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Home , Gravesham

South East Creative Economy Network (SECEN) Wednesday 31st March 2021, 10:30am Virtual meeting – video conference via Zoom MINUTES

Attendees (as per responses to calendar invite): Mandy Hare, Gravesham BC Marc De’ath, Chelmsford City Council Katharine Stout, Focal Point Gallery (Co-Chair) (KS) Madeni Fordham, University of Sussex Joe Hill, Towner Gallery (Co-Chair) (JH) Melanie Powell, Council (MP) Sarah Dance, Sarah Dance Associates (Co-Chair) (SD) Michael Tymkiw, University of (MT) Alastair Upton, Creative Rebecca Hughes, Chelmsford Cultural Development Trust Alex Riley, SELEP Natalie Parsons, University of Alison Fogg, Colchester BC/ Colchester Amphora Rosalind Green, Essex Book Festival Andrea Cunningham, Metal (AC) Sally Staples, County Council (SS) Andrew Ward, Essex County Council Sarah Walters, Things Made Public Anita Tysoe, Gravesham Council Scott Dolling, Southend Borough Council Beatrice Prosser-Snelling, Artswork SE Bridge (BPS) Stephen Taylor, Council Brian Warrens, The Backstage Centre (BW) Stewart Drew, De La Warr Pavilion Camilla Cole, Hypha Studios Victoria Barrow Williams, People Dem Collective Dawn Badland, Applause Virginie Giles, Council Dawn Dublin, Unveiled (DD) Deborah Shaw, Marlowe Theatre (DS) Apologies: Emma Wilcox, Creative Estuary (EW) Gurvinder Sandher, Cohesion Plus Collette Bailey, Metal Imogen Robertson, Medway City of Culture 2025 (IR) Dan Chilcott, Thurrock Council (and SECCADs) Jane Brook, Space Coworking, Rye Jillian Barker, Royal Opera House Jane Kilby, Council Judith Alder, Eastbourne Cultural Group/ Full Frontal Jo Nolan, Screen South (JN) Lucy Medhurst, Ideas Test Jo Simmons, SELEP (JS) Matthew Brown, Colchester Borough Council Julia Payne, The Hub (JP) Richard Holdsworth, Chatham Historic Dockyard Katie McGown, Christ Church University Rob West, CCSkills Keith Grimley, Gravesham Borough Council Sujun Fieldhouse, Southend Borough Council Kelly Matthews, Royal Opera House Susan Oliver, University of Essex Lisa Ricketts, Thurrock Council/ SECCADS (LR)

1. Introduction and apologies SD welcomed attendees to the Zoom meeting. Apologies noted as above.

2. Review of previous minutes/actions The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

3. Reopening and ongoing impact of Covid-19: open feedback session JH noted this was still an uncertain time for venues with concern that opening date slips as case numbers plateau. It is difficult to know what the restrictions may be on indoor venues at this point with regards to what social distancing measures will be required and expected. As well as having a staff that have been on furlough on and off for almost a full year. DS agreed that there is uncertainty over what the opening date for indoor venues might be in actuality. Support structures for things such as childcare are not as strong so there has to be sensitivity as opening up begins. It is difficult when you sell tickets eighteen months in advance. AC added that the Estuary Festival is happening despite having to flex this with all the new conditions – this is exciting and responds to artworks in the landscape and programmes happening online. It will be interesting to see how this is taken up and responded to by participants. It was noted that the road to recovery is focussed on the hospitality industry and does not consider freelancers much – and it was noted that a significant portion of respondents to a recent survey had not accessed emergency funding. Further details on the Estuary Festival are available at www.estuaryfestival.com.

