Major summit hosted by Coventry’s universities to discuss direction of travel for cultural policy

The UKCC21 is committed to transforming Coventry and bringing about lasting social change through arts and culture. The two Universities have led on an extensive and unique evaluation and research project to identify the social and economic outcomes of the year and its impacts on the lives and prosperity of communities and individuals in the City and its region. This will be the first post-pandemic opportunity to explore the road ahead for cultural policy and funding and how culture can be central to recovery and growth in our villages, town and cities, and it’s a real opportunity for us to showcase, on a national and international stage, the impact of two of the UK’s leading Universities in place-based research and civic engagement.

Professor Jonothan Needlands, Academic Director for Cultural Partnerships at the University of Warwick

Coventry University is proud of its partnership with the University of Warwick in providing funding programmes which support the production, by the local community, of superb creative work, generating impact for the region through 2021 and beyond. The AHRC Cultural Policy and Evaluation Summit is a unique event bringing together regional and national leaders, policy-makers, cultural workers and researchers involved in the planning, delivery and policy-shaping of UK Cities of Culture. The summit will provide an excellent platform to discuss and consider the future direction of such important events.

Professor Neil Forbes, Director, Creative Cultures at Coventry University

Being awarded UK City of Culture gives Coventry a unique opportunity as the country opens up after the successive COVID-19 lockdowns. No other city in the UK has the chance to reinvigorate and champion the arts and culture sector like we do. The Coventry Cultural Policy & Evaluation Summit is an incredibly important event, that will help examine the direction of travel for arts and culture policy and explore how we can make the most of the legacy of Coventry 2021. We are looking forward to hearing the discussions.

Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive of Coventry City of Culture Trust

So many organisations in our region are working in partnership to deliver what is the UK’s main arts event for 2021. This important conference, open to all, will show how we are working to support the arts in our region, which includes the reopening of Warwick Arts Centre, and how arts and culture can kick-start recovery and social change both in the region and throughout the country.

Doreen Foster, Director of Warwick Arts Centre