Partner
Courage Works
Culture, communities and place consultancy led by placemaking specialist Dr Cara Courage
About the partnership
Courage Works is the consultancy of Dr Cara Courage, a cultural strategist, evaluator and internationally published placemaking specialist. It works with local authorities, museums and heritage organisations, universities, funders and community-led groups on cultural strategy, evaluation, governance and public participation, with a particular focus on how culture and creativity can give people real influence over the places they live.
Cara was previously Head of Tate Exchange and Interim Co-Director of Learning and Research at Tate. She is author of Arts in Place, lead editor of The Routledge Handbook of Placemaking and co-editor of Trauma Informed Placemaking. Recent Courage Works commissions include co-developing Birmingham City Council’s Art in the Public Realm Strategy for 2025 to 2045, setting up resident-led governance and commissioning around the Glovers Walk site in Yeovil during Somerset’s local government reorganisation, and evaluating National Lottery Heritage Fund projects such as the Garden Museum’s Benton End Revived. Cara also chairs Phoenix Art Space in Brighton.
Always Possible and Courage Works have collaborated on a run of cultural and place commissions, combining our research, economic analysis and local government knowledge with Courage Works’ expertise in cultural assets, governance and placemaking.
Our biggest project together is the Devon Councils Cultural Assets Commission, delivered in 2026 for Devon’s councils in partnership with Arts Council England. With local government reorganisation reshaping the county, the councils needed a shared picture of their cultural, creative and heritage assets and practical options for protecting them through the transition. Cara led the cultural asset analysis and governance work, shaping the analytical framework, the comparative research with 13 other places, and profiles for each emerging authority designed as practical tools for the councils that will inherit them.
We’re now working together again for Wealden District Council, turning our cultural sector baseline into a strategic narrative and growth plan for rural culture in the district.
Explore your next move.
Book a free discovery call with our CEO, Richard Freeman — or send us a brief and we’ll tell you honestly whether we’re the right people, and who else to try if not.