We asked attendees to really try and inhabit the future that was described (they had space to adjust it if it there was something missing or not quite right); to imagine how it looked, sounded, smelled.
Then the task was to look at how we might, collectively, realise that future Coventry. What will we need to do, to put in place? And what are the barriers we will have to overcome?
Each group had a cardboard building to work with. They were asked to write their actions onto post-its and to stick those to the building. Actions stuck near the foundations of the building were those we could get on with pretty soon, and barriers that should be relatively easy to overcome. Those stuck nearer the roof might take a bit more time.
These statements were inspired by the various overlapping strategies and priorities that are already current in the city (and you can read about those here).
These are the statements each group began with:
A. PARTNERSHIP & INVESTMENT
In 2030, elders, leaders and decision-makers have a well developed understanding of what can be gained by threading cultural activity through all aspects of civic life. Creativity unites people, strengthens community and amplifies the positive results of all kinds of initiatives. There is real respect for artists and creative practitioners as equal partners who bring a different skillset. There is a growing appreciation of the ‘unexpected additionality’ artist involvement can bring – they do not just create artworks but add value to all kinds of areas – from research to community problem-solving to policy development and more. External funding successes continue to grow the creative sector; allowing this place to strategically invest in organisations and individual artists – both to enable them to develop their own creative practice and to create projects for the city and its communities. The value of ideas is recognised and there is a city-wide commitment to pay fairly and promptly for artists’ time.
B. VALUE & SPACES
In 2030, this is a place that values creativity and collaboration. There is a growing understanding of the value of the arts, culture and creativity to this place, and of what is needed for creative activity to thrive at every level from hobbyist to specialist. There is vibrant network of accessible (in every sense) spaces to make and share work, an active commitment to the provision, upkeep and maintenance of public art, heritage assets and cultural buildings to a high standard – and an understanding of the way this relatively small investment impacts on place-making, perceived value, community, social cohesion and civic pride.
C. EDUCATION & CAREERS
In 2030, the ‘Coventry Curriculum’ proposed during the City of Culture bidding process has been gradually rolled out across the city’s schools after a successful pilot. Supporting academic learning with a focus on creative skills, creative thinking, collaboration and team work, through a rich and nurturing curriculum of creative, visual, music and performing arts, special projects and extra-curricular activity, the ‘Coventry Curriculum’ has also proved effective in rebuilding young people’s social and emotional health to levels unseen since before the pandemic. The numbers of young people choosing to study creative and practical subjects at GCSE and A level has begun to climb steadily across the region, more arts teachers are being trained and employed, and every school now offers clear career pathways to creative jobs, in partnership with the sector locally.
D. COMMUNITY, BELONGING & PRIDE
In 2030, this is a place that likes to say ‘yes’. There is real mutual respect, a vibrant sense of civic pride and engagement, diversity is deeply valued, and collaboration is prized above competition. We are energised by working collectively across sectors and across communities. There is a culture of openness, and a willingness to experiment and learn together. There is a strong sense of community and belonging. People across the region place a high value on arts and cultural activity. They are proud to live in this place, and they make the most of the many opportunities to discover, enjoy, participate, learn or share in high quality creative and cultural activity. People are curious, well-connected and well-informed: they know where to look for information about what’s on, but they also enjoy being surprised by unexpected arts experiences – both close to home and further afield.
E. INCLUSION & DEMOCRACY
In 2030, the people who live here are proud of this welcoming and democratic place. A place where we work together to uplift everyone and dissolve divisions, and use arts and culture as tools to help our communities imagine – and grow – their own agency to make change happen. We pioneered the use of Citizens’ Assemblies in arts (and other) policy making, and the way we have placed inclusive people-powered creativity and collaboration at the centre of local democracy means that we often welcome representatives from across the world eager to learn from our innovations.
F. HEALTH & WELLBEING
In 2030, taking part in arts and cultural activity has been recognised as vital to wellbeing for a number of years. Every neighbourhood now has growing numbers of good and affordable facilities, networks, practitioners and transport links – and fewer people identify as lonely. Community cultural resources from allotments to parenting classes, faith centres to pottery studios, youth centres to repair cafes are thriving. These are rightly seen as excellent places to develop valuable personal, social and even academic skills. Many help re-connect people to nature, as well as to each other. They are useful tools in tackling inequalities, they promote wellbeing and aid recovery from mental ill health.
G. AMBITION, SPECTACLE, MASS EXPERIENCE
In 2030, flourishing artistic, creative and cultural activity makes this place feel alive – full of joy, self-expression, togetherness, spectacle and wonder. This place understands the importance of telling stories and finding ways to communicate its unique – and collective – experiences. People value the small and personal moments but also relish the thrill, and appreciate the importance, of gathering to be a part of something big – of mass storytelling through large-scale arts events. This place makes good use of arts and culture to show how its ambition sits alongside its drive for social change. The critical mass of cultural activity has made this area an attractive place to live, study and work.
H. RESEARCH, BUSINESS, INNOVATION
In 2030, Coventry University and the University of Warwick recognise the mutual benefit of investing in, and working with, the city’s artists through joint research projects and long term learning partnerships. Seeing artists as researchers enriches both parties’ work and their understanding about the world, as well as transforming the communication, and deepening the impact, of research findings. The development of this research-partnership methodology has drawn interest and investment from across Higher Education and Business. An Artists’ Accreditation scheme conveys reduced rate access for members to selected central shared resources, and the Universities demonstrate a genuine commitment to supporting independent artists (not only recent graduates) through sharing access to resources such as printing facilities, 3D fabrication, digital, library access, tuition etc. Accelerated changes in technology / AI and how these affect our lives and opportunities for creative expression are explored and communicated, as well as the role that artists can play in bringing together specialists and communities across disciplines and walks of life to collaborate and enhance innovation.
I. NEIGHBOURHOOD GREEN ACTION
In 2030, this place is leading the way in creatively and fairly transitioning to a low-carbon future. Arts and culture are embedded in the support, encouragement and creative confidence building that empower communities to develop and deploy the tools which will shape the just transition/climate justice in their neighbourhoods. Embedded artists and residents-who-are-also-artists help to connect neighbourhoods and projects, and to communicate between them. Creative connections between communities, plus neighbourhood peer-to-peer learning, continue to grow access to the investment needed to build this network of renewable community-owned power generating stations.
J. HERITAGE & INNOVATION
In 2030, this place uses the knowledge, expertise and lessons of its history and heritage to shape and steer innovation for its future. Arts, cultural and heritage buildings have been sympathetically retrofitted to future-proof them against wild weather events and they are hooked up to the alternative local grid of renewable community power generation that has brought household bills down across the city. The intensive retro-fitting project was used as a training scheme and this place now boasts a huge number of highly-skilled, well-qualified and in-demand creative tradespeople specialising in retro-fitting green infrastructure (solar power, green roofing, rain and grey water capture etc) to heritage and cultural buildings.
The Culture Works Collective 