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Covid-19: Changing Culture?

Covid-19:
Changing Culture?

17-18 November | Online

 

Introduction

An online conference sharing and discussing insights and implications from our national research programme

How has the pandemic changed the cultural sector over the last 18 months? To what extent have the ways we produce, engage with and support culture been impacted? Has the crisis pushed the sector forward through adaptation and innovation, or made it more deeply entrenched in its existing inequalities? What does this mean for the future of the sector?

Join us online on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 November for two days of exchange and connection as we share findings and insights from fifteen months of research. We’ll consider the implications for the short and long-term health of the cultural sector and discuss how together we can create a more equitable and sustainable future.

With leading contributors from across the cultural and academic sectors, Covid-19: Changing Culture? will offer you various ways to engage: tackling big topics at plenary sessions on the main stage, discussions at our roundtables, opportunities for networking, and virtual booths to explore our research at your own pace. All with the opportunity for interaction, creativity and contribution.

Focus

 

During the plenary sessions on the main stage, cultural leaders, practitioners and researchers will confront the key topics and biggest impacts facing the sector. You’ll be able to discuss plenary themes in more detail at our deep dive round tables. And look out for our branch out options where you can join a discussion on a different topic.

Social

 

Designed with cultural exchange in mind, there are opportunities to meet others to discuss research findings and session themes. You can convene your own table discussion, or take part in one-to-one speed networking.

 

 

Discover

 

Uncover insights and key findings from our 15-month national research programme on the impacts of Covid-19 on the cultural sector – at your own pace. You’ll also be able to explore resources from our project partners. We will also have a composer-in-residence  -more details soon!

Who’s it for?

If you’re a cultural practitioner or leader, policymaker, funder or researcher, there’s a space for you to be informed, energised and heard. Your contributions to the conference will help to shape our final research report and recommendations.

Visitors engaging with interactive exhibits in the Exploring Science Gallery at the Science Museum. Photo:  Science Museum Group
 Images from events at Left Bank Leeds. Photo: Sally Molineaux
 

What to expect

This conference will share findings from a national research programme led by the Centre for Cultural Value in collaboration with the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre and The Audience Agency. This project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) through UK Research and Innovation’s COVID-19 rapid rolling call.

You’ll find our programme below. You’ll take part in a mix of main stage plenary sessions, deep dive table discussions exploring the plenary themes and the option to branch out with several smaller table discussions exploring research methodologies, policy making and international impact of Covid. Alongside this will be opportunities for networking and convening your own discussions.

The conference uses the platform Airmeet. Before you book, find out what tech you’ll need to use Airmeet.  We’ll send delegates advance information about how to make the most out of Airmeet and an invite to an orientation session.

Agenda

Day 1

09:00 – 09:30

Conference venue opens

About this session

Head to the conference venue for 09:00am where you’ll be able to have a quick tour of the platform, plan your schedule for the day, and connect with other delegates either at one of our open tables or by requesting a 1-on-1 meeting.

09:30 – 10:30

10:35 – 11:05

Where next for the cultural sector?

About this session

The pandemic has forced the cultural sector to reassess, reimagine and regroup. We open the conference by asking leading voices in and beyond the cultural sector to share how we can build a fairer and more sustainable future and what our priorities should be to accelerate the pace of change.

We’ll be joined by Dr Wanda Wyporska, named top social CEO of 2020 and long time campaigner on socio-economic inequality, poet and theatremaker Ellen Renton, as well as artist, cultural researcher and drag daddy Cheddar Gorgeous. 

Continue the conversation with session speakers and conference delegates at the Deep Dive table sessions in the social lounge, immediately after at 10:35 – 11:05

Speakers

11:10 – 12:10

12:15 – 12:45

Change, sustainability & relevance: new business models

About this session

Covid-19 has shifted the core purpose, business model and strategic direction of many cultural organisations. We’ll share what our research is telling us about this and you’ll also hear from guest contributors about what this has looked like in practice.

We’ll be joined by Jo Burns, principal museum officer at The Williamson, and Mark Robinson, writer, strategist and founder of Thinking Practice.

Continue the conversation with session speakers and conference delegates at the Deep Dive table sessions in the social lounge, immediately after at 12:15 – 12:45

Speakers

12:15 – 12:45

What can we learn from international experiences of Covid?

About this session

Join international cultural advisory Anthony Sargent to discuss his latest report on Covid-19 and the global creative and cultural sector

Speakers

13:50 – 14:50

14:55 – 15:25

The impact on audiences part 1: Changing behaviours

About this session

In the first of two sessions sharing findings from The Audience Agency’s Cultural Participation Monitor, we explore the ways in which audience behaviour has changed, and the implications for the future. Guest contributors will share their perspectives on how organisations are radically rethinking their relationships with their audiences.

Sarah Price and Stephanie Pitts from the University of Sheffield will share findings from their investigation into the experience of arts organisations, audiences and freelancers in Sheffield, Mark Taylor will be sharing insights from analysis of the Taking Part survey, and we’ll be joined as well by Firstsite’s Sally Shaw.

