Hot projects

Research into Workspace for the Creative Sector

For Newcastle City Council as part of the Creative Cities Challenge Programme. We are working with partners Creative Workspace Management to grow the creative sector in Newcastle and Gateshead through workspace and place making. Ulimatately we aim to produce a database of workspace enabling anyone in the creative and cultural industries to find the workspace of their dreams (and current pocket size).

Durham Creatives

This programme is being delivered on behalf of Durham City Council and aims to support the development of new start-up creative industries enterprises. Go to our Durham Creatives web page to find out how to get involved.

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Creative Cities Growth Programme

Culture Works Creative Cities programme for Newcastle City Council was also part of the European

Creative Cities Challenge. Newcastle City Council’s aim for this project was to pilot ways to help creative enterprises to grow through raising aspirations, driving innovation and generating more income, particularly from outside the region. Our underlying principle was to connect small enterprises to the wider creative and business community through mentoring, networking and visits.
Our project ran between May and September 2012. You can view the full programme here

Supporting Creative Industries to Access International Markets

A study carried out for Newcastle City Council in partnership with Bridge Club Ltd here. The study compares diferent approaches to developing international markets: supporting SME's through small grants to visit trade fairs and festivals - but where the companies make it under their own steam, and a strategic collaboration between two city regions involving collaboration between civic leaders and companies acting both in their own right and as ambassadors for the the sector in the region.

Collaborate to Innovate

Collaborate to Innovate was part of the thrid sector capacity programme funded through ONE. It ran between April and December 2011 and was based on the premise that resilient organisation are those that innovate and that innovation most often comes about through collaboration. We continue to add resources to support collaboration in this area of our website.

North East Cultural Leadership Programme

Culture Works co-ordinated the delivery of this programme which ran between January and December 2010.

“NECLP is needed. This is the overwhelming view of everyone consulted. In summary, it is sector led and is delivered locally; has the track record and contacts to build on; offers value for money utilising the resources of the sector; instigates collaborations and networks; fosters confidence at individual, organisational and regional levels; champions diversity and the interdependence between large and micro organisations; encourages shared learning, peer support and reflection which enables strategic thinking. This programme managed to provide an inspiring experience that can only motivate for a more exciting regional, cultural sector”

(External evaluation, 2010)
More info here