QUAD has announced three writing courses and workshops for 2022, covering poetry and novel writing and self-publishing. Writing Poetry is a six-week course led…
January 12, 2022
A chorus of Voices are backing Derby’s ambition to become UK City of Culture 2025, as the deadline approaches for the final bid to…
January 5, 2022
A new exhibition in QUAD, called FUTURE FOCUS, part of FORMAT International Photography Festival and QUAD’s artist support and mentoring schemes, will showcase the…
December 6, 2021
Representing the future of dance, Karam Singh is soon to become a household name. Derby born and bred, his raw talent and hard work…
December 3, 2021
925 arts, heritage and cultural organisations to benefit from share of £107 million. Emergency grants providing a lifeline to organisations supported by the Fund…
November 5, 2021
Derby Book Festival’s Autumn Edition starts today, Friday 5 November with 10 events in QUAD over the weekend and a special event with poet…
November 5, 2021
Derby will be dreaming of a Blue Christmas in the best possible way when singer Simon Webbe switches on the city centre Christmas…
October 28, 2021
Derby Book Festival has today (28 October) launched a new book of writing by Derby College students as part of its Shared Writing community…
October 21, 2021
On Saturday 23 October, the Museum of Making opens its doors to celebrate makers and all things making with Assemble, Derby’s very own Making Festival.…
October 13, 2021
Festive Derby comes back to light next month with the return of a live stage show at a new city centre location to mark…
Derby is a place where rivers meet; where the uplands of the Peaks meet the plain of the Trent.
This environment was a meeting place for people, traders and cultures, from the Saxons and the Danes of the 9th century to the multicultural city of today. Derby has commerce, making and looking outwards in its soul.
