A research project to shed light on Cornwall’s creative networks.
Conducted as part of the Creative and Cultural Leadership Development Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, we are excited to share our action research project. Over the next six months, we will be investigating the many and various formal and informal networks for creatives, artists and cultural organisations across Cornwall and the wider South West, noticing what “network” means to different people in different sectors.
Our goal is to create useful, publicly accessible resources that provide a bird’s eye view of the various creative “intersections” across Cornwall. We want to document the focus of each creative cluster, noting where networks overlap.
We hope that this will make these networks more accessible for people from all backgrounds and at all stages of their career. It’s no longer just about who you know, or where you live.
Methodically investigating who is doing what, where, and how will help Cornish creatives to take steps towards establishing a culture of cross-sector collaboration, aligning groups with similar purposes to share resources, skills, knowledge and funding, as a “network of networks”. This will be vital if Cornwall is to be successful in “leading from the edge”, mobilising active cross-sector networks for effective collaboration, and responding to challenges and opportunities as the world around us changes.
This research is being undertaken by:
Bethany Lyne, Project Manager at Cornwall 365, a creative consultancy promoting Cornwall as a year-round, sustainable, cultural destination.
Hannah Irwin, Project & Knowledge Exchange Manager with the University of Plymouth for iMayflower, a DCMS funded project to build Plymouth’s Creative Industries and nurture creative people power.
Emily Sorrell, Peddlar of Design Innovation in the Heritage Sector and co-founder of Doorstep, a creative community platform that connects creatives across Cornwall, with a focus on graduate retention and cross-sector collaboration.
Crowdsourcing Data
To inform our research we are crowdsourcing a database of networks and gathering opinions about networking through a short survey. You can take part by adding networks to the database or sharing your thoughts through the survey.
Contribute to the database here
To contact the research team please email: info@cornwall365.com
If you like what you see and read please share and if you would like to get involved and contribute a guest blog post to “In the Know” please contact info@cornwall365.org.uk
