Creative UK announces partnerships with the British Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council for Creative Coalition Festival 2023

Creative UK has announced partnerships with the British Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for the annual Creative Coalition Festival, taking place from 28 February to 3 March 2023. Both partnerships will support the delivery of this year’s festival, which brings together creators, innovators and leaders from across the Creative Industries, in a wide-ranging programme of in-person and virtual events.

The British Council will introduce a delegation of international creatives to the UK sector at the festival, including at a specially curated online event to explore global perspectives.

During the live panel discussion, the British Council and their international guests will share key insights on developing sustainable growth of the Creative Industries and on supporting creative skills development. The session will give UK attendees an important opportunity to understand different international contexts for supporting creatives and consider how those learnings can shape future international collaboration.

AHRC will be shining a spotlight on the vital role of research and innovation to the future of the Creative Industries through a range of virtual events demonstrating how R&D can catalyse creative progress across the UK, as well as a Breakfast Briefing for policymakers and creative business leaders on unlocking commercial growth through public investment. The partnership follows the success of the AHRC’s Creative Industries Clusters Programme, which has invested £55 million since 2018 to drive innovation and growth across the UK’s Creative Industries.

Caroline Norbury OBE, Chief Executive, Creative UK, said: “The inclusion of both the British Council and the AHRC as partners at the Creative Coalition Festival shines a light on two vital contributors to the success of the creative sector – international collaboration and future facing R&D. The creative community is one without borders and we should all be maximising every opportunity to share our knowledge and experiences to improve conditions for creatives everywhere. Similarly, bringing together world-class research talent through programmes such as the AHRC’s Creative Clusters fuels the impact of the UK’s renowned creative sector.”

Rehana Mughal, Director, Creative Economy, British Council, said: “Our global Creative Economy programme forges stronger links with the UK and other countries by enabling international opportunities for the next generation of creative innovators, practitioners and entrepreneurs. International perspectives from policy makers and creative entrepreneurs will enrich this year’s festival”.

Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair, AHRC, said: “AHRC funding supports impactful policy and evidence, cutting edge research and innovation, and world leading infrastructure in creative industries, the industries of the future.  I am delighted that AHRC is supporting this brilliant festival that showcases how we can build a creative future for the good of all in the UK.”

In addition to the partnership announcements, further details have also been released of speakers at this year’s Creative Coalition Festival, including:

• Stephania Silveira – Group Creative Director, Meta (Reality Labs)
• Steve Bell – Cartoonist
• Maria Sayans – CEO, ustwo Games
• Jacqueline de Rojas CBE – President, Digital Leaders
• Bettina Korek – Chief Executive, The Serpentine
• Jazlyn Pinckney – Head of Workforce Development, One Dance UK
• Jim Rokos – Designer & Artist
• Grace and Harry Chadwick – CEO, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founders, Interflix Media

Their appearances at the festival will include industry leaders Stephania Silveira (Meta) and Bettina Korek (Serpentine Gallery) joining a panel discussion on how the metaverse and virtual reality are bringing new and exciting ways for creatives to connect with audiences, and cartoonist Steve Bell on his 40 year career with The Guardian as part of the Festival’s Pigeonholed series.