AD:uk 2012 Annual National Conference: Negotiating the new arts landscape

Thursday & Friday 18th – 19th October 2012

The York Barbican, Paragon St, York YO10 4NT

This event is CPD Certified (worth 5 credits for every full day attended contributing to the AD:uk Professional Fellowship Programme)

This year the conference takes place at The York Barbican, and is hosted by the City of York Council. It is the second time that the conference has visited the Yorkshire and Humberside region; an area which is steeped in heritage and culture. York, once the railway and chocolate city with cobbled streets, now has a highly versatile arts & creative industries landscape which we will explore as part of the event programme, and is also is celebrating the 800th anniversary of its city status in 2012.

Arts development remains a cornerstone of the nation’s creative life, facing new challenges and opportunities as the political and economic picture continues to change and develop. The conference will explore key issues including:

  • changing arts development to fit the future
  • real Localism and how to achieve it
  • useful maps for navigating the political and economic landscape
  • new commissioning and delivery opportunities

The Conference is a key event in the national arts calendar, offering:

  • up-to-the-minute national developments and what they mean for the arts
  • professional development with national models of excellence
  • opportunities to network with colleagues and organisations from across the arts and the UK
  • examples of best practice and innovative approaches from market leaders.

This year we will feature a new Live skills bank and ‘Information Takeaway’ sessions: short sharp soundbites of crucial data and updates to optimise the available time. Also on offer are the popular Study tours as you said “they were “Excellent …an arts fix...and very useful networking space”

The two days will offer a mix of keynote presentations, breakouts, study tours, skills and knowledge exchanges and discussion groups. As the leading professional association for those working in the arts the AD:uk conference is aimed at everyone involved in local arts delivery including:

  • arts officers
  • arts organisations
  • artists
  • festival organisers
  • youth and music services
  • Arts Council national portfolio and bridge organisations
  • music hubs
  • museums, archives and libraries services
  • community and health development
  • economic development and tourism
  • independent consultants

Conference Partner, City of York Council will host the Arts Development UK Conference. The conference is also sponsored by Arts Professional and is supported through the Grants for the Arts Lottery programme by Arts Council England.

Comments from last year’s delegates included:

  • “As my first conference I found it a real learning experience. Enjoyable, insightful, and resourceful”
  • “Good opportunity to meet & network with colleagues across England and Wales”
  • “I really enjoyed the conference. Learnt a huge amount and made some excellent contacts. Thank you!”
  • “Thank you for the experience and 'heads up' as an individual artist seeking to find and better establish his place in current arts sector”

Thursday 18th October

9.00Conference Registration starting at 9.00 with tea and coffee.

9.30Opening Performance, organised by City of York Arts Team

9.40 Chair’s welcome and presentation to the Conference: Jane Wilson: Chair of Arts Development UK

9.50 Welcome to York: Civic welcome from the Leader of City of York Council, Cllr James Alexander

10.00Keynote Presentation: Meeting the Challenge of cultural tourism and regeneration. Cllr Sonja Crisp: Cabinet Member for Leisure & Culture, City of York Council

10.10Keynote presentation: Culture and Place. Simon Eden, Chief Executive of Winchester City Council & Lead Chief Executive for the Quality Places Delivery Panel for PUSH (Partnerships for Urban South Hampshire). The partnership is a great example of local authorities working together with other agencies to support and manage growth in South Hampshire.

10.30Questions from the floor

10.45Refreshment break

11.10Information TakeawaySession 1

We are running two different types of information takeaways as briefing sessions at the conference this year. Both sessions will consider the changing landscape of the arts in the UK, and you can either choose to attend three short information sessions or two longer briefing sessions. Your choice of options includes:

a) Short Information sessions (Choose 3 from the list below, each lasting 30 minutes with a 10 minute Q&A Session):

  • Session 1: Bridge Organisations: a presentation on the Arts Council England National Bridge Organisations, illustrated by CapeUK, and led by Madeleine Irwin, Programme Development Manager
  • Session 2: Music Hubs & the Henley Review: Beginning as a case study of the York Music Hub, the session will continue as an exploration of some key similarities and differences between music hubs in different geographic and socio-economic areas. What will be the differences created by the changes in funding? – How much reliance will there be on fundraising? - How do partners relate to the Hub and each other? – Where will hubs be going in terms of the Henley Cultural review? Presented by Tim Brooks, Arts Education Manager, City of York Council.
  • Session 3: European information: information on the latest European funding, presented by Carole Bemant, Cultureworks.
  • Session 4: Local Economic Partnerships (LEPS): An overview and workshop discussion with Jayne Knight (Suffolk CC Arts Development Manager) and a short presentation from Katie Stewart, Head of Economic Development at City of York Council.

