What’s the agenda?

As we have regularly brought together creatives, artists, crafters, poets, writers, researchers, tutors, architects, performers, dancers, students and practitioners from many different backgrounds and interests over the last 3 to 4 years we have tried to think about the many ways to gently convene so that our invitations feel authentic and useful to the people that we invite into our space on Dudley High Street.

Not one size fits all - and nor should it - so we utilise a number of different ideas and tools to help us develop ways of sharing ideas that support how we might look to the future.

Dudley Creates is being developed using the knowledge gathered from creative convening and commissioning by both CoLab Dudley and Creative Black Country alongside the many Cultural Collaborators who are helping to further support the ecosystem.

Creative convening

As part of our funding for the Dudley Creates Cultural Compact we wanted to see what an approach to an alternative ‘meeting agenda’ could look like. Rather than a circulated word document sent to a small handful of people with several ‘agenda items’ we thought it would be more appropriate to showcase the ‘strategy in action’.

Rather than have a ‘chair’ and a ‘list’ of items we offer a curated evening, where our network of Cultural Collaborators are able to share learning and experiments.

Rather than a closed meeting of invitees only, we want to embrace, share and work out loud so that anyone interested in creativity and culture across Dudley Borough is welcome to attend and get actively involved.

Go where the energy is

We know that people have different interests and approaches - just like the rest of the Cultural Compacts around the country - so we encourage people to sit with, try out, speak to the areas, places, creatives and experiments that they are drawn to.

If your passion lies with community, research, nature, networks, observing, reading, experimenting then there is a space for you.

There are many systems and 'usual ways of doing things’ that don’t or won’t work with place-based work. If we want to change things for the future then we can start now; so by not sitting too comfortably with the ‘business as usual’ model, instead why not see what emerges by trying something different and gently disruptive?

What’s the worse that can happen?

Our invitation to you

Many creatives have been, and are currently co-creating projects with local people. They are using different art forms, techniques and approaches. If this makes you curious then you are very welcome to join our next (or one of our future) seasonal Cultural Collaborator Gatherings.

There won’t be an agenda but there will be action, learning and experiments. We hope to see you there. And feel free to bring a friend, partner, colleague or children - remember, everyone is welcome.

🗓 Thursday 21st September
🕕 5.30pm - 7.30pm - drop in anytime
🏢 201a High Street, Dudley, DY1 1QQ

An RSVP will help us know how many biscuits to buy - see the link here.