The Culture Works Collective

With the help of cultural sector colleagues, Salla Virman (new Head of Culture and Creative Economy, see below) is coordinating the next step in The Future Works canon, to build on what we achieved together in January. This is because, in order to start bringing investment into Coventry to support strategic arts and cultural activity across the city, she needs more detail and also to be confident that she is applying from a solid base agreed by the widest possible group of stakeholders – this second event is intended to get us all to this point.

So what has happened since we gathered at the Cathedral for The Future Works?

(a) In the spirit of openness and collectivity, all of the data and materials generated at TFW event was shared online almost immediately at https://cultureworkscollective.wordpress.com/ – if you haven’t already read this, or you’d like a refresher, it’s all there along with transcribed post-it notes and Andy Moore’s lovely photos.

(b) This material was used by the City Council to prepare a successful bid to the West Midlands Combined Authority for some devolved funds to support arts and cultural activity. Among other things, this included a cultural assets audit ‘What We Got?‘ led by Shoot Festival and Love&Madness working with a group of freelance artists; ‘Green Ways‘ based on the Neighbourhood Green Action group work at TFW and the Citizens’ Assembly recommendations led by Talking Birds working with eight commissioned artists; Four ‘Made in Cov‘ commissions working with communities across the city (led by Art Riot Collective, ATLA Community, Avant House and Street Art Strategy); and the further development of the strategic and sectoral development work begun at The Future Works (including TFW II event in October, see below).

(c) The Council appointed Salla Virman as Head of Culture and Creative Economy, a newly created post signalling the Local Authority’s belief in, and support for, arts and culture going forwards. The post has been co-funded by Coventry University and the University of Warwick, and Salla started work in mid-July. Part of Salla’s role is to bring investment into the city to support activity that will deliver the Cultural Strategy.

(d) You’ll remember that one of the key outcomes of The Future Works event was the exciting proposition of Coventry doing Cultural Strategy differently – ie collectively – going forwards. Since TFW this proposition has been further interrogated, and a working shape that we believe can enable a collectively held and delivered strategy to function in an authentic and inclusive way – whilst still fulfilling legal requirements with regards to governance and fundraising – now exists in draft form. This collective will work best if it includes people from business, healthcare, environment, charities, communities, residents (and so on) alongside those already involved (Council, Universities, Chamber, BID and the Arts Sector) – all working together to shape a better future for our city using arts, culture and creativity. The work on evolving the existing Cultural Compact/Culture Works framework into a collective model has been largely led by representatives from the Cultural Sector (inc. large and small organisational and freelance voices), the Universities and the Council – but The Future Works II event (to be held at the Transport Museum on October 15th) will be our opportunity to agree as a City that this is indeed the right way for us to move forwards.