Second event for creative sector in and around Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth announced

Following the huge success of last year’s inaugural event for the creative sector, Warwick District Council have announced that Spark 2021; Ignite, will take place next month.

Last year more than 380 delegates from the district’s arts, entertainment, digital and cultural community came together for a day of fact finding, discussion and performance at the Royal Spa Centre.

In light of the Covid-19 restrictions this year’s event will take place online, however the organisers from the council’s arts team are confident that this will not diminish their aims to turn the creative talk from 2020 to creative action.

The free event has been programmed over five days so that delegates can dip in and out in between work, home-schooling and exercise.

Those taking part will get the chance to find out about new projects and initiatives happening in the area and share information about their work and plans for the future.

The full schedule will be announced February 1, but will include sessions on how the creative sector is responding to the pandemic and Brexit, diversity in the district, freelancer support, retention of young talent, updates on Coventry UK City of Culture 2021, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme and the successful Future High Street bid.

David Guilding, arts manager at Warwick District Council said: “We fully appreciate that there may be elements of screen fatigue within the creative community and it will be challenging to generate the buzz and energy we achieved during Spark 2020.

"Despite this, we believe that the programme we have put together will be very valuable to members of this sector, particularly those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic.

"There’s a huge amount to share and talk about and the added bonus of reaching an even wider audience.”

Cllr Andrew Day, Leader of Warwick District Council added: “This exciting event provides a valuable forum to engage with the key players in our fast growing and vibrant creative sector.

"There couldn't be a better time for our Creative Community to come together to address the common purpose of recovery, renewal, and growth.

"I encourage anyone with an interest in the area’s creative scene to register so that they can share this milestone moment.”

The event will largely focus on Warwick District, but is aimed at anyone who is interested in craft, film, TV, video, radio, photography, museums, galleries, libraries, music, performing arts, visual arts, advertising and marketing, architecture, gaming, product design, graphic design, fashion, IT software and service and publishing.

Spark 2021 is free to attend with the opportunity for organisations and individuals to host their own virtual booth.

For more information and to register go to: www.warwickdc.gov.uk/spark2021