Creative Industries Focus on Maximising Impact of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021

Businesses and creative industries put their heads together to try and help maximise the impact of Coventry’s time as City of Culture.

Intersect, a networking event held at the Old Grammar School site on Hales Street, brought together big business representatives to independent artists, in a bid to discuss how the two often separate sides can work together ahead of and during 2021.

The event was organised by duo Nicola Richardson and Marianne Tavener, of events company Vortex Creates, with support from the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub.

It was the second Intersect event held in the city, with numerous meetings and activities already in place for the run up to City of Culture 2021.

Dan Thompson, award winning artist, collaborator and business man whose projects include the Empty Shop Network, gave a speech at the event, highlighting how business and creatives can work together for the greater good.

Nicola Richardson said: “We felt the need to get a discussion underway between businesses and creatives in Coventry.

“The two can so often feel like separate entities but with City of Culture 2021 on the horizon, we thought this type of event would be ideal.

“It is an ideal opportunity for businesses to realise that by working with some of the incredible creative talent we have in the city, they can open up to new ideas, while for the creative people it is a good way to show them that they don’t have to compromise their artistic integrity when working with a corporate entity.

“The reaction has been great so far and we have plenty more lined up over the next two years, but hopefully the conversations that are being had right now are going to lead to some really exciting projects.”

The Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub was established in 2014 help businesses in the region access information, advice and support to help them grow.

The team put their heads together to ensure the right businesses for the event were invited and helped promote it through their contacts.

Sarah Pagan, business development manager at the Growth Hub, said: “We work with so many businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire that we felt like we should take an interest in the business strategy ahead of City of Culture 2021.

“We invited a number of our contacts along but for us it is a chance to meet some businesses that are more on the creative side than what we are used to, so it helps us extend our reach too.

“We are delighted that the networking event was a success and look forward to interacting with Intersect in the future.”