A pioneering partnership is to be created to help deliver Coventry’s ambitious 10-year Cultural Strategy.
Coventry City Council is to join forces with Coventry University, University of Warwick, and leaders from the cultural, creative and wider sectors in the city as part of the programme.
Known as Coventry Culture Works, the partnership will see the Council work alongside local partners to deliver the city’s cultural strategy and attract investment into the cultural and creative economy for the wider benefit of the city.
Following on from Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture, Coventry City Council is setting out its commitment to continuing to work with cultural and creative sector partners.
The Council, through Culture Works, will support development of a new Cultural Strategy Action Plan which will be underpinned by increased support for the cultural, creative and heritage sectors of the city. This includes a commitment to joint investment from Coventry City Council, Coventry University and the University of Warwick in a new Head of Culture and Creative Economy role, alongside the Council’s ongoing investment in the Albany Theatre and City Centre Cultural Gateway capital projects.
University of Warwick will be launching Warwick’s Culture - a new Cultural Strategy that builds on its existing commitments. This new cultural strategy includes commitment to investment, sustainability and developing partnerships. The University will also be supporting neighbouring communities by ensuring its campus is a welcome space for residents of the region to enjoy.
Coventry University will be creating a cultural hub within the City Centre Cultural Gateway, to be used both by University students and the public. The Hub, which is planned to transform the top two floors of the former city centre IKEA building will contain a gallery, café, library and exhibition space, dance studio and more.
Councillor David Welsh, whose Cabinet Portfolio of Housing and Communities covers arts and culture, believes the partnership will provide future opportunities for arts and culture organisations across the city.
He said: “I am delighted to be forming this partnership with Coventry University and University of Warwick and I welcome their commitment to working with our cultural and creative sectors, alongside wider partners, in such an important area of development for our city.
“The partnership, which will be developed with the sector, will seek to support a wide range of activities rooted in our cultural strategy. From supporting grassroots organisations so we can partner and co-create cultural activities with our communities, to securing investment and creating opportunities for those who work in creative roles in Coventry.
“Working alongside two dedicated organisations with strong links to the sector means we can build on what has already been achieved in recent years, support the city’s cultural organisations, and focus on delivering an ambitious cultural offer.”
As part of Coventry Culture Works, a new project grants programme for the cultural sector is in development. Previous rounds of project grants provided by Coventry City Council saw 39 awards made to local not-for-profit cultural organisations and community organisations delivering cultural activities across the city. This programme saw the city gain £530,000 of matched investment for cultural activities and programmes in Coventry communities.