The University of Warwick has joined forces with Coventry University and Coventry City Council for an ambitious 10-year plan to enhance the city’s growing reputation as a major centre for culture and arts.
Coventry Culture Works, a new initiative between the three partners, aims to boost investment into the city’s cultural and creative economy, and attract new events, artists and companies into the area.
The plans also have a strong education focus, and hope to inspire the next generation of creative talent from the city, as well as an act a driver of wider economic growth and regeneration in the city.
Warwick – which hosted a series of events and festivals during Coventry’s City of Culture last year – today outlined how it will support the new initiative through its own Cultural Strategy, and plans to play an active role in Coventry Culture Works.
This will include continuing to invest in the cultural life of its campus – which includes the biggest arts centre outside of London – as well as partnering with local communities, and wider region on a wide range of cultural initiatives and engagement programmes.
Commenting on the launch of Coventry Culture Works, Professor Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor of the University of Warwick, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Coventry City Council and Coventry University to build on the city’s growing reputation as a major cultural hub within the UK and Europe.
“Through the creation of Coventry Culture Works, we hope to make Coventry an even more inviting place for visitors and a home for artists, companies and creatives to thrive in.
“We look forward to playing an active role in supporting this new initiative and championing our city and region’s attractions and talent pool.”
Coventry Cultural Works plan to provide grants, which organisations will be able to bid for to support local projects. It will also create a new role of Head of Culture and creative Economy at Coventry City Council.