Page 1 of 4 JP noted the headlines from the most recent music industry survey – freelancers, those running own businesses, and PAYE employees – we’ve run: • Respondents twice as likely as the adult population at large to have seen their work, household finances and health negatively impacted by Covid-19. • Close to 8 out of 10 have seen their income reduce, and nearly 50% say Covid-19 has more than halved their projected 2020/21 earnings. • The majority of respondents think the financial impact of Covid-19 will be long lasting, with just a third expecting their professional lives will return to normal this year. • Going forward, the main challenge for artists and freelancers is to earn enough to cover basic living costs. BW stated that they have been busy throughout the period, the biggest impact has been on clients from the music and theatre industries. But there is still a case of people holding back given significant level of investment in production. There has also been a shift of festival dates to the August bank holiday weekend, but this may become an issue as the supply chain is stretched to cover this requirement. But overall, it has been positive and other sectors can learn from the TV and film sector. JN noted that convergence of skills and opportunities should be at the forefront as we open up and that networking opportunities remain limited. There does need to be continuing reminders of the social distancing measures as people return to on-site working and may forget the new rules. Results from the BECTU survey were also noted: • 53% are not currently working, either in the creative industries or another industry; • 20% have been unable to access either of the support schemes; • 54% have lost over half their income. SD thanked those for providing this feedback and noted certain themes that have come out of this discussion on mental health, access to financial support and learning support, messaging from the Government and the sector – both to audiences and businesses, potential supply chain concerns, and local authority licensing. MP agreed on the importance of the planning licensing process in opening up and engaging local authorities on this. This has come up as an issue for Rother as there has been hold ups. There is a general issue with licenses in terms of a slight conflict between what is wanted and what will be allowed. DD noted frustration in obtaining licenses and convincing local authorities to activate those spaces. There appears to be over-caution and there is a significant opportunity for local creators to run programmes. SD thanked attendees for this feedback and noted that the SECEN Co-Chairs will continue a discussion about what they can do with this feedback.

4. Creative Estuary EW shared a presentation with the group (to be circulated with the minutes) outlining the vision of Creative Estuary and the campaign that is starting up. Estuary Festival opens on 22 May 2021 and noted that great collaboration that has taken place to make this happen. A key part of the project is promoting the infrastructure that the sector needs to grow and flourish. The Re-Generation 2031 programme continues as an innovative approach to develop the creative skills of young people agreed 16-25 in less advantaged areas of North Kent/South Essex. It was also noted that work continues with Ebbsfleet and there is a broader ambition of what garden communities can do for the creative sector. The Creative Estuary Co-Commissions will support practitioners to make and present new works, this will be delivered by a network of partners and work with local communities, working directly with local artists and creators. The first of the commissions will be delivered alongside the Estuary Festival – information on those projects can be found on the website. The next round of co-commissions will become more visible over the next few months –there is still space to develop new projects and we’re keen to hear from organisations. The project is now running until March 2023 after an additional year extension.

Page 2 of 4 MT asked how the word would be spread for the placements on some of those opportunities. EW noted that the emerging producers programme will have opportunities for placements and that further opportunities will be shared on the website and via SECEN. SD reflected that this project grew out of SECEN and this is the product of what great partnership working can deliver.

5. Medway City of Culture IR updated the group on the bid. The City of Culture is a competition run by DCMS every four years. Medway is currently waiting on timeframes for the 2025 launch – the initial submission is likely to be due this summer. It is anticipated that there will be an extended judging process with an announcement of the winner at the beginning of 2022. The other 2025 competitors are , Bradford and Lancashire. This is an opportunity for the entire region which is why obtaining as many collaborations as possible is important. The Board of Trustees for the bid has been announced this week. A number of working groups have also been established around media, comms, fundraising, business engagement and community engagement – if anyone is interested to be part of these discussions contact IR. It is intended that Creative Medway would serve as the legacy vehicle for the City of Culture bid. It is also intended that young people will be at the heart of the project and there has been an extensive engagement programme that has taken place – partnering with local schools and colleges. IR stated that the benefits from a City of Culture can have a significant regional impact. The focus of work over the coming months is business engagement – with businesses invited to pledge support. Work is also to be undertaken on the potential economic impact of the project – as an example Hull’s bid added over £300m to the local economy.

