Creative Conference Shows Great Way Forward
Over 100 people, representing everything from music to graphic design, textile arts to the technical know-how behind TV broadcasts, attended the first Worthing Creative Conference.
“I was amazed by the sheer number of people that turned up, and such a diverse group,” says Derek Wright, a photographer who attended. Artist Linda McVeigh, who had a stand in the marketplace, also said “I was amazed at the number of people there!”
Three keynote speakers gave presentations. To open the afternoon, organiser and artist Dan Thompson tackled a key question – is art worth it? Armed with facts, figures and a few pop quotes thrown in he proved that the arts have both economic value, and a huge impact on the quality of life. And that the arts, heritage and creative sector will be key if the Borough Council is to achieve its vision of making Worthing a town to live, work and invest in.
Steve Carroll spoke with great enthusiasm about the relationship between arts and business, comparing and contrasting his experiences as coordinator of the Art In Reading festival with his work with RAG, West Sussex Art Society and Worthing Arts Council. With Steve commenting on the professionalism of the groups he works with, Worthing came out head-and-shoulders above Reading.
Alan Edwards, of Outside Organisation, ended the afternoon’s line up of speakers. With a run through of his life, from small starts in Worthing to working with some of the biggest names in music and culture today, (including acts as diverse as the Spice Girls, David Bowie and The Stranglers), Alan came to the conclusion the town has huge potential to become a hotbed for the arts, music and creativity. Alan’s speech was a great call to arms for all there.
Of course, the Worthing Creative Conference organisers had put all of those attending at the heart of the day’s activities – so a large part of the afternoon was given over to Listening Zones. Everyone attending had a chance to debate three key themes; festivals, networks & marketing and funding. While detailed notes from the Listening Zones have yet to be produced, initial findings are that, across all three areas, there is a call for more coordination, for the arts, heritage and creative sector to have a unified voice and for more support from Worthing Borough Council.
Well, the good news is that there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.
Many arts groups in the town already coordinate their efforts, through the Worthing Arts Council (WAC). Membership is just £10 per year, and – as part of RAG’s support for WAC– you’ll find a WAC page here. For more information, come to the Worthing Arts Council AGM on Wednesday 13th April, from 7.30pm, in the Gordon Room at the Town Hall.
And many businesses are becoming actively involved in Worthing 1st. The body, which has a number of working groups including one looking at the creative sector, will be key to developing the Borough Council’s masterplan, a routemap for the future of Worthing. For more details contact Dale Thomson at Worthing Borough Council.
Alongside the keynote speakers and Listening Zones, there were ample opportunities to network, meet representatives of local organisations and businesses, a chance to hear from Dale Thomson and Splash FM’s Roy Stannard … and a little Egyptian Dancing thrown in too.
To sum up, an exciting day which – if everyone there takes just a little action, like joining Worthing Arts Council or Worthing 1st - should prove to me a milestone for not just the arts, heritage and creative sector, but also the wider Worthing Community. Exciting times…
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