(Sessions will rotate at 11.50 and 12.30)

b) Longer Briefing Sessions (Choose 2 from the list below, with each programmed for 1 hour at 11.10 and repeated at 12.10):

  • Briefing Session 5:Arts on the move. Two case studies reflecting changes in local services, including:
  • Lorna Brown2012 & Cultural Lead Professional forW Sussex CC on Creative West Sussex, the independent arts development organisation that is in the process of being established, and
  • Kirsten Bicknell, stART Arts Development Manager from South Cambridgeshire District Council, discussing how S Cambs have developed local arts provision by using community colleges as a platform for arts development.
  • Briefing Session 6: ACultural commissioningsession from Heidi Bellamy, Director of Culture First and Administrator of cCLOA, talking about the commissioning process and tools being developed, with a case study on the role of culture in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour
  • Session 7: National Arts Funding Bodies Review & information session. A combined briefing session, with Paul Bristow, Acting Director of Strategic Partnerships at ACE, Carys Wynne, Portfolio Managerat ACW, and Karen Dick, Development Partnership Officer at Creative Scotland.

(Sessions will rotate at 12.10)

13.15Buffet Lunch

14.10Study Tours. Tours will depart from The York Barbican promptly at 14.10 and include:

Tour 1: York Creative Industries Ron Cooke Hub, at City of York University, a £20million, 7000 sq ft 'melting pot' for engagement. Its design encourages discussion and interaction, bringing people together across disciplines and sectors, from within and outside the university, providing space for new, value-adding ideas and partnerships. The tour includes media, film and TV and the 360 degree studio. The tour leader is Philip Morris, York University's Business Development Manager.

Tour 2: A walking tour of York’s museums galleries including the New School House and Quilt Museum, York Art Gallery, York Explore Library & Learning Centre and the Temple of a thousand bells installation. Tour leader: Gill Cooper, Head of Arts & Culture, City of York Council

Tour 3: A Rural Arts Tour to Thirsk, visiting the Old Courthouse. Rural Arts is an independent arts charity established in 1992 to deliver a programme of visual and performing arts, applied arts, media skills and training to communities in isolated rural areas as well as market towns. Rural Arts also coordinates ON Tour which gives villages and communities across North Yorkshire and the Tees Valley the opportunity to experience high quality, professional music, theatre, comedy, dance and puppetry in their local venue. Tour leader: Angela Hall: Director.

Tour 4: Wakefield with tour leader Mary Nash, Arts & Events Officer, Doncaster MBC, with an option of either:

  • A visit to Yorkshire Sculpture Park, including the history and development of the park to date, and a guided walk through the Miró exhibition, outside galleries and the Walk of Art, with Kelly Amoss, Development Officer at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, or
  • A visit to the Hepworth Gallery: An Introduction to the Hepworth Gallery, including its development and subsequent opening in 2011, followed by a guided tour of the exhibition spaces.

18.00End of session

19.15 (for 19.30) Arts Development UK AGM and buffet at the Guildhall followed by a social event and performance hosted by City of York Council.

Friday 19th October

9.00 – 9.30 Registration and refreshments

9.45 Conference introductions: Katherine West: Vice Chair of Arts Development UK & Arts and Festivals Manager at Cheshire West & Chester Council

9.50Keynote Presentation: John Holden, Visiting Professor at City University & Associate of Demos. John will be presenting on Negotiating the new arts landscape

10. 10Questions from Delegates

10.20Refreshment Break

10.50 Introduction to Open Forum and Live Skills Bank: Helen Miah: Head of Culture at Swindon BC

11.00Open Forum (Facilitated byHelen Miah: Head of Culture at Swindon BC): You choose the topics which are pertinent to you, and then create, manage or join a group to which you can usefully contribute. Bring your ideas and an up-beat attitude to this session and hopefully you will enjoy it, make a difference, make connections, contribute some suggestions and leave with some positive actions for yourself. You will set your own agendas and facilitate your own discussion groups using the versatile spaces afforded by the Barbican.

One of the forum sessions already programmed is a live storytelling session from Christine Willison our representative for Wales ( who would like to share her skills as a professional storyteller. In this workshop she will show how the ancient oral skills can inform contemporary creative writing. Your reports will never be the same!

Live Skills Bank(facilitated and led by Mike Faulkner: G & M Associates): You can opt to participate in a live skills bank as an alternative to the Open Forum. Like a bank, you can deposit skills that you would like to share and also borrow knowledge from other members who have lodged their interests with us. Have you ever wished that the bit of know-how you need could be available right now – when you need it? It’s frustrating to have to stop what you are doing and call and e-mail colleagues, or log onto the web and search for it on an obscure site.

At this LIVE session you will very quickly meet up with people who can help with your skill and knowledge needs. You might also be able to help a colleague with theirs! Using the highly successful Speed Dating formula, you can have fun and get real results live at the conference. All you need to bring with you is a brief description of what skills and knowledge you need AND what you have to offer. In just 3 minutes you could have the solution to a problem you have been struggling with for weeks!

We will help to mix and match you with the ideal partner (or partners if you are really feeling adventurous) AD:UK’s SPEED DATING session is the answer! The Skills Bank will also earn you interest in the form of credits that you can use towards the AD:uk National Fellowship Programme, which opens up again for 2012 after the conference.