6. SELEP High Streets Project AR updated the group on the exciting collaboration between SELEP and Arts Council to explore the role of the Creative and Cultural Sector in High Streets. This project aims to develop a better understanding of, and economic modelling for, embedding cultural and creative organisations within High Streets thorough: • Alignment of data capture and impact measurement. • Helping proposals for the use of transitionary space across High Streets to utilise existing learning and share methodologies. • Identifying frameworks and methodologies for public realm activation within a High Street context and sharing thinking on the role of public realm attractor events in post-Covid-19 High Streets. There is a Request for Quotation opportunity live on the SELEP website – the bidding window closes at 23:59 on 12 April 2021: www.southeastlep.com/opportunities/request-for-quotation-developing-cultural-and- creative-offers-in-high-streets-project It was also noted that approximately £126k remains available in the Sector Support Fund. Details on the successful bidders for delivery of the SELEP Covid-19 Business Support & Skills Funds will be announced shortly.

7. SECEN Project Updates Catalyst for Culture DS shared a presentation with the group (to be circulated with the minutes) on activity to date. The first project is Maria Aberg’s Projekt Europa, being a Marlow Resident Company, and the first year of this residency is support by Catalyst for Culture. This brings a major international artist to the region to produce

Page 3 of 4 work here. It is intended that migrant artists are worked with including a new way of touring and making. The subject of the three-year residency is our relationship with Europe. There has been a big focus, from the press with significant social media reach and press & broadcast media reach, on the audience cut-outs that have been created as an example of a creative response to Covid-19. These cut-outs will be used from 7 June to well into the Autumn – these will then be sold. Prospectus JH updated the group that the Prospectus was slimmed down to being a statement of intent looking at the top-level strategic direction of the network. This is now at proofing stage to get a final PDF shared – this will be a digital document. Once this is published we will be in a place to think about a bigger prospectus going forward when the dust has settled. JH also updated that the Workspace Masterplan work is ongoing and the focus of the next meeting will be on this project and getting feedback from the group. The final project that the team has been working on is an artist commission call – with ten commissions for exciting contemporary work across a range of art forms. This was a combined callout across the Mercury and Marlow Theatres. 101 proposals were received and 16 proposals have been shortlisted – seven from Essex, seven from Kent, and two from East Sussex. England’s Creative Coast SD updated the group that the digital launch of England’s Creative Coast will be on 29 April 2021 and the first piece of artwork to be placed in will be unveiled – SECEN members will get an invite to this launch. The next works will be in and Southend. After this, the next stage will be opening in East Sussex at Bexhill-on-Sea, , and Eastbourne. With the final piece of work being unveiled in Folkestone. The world’s first art geo-tour will also be launched. Stories from local people will be included as part of this, either responding to the work, what it is like to live in those places, and tackling issues. A pilot called Art Homes will also take place, this is a trial of an AirBnB type model about how cultural activities are linked and artists opening up their own homes. You will be able to build your own itinerary at www.englandscreativecoast.com There has been significant press interest already from FT to CNN, the World of Interiors and National Geographic. SD noted that it has been a very successful programme in partnership working. South East Creatives LR updated the group that everything will be delivered by the end of June – the updated budget for grant funding to be awarded was £985k and all of this has been awarded. A majority of outputs are expected to be met after adjustments – the workshop programme outputs have been overachieved and the grant programme numbers have also been overachieved. LR noted there has been some background work on legacy for this project and this is ongoing. There is a recognition that there has been good delivery and some momentum. SS updated that group that the Levelling Up Fund is available in some priority areas across the SELEP geography as well as the Community Renewal Fund via top tier local authorities.

8. AOB EW asked if partners were looking at developing bids to the SELEP Pathways to Opportunities and if they are to join up on this. Meeting closed.

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