Continue the conversation with session speakers and conference delegates at the Deep Dive table sessions in the social lounge, immediately after at 14:55 – 15:25

Speakers

14:55 – 15:25

Meet our Composer-in-residence

About this session

We’re delighted to welcome Manchester-based artist Fraz Ireland as our composer-in-residence. They will be inviting you to contribute to a piece of work. Look out for more information soon and how you can contribute to “a cloud of thoughts”.

Speakers

15:30 – 16:30

16:35 – 17:05

Creative places & new localism

About this session

In partnership with the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre
Throughout the crisis it has become clear that place-based partnerships and local cultural resources have been pivotal in helping cultural communities respond, recover and rebuild. In this session we share and discuss findings from our research and explore the case for investment in local initiatives, and discuss the lessons learned from those who got it right.

We’ll be joined by curator and research partner Lindsay Taylor; Head of Place Partnerships at Creative Scotland Karen Dick; Head of Culture Programmes at Leeds City Council Pam Johnson; and Head of Policy Unit at Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, Eliza Easton. 

Continue the conversation with session speakers and conference delegates at the Deep Dive table sessions in the social lounge, immediately after at 16:35 – 17:05

Speakers

Day 2

09:00 – 09:30

Conference venue opens

About this session

Head to the conference venue for 09:00am where you’ll be able to have a quick tour of the platform, plan your schedule for the day, and connect with other delegates either at one of our open tables or by requesting a 1-on-1 meeting.

09:30 – 10:30

10:35 – 11:05

Covid-19: The great unequaliser?

About this session

Evidence shows that Covid-19 is exacerbating existing inequalities in the cultural sector. We’ll discuss how and why this is, focusing on audiences and the cultural sector workforce. Guest contributors will share their perspectives on the impact of Covid and what needs to happen to build a more equitable sector.

Sarie Mairs Slee, Head of Salford’s Culture & Place Partnership will chair, with contributions from project researchers Karen Gray, Oliver Mantell and Tal Feder sharing findings from our research across organisations, workforce and audiences.

Continue the conversation with session speakers and conference delegates at the Deep Dive table sessions in the social lounge, immediately after at 10:35 – 11:05

Speakers

11:10 – 12:10

12:15 – 12:45

The future of cultural labour

About this session

Covid-19 has dramatically impacted the cultural sector workforce, including a deepening of existing inequalities. Some workers have been hit harder than others, and we’ll share findings from our research and discuss key findings and implications with guest contributors. How do we support those whose future in the sector is under threat, and build back a more representative workforce?

We’ll be joined by Lilli Geissendorfer, Director at Jerwood Arts, and Dr Holly Maples from Freelancers in the Dark.

Continue the conversation with session speakers and conference delegates at the Deep Dive table sessions in the social lounge, immediately after at 12:15 – 12:45

Speakers

12:15 – 12:45

Running a large scale mixed-methods research project: Speak to our researchers

About this session

Have you got questions about running a large mixed-methods research project? Join research leads Ben Walmsley, Abigail Gilmore, Dave O’Brien and Anne Torreggiani to discuss the key learning and challenges from the past 15 months of our nationwide research project.

Speakers

13:50 – 14:50

14:55 – 15:25

The impact on audiences part 2: Virtual experiences

About this session

Are digital experiences shifting the relationship between organisations, artists and audiences during the pandemic, or are they just bringing the shortcomings of digital engagement into sharp relief? We discuss the different models being used by organisations, the intentions and appetites of audiences, making the digital social, and the challenges and opportunities of changing modes of engagement.

We’ll be joined by Jenny Williams, Project Director at Revoluton, and Graham Main, Executive Producer at Big Burns Supper.

Continue the conversation with session speakers and conference delegates at the Deep Dive table sessions in the social lounge, immediately after at 14:55 – 15:25

Speakers

14:55 – 15:25

How policy works: Speak to our researchers

About this session

Have you got questions about how to engage stakeholders and influence policy? Join project researchers Karen Gray, Benjamin Dunn and John Wright to discuss their research into cultural sector policymaking and their placements with government departments as part of this research.

Speakers

15:30 – 16:30

From implications to action: What now?

About this session

After two days of insights and implications, in our closing session we bring together the lead researchers from our project, and you the audience, to collectively ask what now? What are recommendations and actions that we can all take with us to enact positive, lasting change?

Sharing key findings and recommendations will be Ben Walmsley, Abigail GilmoreDave O’Brien, Anne Torreggiani, and Sue Hayton. 

Speakers

Tickets

Ticketing information

Tickets cost £25. Our limited allocation of subsidised freelancer tickets has now been used and there are no longer any subsidised tickets available.

Tickets are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. If tickets for the conference are showing as sold out, then please add your details to our ticket waiting list, and we will let you know if more tickets become available.

Ticketing terms & conditions

 

Access

We want to make the conference a positive experience for all participants.

  • All of the main stage plenary sessions will be live captioned – captions will be available through Airmeet captions and/or Streamtext.net
  • We will send you a delegate pack in advance to give you time to read through information about the conference
  • We will programme in an hour’s screen free lunch break each day
  • Speakers will introduce themselves with a short visual description

If you will be using captions to access the conference or have any other accessibility requests, please let us know in the booking form or by emailing ccv@leeds.ac.uk.

Join the conversation

#ValuingCulture
@ValuingCulture

Speakers