13.00Hot Fork Buffet

14.00Breakout session 1to consider arts & communities issues including options from:

  • Breakout 1: Creative Industries communities. Two case studies including:
  • Andrew Clay, Director of Wood End Creative, discussing the development of the media and creative industries centre and art gallery in Scarborough; and
  • Designs for Life programme, raising awareness of the Creative and Cultural Industries sector as a career pathway to those aged 14+ and presented by Marcus Lawry, Orchard Events & Entertainment Ltd and Caroline O’Neill, Arts Development Manager with Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC, including routes into the Music, Film, TV, Fashion and Photography, advice surgeries for individuals and networking opportunities for creative industry SME businesses in the area.
  • Breakout 2: Arts, Health Wellbeing: a joint presentation from Mike White, Senior Research Fellow in Arts in Health of Durham University, who will be discussing a cluster of research-guided arts in health programmes in schools and communities in Northern England, together with Simon Collins from Biomation, supported by Dan Axon, who will also be sharing the session and offering a case study on working with young people with mental health or medical issues to create animated films.
  • Breakout 3: Arts Partnerships: 2 case studies including:
  • Ballymena Arts Partnership with Rosalind Lowry, Arts & Events Development Officer with Ballymena BC, who will be taking about the award winning partnership with local government officers, local businesses, local arts archivists and elected members who have come together to develop a new cinema, music and comedy programmes, artist bursaries, film festivals and other major partnerships; and
  • The development of a partnership between DEP Arts and Hull City Council to deliver a dance ecology and infrastructure in East Riding of Yorkshire, presented by Dave Edmunds (Director of DEP Arts) and Paul Holloway, City Arts Officer, Hull City Council
  • Breakout 4: Arts services in transition: Two case studies including:
  • Claire Slattery, Arts & Heritage Manager, at Calderdale MBC, discussing how working effectively with external partners has become crucial to regeneratingthe town centre and hownew working practices are being adopted to grow the impact ofculture in Calderdale. Claire will be accompanied by DavidMcQuillan, Development Director ofthe Orange Box and one of the third sectorpartners; and
  • Lucy Bedford, Arts Development Officer with Milton Keynes Council discussing cross departmental investment and collaborative working across several major partners and an economic impact study for Milton Keynes.
  • Breakout 5: Open Studios: artists bringing themselves into view: Gabriella Smith, Open Studios Network Communications ( and Diana Pasek-Atkinson, Creative Industries Officer at Nottinghamshire County Council explore sustainable business models for both rural and city based Open Studios. Case studies, including Open Studios Notts, will be presented demonstrating the factors for success and models suitable for local demographics.

15.00Refreshment Break

15.30 Breakout session 2 (further choices as above)

16.30Chair: Conference summing up

16.40Artists in Residence Final Feedback

Need some advice or a sounding board to help you address a particular issue?

A regular and very popular conference feature is the STRENGTH TO STRENGTH ADVICE CENTRE organised by The Complete Works. The centre offers free 30-minute consultancies for members. Rick Bond of The Complete Works will be on hand to dispense advice, insight, contacts and the occasional inspiration in areas such as governance, fundraising, marketing, advocacy, reviews, personnel, trust transfers, management, buildings and programming. You can pre-book slots by contacting Rick on Just say who you are and what advice you require. Alternatively, make an appointment at the conference – first come, first served!

Sue Isherwood of C3 Creative Consultancy will also be available at the conference this year offering free 30 minute CPD development surgeries. You can pre-book sessions by contacting Sue at 01749 871110 or email: . Alternatively, make an appointment at the conference – first come, first served!

CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES

Arts Development UK conference also includes other events and activities, including artist residencies, exhibition and display stands, and a major opportunity to network. We also intend to include interactive arts activity with access to computer and video displays from regional and national arts organisations.

Changes to programme

The programme was correct at the time of going to press. Arts Development UK reserves the right to change speakers and the conference schedule as appropriate.

CONFERENCE FEES

To ensure maximum access, we are offering the opportunity of booking for the duration of the event or one day only. Please note that the membership rate is for one corporate or individual place only. We have also introduced a new reduced rate for those officers who wish to bring an elected member to the event. As usual, Arts Development UK members, as part of their membership benefits will receive differential rates, but we also welcome non-members as delegates to the Conference.

Conference fees are as below:MembersNon-members

Full 2 day Conference period(AD:uk Members) £295 £395

Member special double ticket (2 members from the same organisation or a member can bring a

Person from another organisation who has not attended the conference previously) £395

Two person Conference rate (one AD:uk member + one elected member/senior manager/NPO) £395

Unemployed or student rate £125£185

Thursday or Friday only £148£195

One day two person Thursday Conference rate

(one AD:uk member + one elected member/senior manager/NPO) £225 £350

Unemployed or student rate (single day) £85£125

Please note that organisations local to the Yorkshire and Humberside region are able to book using the member rates.

Discounts may be available for 5 or more bookings from one authority/organisation. Please call us to discuss this.

Display areas & community stands

Display spaces are available at the conference over the 2-day event, which also includes a free conference place. Display spaces include a trestle table and 2 chairs. Please note that there are no display screens available, so please bring your own. Places are limited, so to book a place for your group or organisation, please contact Arts Development UK at