the blog

Meet Kayleigh Boyle, one of our Towards a Tendring Playbook provocation givers

We’re really excited that Kayleigh Boyle, the brand new director of the brand new Creative Tendring programme has agreed to give one of the opening provocations at our Towards a […]Read More

Towards A Tendring Playbook: the lowdown on what to expect

As someone who’s favourite phrase is ‘What if…?’, and whose default position is to collaborate, I LOVE open space events. They’re brilliant for bringing together people with stuff – passion, […]Read More

What’s the story? Grassroots glory – hub research and a new grassroots venues fund

Following research carried out by the hub team, Manchester City Council is set to earmark almost £250,000 to support grassroots music venues in the city and help them share the […]Read More

The lowdown on ROUTES beyond WOMEX: Building networks, touring opportunities & audiences

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” African Proverb   As someone who’s been involved in promoting, producing or touring culturally […]Read More

MADE FOR EACH OTHER – our 2021 World Mental Health Day offering

Made For Each Other is a day of free digital talks, workshops and coaching sessions, made by and for creative freelancers to help us all take a few moments for […]Read More

Signs of Hope

Balance #8 – Going the distance…The art of creative perseverance

Our first Balance session for 2021 and ‘creative perseverance’ definitely felt like a timely and relevant topic to start the year with. The current restrictions on our freedoms, plus learning […]Read More

Balance #6: Keeping burnout at bay: reclaiming life in the time of Coronovirus

Even during the ‘before’ times, a lack of work-life balance, financial risk and the ongoing pressure to do more with less meant incidences of burnout in the creative sector were […]Read More

Balance #5: Turn and face the strange: embracing the future and staying true to yourself

Change is a part of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy, and it feels especially hard now, given that the change we’re living through feels seismic and constant. […]Read More

BALANCE: WORLD MENTAL HEALTH ONE DAYER

It’s World Mental Health Day on 10 October, and to mark it we’ve put together a Balance OneDayer, full of talks, workshops, coaching sessions (plus a living room disco!) designed […]Read More

Quotas, safe spaces, and image obsession – Report from the Leeds Open Space

There was a great turn out at Sheaf Street on Monday 26 March for good food and an evening of conversation and debate about how we can begin to tackle […]Read More