Kick Start: Cardiff

Number of selected delegates: 30 from the EU and the rest of the world
Total attendees: 100
Number of participating countries: 20

We were also treated to a celebratory evening at Creative Cardiff’s Second Birthday Show & Tell, a memorable screening of the #Swn10 documentary, an outstanding Swiss Ambassador’s Award Concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and an enjoyably enlightening tour of Cardiff Castle.

We were honoured to have many inspiring and insightful speakers including music lawyer and author Ann Harrison, designer Ross Lovegrove, author on creative economy John Howkins, Leader of Cardiff Council Huw Thomas; Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure; Sara Pepper, Director of Creative Economy at Cardiff University; Mark John, Co­Director of Tramshed; Fiona Stewart, Director of Green Man Festival; Graeme Farrow, Artistic Director at Wales Millennium Centre; Donna Makin, Partner at Geldards LLP; Gareth Jones, Director of Wales Innovation Centre for Enterprise; Gareth Loudon, o­Founder of the Centre for Creativity Ltd; designer Angela Gidden MBE; John Rostron, Co­Founder of Swn Festival; Alexandros Kontogeorgakopoulos, Partner for EASTN­DC.

See NAUTIKA’s account of the opportunity!

Once delegates had arrived and received their welcome packs and lanyards we took them for a light dinner to meet for the first time and the Director of Creative Economy at Cardiff University welcomed them to the city and the event. This was followed by the Creative Cardiff Show & Tell, which was a great opportunity to learn more about the art scene in Cardiff and hear from local creatives who made pitch presentations to the audience followed by Q&A.

Professional Exchange Workshop Day (17 Oct)

The workshop day was held at a local tech and creative co­working space and the delegates received an introduction from the space founder. Visiting Arts made a presentation of Creative Tracks and then invited the delegates to present what they do and how they’d like to connect with the group through elevator pitches. The group was split in half with two workshop leaders to explore international networking and how to increase accessibility within creative workspaces. Both groups explored the barriers to their creative work such as time, funding, resources, and ways to solve these issues. Both groups then fed back their findings. The event culminated with case studies from established creative professionals with insights and advice such as being true to yourself and that sometimes keeping things at a smaller scale is better for business and creative integrity. Groups could break out to speak in smaller groups with the speakers if they wanted to continue the conversations.

Arts, Creative Industries and Law Seminar (18 Oct)

This session, held in partnership with Geldards LLP who generously sponsored the use of an inspiring venue at the catering for the event was designed to be relevant for both UK based and international delegates. Speakers focused on the topics of General Data Protection Regulations, charitable status, and intellectual property. Artistic Director of the Wales Millennium Centre introduced the event and related the importance or the law within their work.

Masterclasses (18 Oct)

Small groups of 10 were able to meet with notable experts from the creative sector to discuss their specific creative business queries and learn more about these experts journeys and first hand experiences. The delegates found this particularly valuable to have the opportunity to meet these influencers and receive more in depth advice.

Creative Entrepreneurship Expert Panel Breakfast (19 Oct)

This discussion and networking session presented the chance for the delegates and speakers and partners to reflect on the week and the topics being explored around creative entrepreneurship and the city of Cardiff. Two international delegates were able to speak to the attendees and then the masterclass speakers spoke candidly about creative economy and the challenges that creatives faced in Wales and internationally. There was a particular focus on the music industry. We discussed the importance of these kind of convergences and international exchange, the relationship between policy makers and creatives, and what role creatives can play in impacting their local area for greater good.

Closing event at Cardiff Castle (19 Oct)

Following the Breakfast, delegates received a tour of the Cardiff Castle where they learnt about it’s history and then were greeted by Council Leader Huw Thomas who gave a passionate and enthusiastic speech about why the arts and creative industries matters so much to him and to Cardiff and how the council continue to support creatives and the local scene. The event was supported by British Council. Delegates felt inspired as they said their farewells.

Site visits

Delegates also arranged independent and group visits around the capital city to see spaces from local delegates including an artist work space and the Cardiff School of Art & Design.

We carried out a post event survey and questionnaire with attendees and were very pleased with the impact this event had and the positive response. In terms of networking at the public programme events 80% of attendees made over 5 new contacts and 20% made over 20 new contacts. Respondents were keen to follow up with these new connections made also. Responses suggest that the event was particularly successful for networking purposes and identifying challenges faced by creative entrepreneurs. The event created the right environment for networking with 80% finding it fairly to very easy to approach and meet new contacts and attendees only complaint being that they felt a week was not enough time and they’d have loved the event to be longer!

We were pleased to learn of a number of collaborative projects that are taking place because of this events and bringing together these creative changemakers, for example:

Local partners are very pleased with the impact of the events and the discussions covered. We are discussing the potential of an regular event of a similar nature and the possibility to tie this in with a prize. A number of the delegates were keen to reconvene and continue the exchange.

What people said: 
“Once again, thanks for everything. It was an amazing organisation, a very tight schedule though but I’m sure it will set up a precedent as a collaborative incubator­event for creative changemakers in the future.” ­ Rodrigo Ghattas

Explore the event Ideation Lab and find more of Ian Cooke-Tappia’s illustrations!