Warwick District Council launches new programme of free professional development workshops to support local artists and creatives

Warwick District Council’s Arts Section has begun a comprehensive programme of professional development workshops, providing local creatives and organisations with the valuable resources needed to connect, collaborate and ultimately strengthen the artistic communities of Warwick District.

The programme, part of Warwick District Council's ongoing commitment to support and nurture creative talent, includes a series of free workshops hosted by the Hidden Artist Network from Sasolo Arts and Development. Each workshop covers key areas of creative and business development, guiding artists from idea conception through to execution. Designed to build skills and create connections, these sessions empower local artists and creators to bring their ideas to life.

The first workshop, titled “Building Relationships,” took place last month at Hill Close Gardens in Warwick. Sixteen local creatives attended, with many receiving free bursary awards to support travel and childcare, ensuring accessibility for all. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with participants highlighting the benefits of the networking and knowledge shared.

Saskia Coburn, Director of Sasolo Arts said: “We were thrilled with the success of our first session and the feedback from participants. These workshops are designed to make a lasting impact on local creatives, and we look forward to delivering our next three sessions on community engagement, team building, and finance and fundraising over the coming months.”

This new initiative follows the success of a previous series of free professional development workshops funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Over the summer, Warwick District Council organised sessions at the Royal Pump Rooms in Leamington and St John’s House in Warwick. These workshops focused on essential skills, including social media marketing and audience development - topics that local creatives identified as their top priorities.

Participants praised the sessions, noting their value in helping creative organisations expand their reach and better serve their audiences. Comments included:

“Fantastic training session that will help the organization grow our audiences.”

“This kind of session is so helpful for us as a creative company. Being given the space & time to consider who we are creating for & what our audience needs is vital for our content to be meaningful. Thank you!”

Warwick District Council’s Arts Section is committed to providing ongoing support to the region’s vibrant creative community.

Councillor Ella Billiald, Portfolio Holder for Arts & Economy, said: “We have a rich and vibrant creative community across the four towns in Warwick District, and we are delighted that we can provide tailored support to address local needs. These professional support programmes are already proving to be immensely valuable, and we are planning new opportunities to offer further support in the New Year.”

For more information about upcoming workshops and how to get involved, please visit The Hidden Artist website.