Views needed to shape the future of culture and communities

The views of artists and educators working in community settings across the North are being sought by the University of Chester.

The University’s Philip Barker Centre for Creative Learning is holding an online conference called Whose Culture is it Anyway?!? in September and is looking for those in the arts, culture and HE sector to contact them to shape the themes.

The conference which will take place on Friday, September 11 will explore how the arts and culture sector views the work of artists working in and with communities; how it values these artists; how artistic excellence can be redefined in the 21^st Century and how higher education training and careers can be developed.

The conference is open to individual freelance artists or groups of artists; arts and community-based organisations and charities; arts and culture venues; schools, Further Education colleges and universities; specialist Higher Education Institutions, such as music colleges; arts and culture funding bodies, charitable foundations and bridge organisations; local and national Government bodies; public sector organisations and policy-makers and change-makers.

The Centre was established in 2016 to stimulate, support and explore creativity and the arts across the life course. It does this by creating opportunities for collaborations to develop integrated practice between artists, educators, health and social care professionals; develops creative experiences which challenge growing social, cultural and health inequalities; generates evidence of people’s creative experiences and advocates for integrated practice so that people feel enabled to reach their full potential.

Nick Ponsillo, Director of the Philip Barker Centre for Creative Learning, said: “We want your views and experiences to understand the current context to shape the starting point of conference discussion. We are keen to hear from individual artists or groups of artists working with members of the community, those recruiting and employing artists working with members of the community such as CEOs, producers and managers of arts organisations or those involved in or training the next generation of artists working with members of the community at Higher Education Institutions to send us their views.”

Send your views by email to k.catling@chester.ac.uk with the subject line: Whose culture is it anyway?!? for Friday, June 26, 2020.