CDF Symposium: Re-Imagining Place
The Cultural Development Fund (CDF) Symposium, Re-Imagining Place: Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Through Culture, took place at the Guildhall Worcester in March 2023, marking the culmination of the five first round Cultural Development Fund (CDF) projects and offering opportunities to celebrate, share learning, connect and be inspired by those projects in Grimsby, Plymouth, Thames Estuary, Wakefield and Worcester.
The event brought together policymakers in national and local government, academics, researchers, the creative sector and leading cultural organisations to explore the theme of sustainable and inclusive growth through culture, including a welcome address by Minster for Arts and Heritage, Lord Parkinson.
Attendees included funders, policymakers, peers and practitioners from organisations including:
Arts Council England, Creative PEC, DCMS, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, Emergency Exit Arts, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Steer-ED, several leading universities and 18 local authorities across the length and breadth of England.
Videos of all sessions will be available shortly on CulturalPlacemaking.com
Speakers and Agenda
| Time | Activity | Speakers/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30am – 10am. | Registration | Tea, coffee and morning pastries will be provided |
| 10am – 10:05am | Introduction | Jason Jones-Hall (Event MC), Director of Development, Five10Twelve / CDF Network |
| 10:05am – 10:10am | Opening Address | Lord Parkinson, Minster for Arts and Heritage |
| 10:10am – 10:20am | Welcome | Cllr Adrian Gregson, Mayor of Worcester |
| 10:20am – 10:30am | Introduction to CDF Round 1 Projects | Paul Bristow, Director Policy and Partnerships, Arts Council England |
| 10:30am | Film1 | Short film highlighting one of the five first round CDF projects |
| 10:30am -11:25am | Panel 1: Capital Projects | Sara Turnbull (Chair), Director, WorkWild Ben Cook, Service Manager, Culture, Wakefield Council David Blake, Managing Director, Worcester City Council Lindsey Hall, CEO Real Ideas Annabel McCourt, Independent Artist |
| 11:25am -11:30am | Film 2 | Short film highlighting one of the five first round CDF projects |
| 11:30am – 12:25pm | Panel 2: Activating Spaces | Tracey Sage (Chair), Sage Culture Natalie Adams, Joint CEO, Trigger Thea Behrman, Senior Project Manager, Estuary Festival, Metal Culture Elaine Knight, Arts Director, Severn Arts James Trowsdale, Strategic Lead for Culture, NE Lincs Council |
| 12:25pm – 12:30pm | Film 3 | Short film highlighting one of the five first round CDF projects |
| 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Lunch | Sandwiches, finger buffet selection, tea, coffee |
| 1:30pm – 1:35pm | Film 4 | Short film highlighting one of the five first round CDF projects |
| 1:35pm – 2:30pm | Panel 3: Developing People, Businesses and Communities | Paul Bristow (Chair), Arts Council England Chris Bennewith, Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business, University of Plymouth Steven Dobson, Associate Professor, University of Leeds Alice Heggie, Skills Development Manager, Creative Estuary Jabba Riaz, Chair, Worcester Mela |
| 2:30pm – 2:35pm | Film 5 | Short film highlighting one of the five first round CDF projects |
| 2:35pm – 3:30pm | Panel 4: Legacy and Sustainability | Emma Wilcox (Chair), Director, Creative Estuary Kevin McGeough Lisa February/Matt Gray, Directors, Lowercase Theatre Emma Hanes, Deputy Head, Steer-ED Julie Russell, Service Director, Arts and Culture, Wakefield Council |
| 3:30pm – 3:45pm | Closing Statements and Actions | Jason Jones-Hall |
| 3:45pm – 4:30pm | Networking / Refreshments | Tea, coffee, soft drinks and cake |
| 4:30pm | ENDS – |
CDF Networking Event
For those staying in Worcester on the night of 8th March, there was an opportunity to join the Cultural Development Fund (CDF) Network and partners to celebrate the completion of the first round CDF projects at The Arches, Worcester, just a short walk from Worcester’s Foregate Street station and High Street, on Wednesday 8th March, 6pm-8pm.
This informal early evening event was timed to coincide with the Re-Imagining Place symposium, which was held at Worcester’s Guildhall on the following day.
Activities and networking opportunities at the evening event included:
- Meet the five first round CDF project teams from Creative Estuary, Grimsby, Plymouth, Wakefield and Worcester at Arch 27
- A special exhibition celebrating the Arches Worcester Festivals at Artery Gallery, Arch 28
- Network with other symposium speakers and attendees, including funders, project partners and the 7 second round CDF projects from across England
