Coventry University to lead £1.14m creative skills programme across the city
Coventry University is to lead a major new three-year creative skills development programme designed to expand access to arts, culture and creative career pathways across the city.
Shape Coventry was launched at a Cultural Champions event at Coventry Transport Museum and will bring together more than 20 partners, including Coventry City Council, Coventry Cultural Education Partnership, Street Art Strategy, the University of Warwick, British Council and CreaTech Frontiers.
The £1.14m programme is supported by almost £650,000 of National Lottery funding from Arts Council England’s Place Partnership Fund. It aims to give thousands of people in Coventry opportunities to experience arts exhibitions, take part in cultural events and develop new creative skills.
Activity will take place at venues across the city, including Coventry University’s Delia Derbyshire Building – home to its College of the Arts and Society – and the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum. The programme will also support the creation of murals in public spaces across Coventry.
More than 100 schools will be involved, giving children and young people opportunities to develop creative skills, work towards Arts Awards and learn more about careers in the creative industries through engagement with artists, industry professionals and university expertise.
Shape Coventry will also support local artists and creative professionals through paid work placements, internships, networking opportunities and business support, with the aim of strengthening the city’s creative economy and helping to retain emerging talent.
The programme will include activity linked to British Art Show 10, which arrives in Coventry in October.
Professor Ian Dunn, Provost of Coventry University, said the university was ‘honoured’ to be leading the programme, which builds on its creative heritage dating back to the founding of Coventry School of Design in 1843.
‘As well as offering opportunities for the people of Coventry – no matter their age or background – to enjoy creative opportunities, we want the programme to ensure the aspirations of emerging talent can be met by creating skills opportunities in Coventry,’ he said.
Liz Johnson, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England, said the investment would help more children and young people experience creativity close to home.
‘All children and young people should have access to the inspiration and joy that culture and creativity bring,’ she said. ‘This project will do just that in more than 100 schools across the city, building confidence and pride in the place that they live and new skills that will benefit them for life.’
Councillor Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Coventry City Council, said the launch was ‘brilliant news’ for the city, bringing more than £600,000 of funding into Coventry while creating opportunities for residents, school-aged children and young people.
He added that the programme would give young people valuable creative-sector skills while supporting local artists and creative professionals with paid opportunities in the city.