Future Works II findings
The Future Works II gathering on 15 October 2024 drew together almost 200 people working across the city in the arts, culture, creative industries, heritage, tourism, health and wellbeing, regeneration and youth services. The aim was to facilitate conversations about how arts and culture can make a positive difference in Coventry going forward, to collectively agree and deliver our priorities with a commitment to action. .
This summary draws on the discussions and feedback captured from the event, and highlights the richness of cultural activity across the city, working towards an inclusive and sustainable cultural ecosystem – as well as how we can help and support each other.
Diversity and Inclusion:
- Finding: There is strong advocacy for diversity and inclusion within the arts, matching the community's need for celebrating and integrating diverse cultures in planning and execution.
- Recommendation: Continue to expand representation in decision-making roles and amplify diverse voices in senior positions to deepen the impact of cultural inclusivity.
Lifelong Learning:
- Finding: Collaborative educational initiatives are in place, supporting lifelong learning aligned with community needs for professional development.
- Recommendation: Strengthen connections between local arts organisations and educational institutions to provide more comprehensive, on-going, business skills training and mentoring.
Green and Sustainable Practices:
- Finding: The need for sustainability was highlighted, advocating for projects that integrate green practices within the arts.
- Recommendation: Promote and expand funding for environmentally sustainable projects and consider separate strategies to address the climate crisis, emphasising its critical importance.
Economic Growth:
- Finding: Economic activities through arts and cultural projects create jobs and support entrepreneurship, corresponding with the need for sustainable economic growth.
- Recommendation: Develop more permanent premises for artistic activities to foster economic stability and reinvest economic gains back into the cultural sector.
Health and Wellbeing:
- Finding: The integration of arts into healthcare settings addresses the need for therapeutic options that can enhance community health and wellbeing.
- Recommendation: Increase the accessibility and integration of arts into health promotion, ensuring programmes are inclusive and reach vulnerable groups.
Partnerships and Community Engagement:
- Finding: There is a robust framework for partnerships and community engagement, but more can be done to ensure these initiatives are truly accessible and involve proactive community outreach.
- Recommendation: Develop more centralised communication hubs and utilise public spaces to engage communities more effectively, with the aim of integrating arts and culture into more people’s everyday lives.
Operational and Strategic Enhancements:
- Finding: Current efforts to streamline processes and reduce bureaucracy are on-going, to meet the need for simpler administrative procedures.
- Recommendation: Focus on reducing red tape further and enhance the responsiveness of cultural organisations, at the same time continue to empower local communities in cultural policy decision-making.
Needs and offers
Coventry’s Cultural Synergy: Matching Community Needs with Arts Initiatives
In Coventry, the cultural landscape is continuing to evolve - aligning community-driven needs with specific offerings from the arts and culture sector.
Diversity: A Commitment to Inclusion
Offer: There were many offers of advocacy for diverse practice across the arts, as well as engaging with communities that included local artists who have previously experienced exclusion from decision-making processes.
There is a Need to celebrate diversity by ensuring ongoing representation of diverse communities in cultural events and planning.
Match: Both the offer and need emphasise enhancing diversity and inclusivity in the arts, both focus on broad community engagement and representation.
Lifelong Learning: Developing Skills and Opportunities
Offer: Collaborative efforts with educational institutions to provide training and retain local talent through meaningful mentorship and workshops were a key offer.
Need: A clear demand for business skills training and professional development opportunities for local creatives was highlighted.
Match: There is a significant overlap in providing educational opportunities and professional growth for artists, aligning the training offerings with the specific skills the community needs.
Green Futures: Embracing Sustainability
Offer: Projects focusing on environmental sustainability and securing funding for climate-friendly practices.
Need: Community support for environmental care and applying best practices in sustainability.
Match: Both offers and needs reflect a strong commitment to integrating sustainable practices within the arts, aiming for environmental stewardship.
Economic Growth: Cultivating Local Talent and Business
Offer: Creation of job opportunities and economic activities through the arts, supporting entrepreneurship and strategic planning.
Need: Sustainable funding models and development of premises for artistic activities to foster economic stability and growth.
Match: There's a clear connection in fostering economic growth through the arts, with both offers and needs focusing on creating sustainable job opportunities and supporting local business models in the arts sector.
Health and Wellbeing: Arts as Therapy
Offer: Integration of arts into healthcare settings and supporting mental health through accessible art projects.
Need: Integrating creative arts programmes in healthcare to enhance patient and staff wellbeing, the need to address loneliness through cultural activities.
Match: The therapeutic use of arts to support health and wellbeing was a common thread, with both offers and needs recognising the potential of arts to heal and unite communities.
Partnerships: Strengthening Collaborations
Offer: Developing international exchanges and collaborations with various stakeholders to enhance cultural projects.
Need: Building long-term relationships with local authorities and businesses to secure resources and support for cultural activities.
Match: Strong partnerships are crucial, and both sides are looking to enhance collaboration among local and international entities to amplify cultural impact.
Community Engagement: Accessibility and Relevance
Offer: Making art and cultural events more accessible and relevant to local communities through proactive community outreach.
Need: More engagement and outreach to inform the community about available cultural activities and opportunities.
Match: The focus on increasing community engagement through the arts aligns perfectly, aiming to make cultural participation more accessible and relevant to all residents.
So what happens next?
The next step is to recruit the members of the Culture Works Cultural Compact – called ‘The Reps’. Once in place, the members of Culture Works will then review all the recommendations and work together to see how we can collectively take them forward as part of the Coventry Cultural Strategy 20217-2027 delivery.