Huntingdonshire Pride in Place: A celebration of culture, economy, and community

In 2024 Neotists co-organised and participated in Huntingdonshire Pride in Place, a one-day conference held in November and hosted by Huntingdonshire District Council at Burgess Hall, St Ives. This event brought together national and local experts to discuss the district’s visitor economy, investment opportunities, and cultural development.

Neotists co-founder Richard Slade took to the stage alongside industry leaders, including Dr Nik Johnson (Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough), Andrew Stokes (VisitBritain), Paul Sweeney (Huntingdon BID), and Amy Priestley (Lead Urban Designer at Urban Movement), to highlight the role of arts and culture in shaping Huntingdonshire’s future.

Neotists and the power of culture

Richard’s presentation explored how creativity and culture are fundamental to economic growth, civic pride, and community identity. The talk centred on the concept of Pride of Place—the idea that fostering a strong cultural scene encourages investment, attracts visitors, and strengthens local engagement.

“When a place has a strong cultural identity, it transforms into more than just a location—it becomes an experience. Creativity brings people together, drives innovation, and builds a community that people want to be part of,” Richard explained.

Over the past decade, Neotists has been at the forefront of cultural development in St Neots and beyond, delivering arts festivals, workshops, murals, film screenings, and strategic consultations. These initiatives not only showcase local talent but also attract visitors and generate economic benefits for businesses.

A shared vision for Huntingdonshire

Throughout the conference, speakers echoed a shared ambition: to position Huntingdonshire as a thriving, creative, and economically resilient destination.

Paul Sweeney, Huntingdon BID Manager, discussed efforts to revitalise town centres, including branding campaigns, cultural events, and sound installations to enhance the visitor experience. Meanwhile, Dr Nik Johnson highlighted the region’s natural beauty and historical significance, from the Great Ouse Valley to the Oliver Cromwell Museum, as key assets for attracting tourists.

Andrew Stokes from VisitBritain underscored the importance of regional tourism strategies, urging Huntingdonshire to take a proactive role in shaping its visitor economy by joining the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) programme.

LVEPs are a VisitBritian initiative that covers the whole of England and promotes collaboration locally, regionally and nationally on shared priorities and targets. The mission is to support and grow the visitor economy through robust destination management, strong stakeholder relationships and clear planning.

Showcasing local businesses

A key part of the day was the business showcase, where organisations from across Huntingdonshire set up stalls to highlight their community work, sustainability efforts, and contributions to the local economy. Attendees had the opportunity to network, learn about local initiatives, and discover the incredible work being done across the district.

The following organisations took part:

  • Keystone Marketing
  • Holt Island Nature Reserve
  • Grafham Water Centre
  • Williams Wines
  • Cambridge ACRE
  • National Trust – Houghton Mill
  • One Leisure
  • Glebe Farm
  • Hunts Futures
  • Cambridge Regional College
  • Huntingdonshire Economic Development Team
  • Local Plan Team
  • Discover Huntingdon
  • Active Lifestyles
  • Cromwell Museum

Looking ahead

The Pride in Place conference reinforced the importance of collaboration between local government, businesses, and creative organisations in shaping the future of Huntingdonshire. With Neotists at the heart of the district’s creative sector, we are committed to continuing our work in fostering artistic innovation, cultural vibrancy, and economic opportunity for the community.

As we move forward, we invite local artists, businesses, and residents to join us in shaping a Huntingdonshire that is not only historically rich and naturally beautiful but also a dynamic cultural hub that people want to visit, live in, and invest in.