Group Prompt: 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.
Group facilitator: Jess Pinson
Two groups of very different people, treating each other’s knowledge and skillset with great respect. All celebrating the brilliance of Coventry’s creative offer and it’s potential. In recognising the huge amount of work going on across the city they were able to identify areas where working together for the common good. The passion was infectious and the value of working on a common goal from our range of perspectives was evident. This very
much felt like the beginning of something, a network to invest in.
Key themes included:
- Evidence for the value of arts activity in the city – how we capture the evidence held in different organisations that proves the value of the arts in our community. How the evidence can be transparent and available to everyone. How we continue to gather good quality evidence and evaluate well. How we can use our skills as artists to share the data and stories.
- Welcome – how to welcome and support creatives, freelancers and others into our
- community. How can we dissolve barriers between different kinds of cultural activities in the city, to value all to the same degree, and cross-pollinate between them.
- Bring back carnival!! – increase participation at different levels for communities, increase opportunities for artists to work and network.
- City-wide data sharing of evaluations and return on social investment information.
- Evaluation skills should be shared and embedded.
- Research allows us to make the case for value of arts.
- AHRC have already done a lot of studies – use this study based research combined with existing knowledge to bridge the gap of value perception of arts in civic life
- More sharing of evaluations.
- We can use our skills to share this research – artists have a wide range of ways of telling or sharing stories
- Formalise a pool or network to share opportunities, also to increase the welcome to new people wanting to enter the artist/freelancer network in the city. This should be both digital and physical
- There are a huge number of community arts activities in the city (children’s dance groups, choirs, am dram, drummers etc) – how do we increase their welcome into our network – how to ensure they have the resources they need – create opportunities for them to engage in events and ensure there is financial recompense.
- How do we cross pollinate? People who are involved with one type of activity in the city being exposed to other things i.e. Irish dancers being invited to another event and finding a passion for another performance style – is this a case for a better what’s on, better sharing of opportunities by us all, inviting groups to more things, a place for Go CV?
Quick Wins:
- Pick up the Fair Pay Project that CoC started. Ensure mentors are available to freelancers who are negotiating with an employer and utilising the project. Ask major local arts employers to sign up to the terms of the project. Include other working rights issues such as access riders.
- Create a city-wide What’s On. Explore the potential to link with Go CV card.
Transcript of post-its: from base of building (easy) to roof (harder/longer-term)
- Pick up the city of culture fair pay project
- City-wide data sharing of proper evaluation of project’s return on social investment.
- Research AHRC study based research opportunities & existing knowledge to bridge the gap of value perception – arts in civic life.
- Make the case to businesses as well. Research – use our skills to share the facts & tell the stories
- What’s on for the City!
- How to involve comm projects (i.e. students dance) so involved in arts – already mobilised – how to cross pollinate with other activities. Go CV? Potential for more orgs to sign up to GoCV if it helps them reach all CV1-6?
- Community Arts – well represented in the city. How can we welcome – ensure they have resources – monetary recompense (meet in evenings for comm to attend)
- Pool or network to share opportunities. Increase welcome to the artist / freelancer network (digital & physical networks)
- Bring back Carnival! Increase participation at different levels for communities.
- People to welcome to our thriving & brilliant community, to collate opportunities: ‘things to do’, ‘jobs’, ‘funds’
- About Coventry not surrounding areas. Central ticket office, What’s on
- Invite more people to these type of activities: F13/Creative comm, Social Prescribers, NHS, Visit Coventry
The Culture Works Collective 