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Kent Arts Conference

Interested in expanding your creative practice? Want to meet regional and national funders and network across the culture sector?

Join us for a free day of case studies, discussion, and questions and answers on:

  • working digitally
  • developing inclusive practice
  • engaging diverse audiences
  • regional and international collaboration
  • getting started in the cultural sector and much more.

This day forms part of the Kent Arts Conference (KArtsCon) organised by Warnborough Foundation. To find out about what’s happening on day 1 and 2, visit the Kent Arts Conference website.

Day 3 of KArtsCon is free and hosted in Medway at The Rochester Corn Exchange by Medway Council.

Register to book KArtsCon day 3

Timetable for the day

9am to 9.15am: Welcome remarks from Kent Arts Conference and Medway Council

  • Location: Queen’s Hall.

9.15am to 10am: Roundtable (discussion, and audience questions and answers)

  • Theme: Reaching new and diverse audiences
  • Location: Queen’s Hall.

Join Ideas Test, Cohesion Plus, SEE and CREATE, and Origins Untold as they discuss their experiences in making work for new and diverse audiences in Kent.

Speakers:

  • Tracy Brunt of Ideas Test (Chair)
  • Gurvinder Sandher of Cohesion Plus
  • Christopher Sacre of SEE and CREATE
  • Josephine Carter of Origins Untold.

10am to 10.30am: Working Digitally talk

  • Location: Queen’s Hall

Interested in expanding your practice? Sparked Echo share their tips and discuss the opportunities and challenges of working in the digital space for the first time.

Speaker: Kevin Grist – Artistic Director at Sparked Echo.

10am to 11am, and 12.45pm to 3pm: Arts Council booked sessions only for new applicants and those with access requirements

  • Location: Space II

We are delighted that Claire Horton, the Relationship Manager, Audience and Engagement, Southeast of Arts Council will be giving one-to-one sessions for those with access requirements and people who are a first-time applicant.

These sessions are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If there are any extra slots available on the day, these will be available to anyone who has previously received funds to book on the day. We will announce if there are any available at the start of the day.

These 15-minute sessions offer you an informal opportunity to discuss whether ‘Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants’ or ‘Developing your Creative Practice fund’ is right for you. You do not have to have a particular project in mind but, if you do, to get the most out of the session you are advised to attend a webinar on National Lottery Project Grants for the southeast area on Wednesday 6 July 2022.

If you are a first-time applicant or have access requirements, book your slot by emailing arts@medway.gov.uk.

11am to 11.45am: Roundtable (discussion, and audience questions and answers)

  • Theme: Beyond Kent: working internationally
  • Location: Queen’s Hall.

Join Counterpoints Arts, Circo Rum Ba Ba, Arts Canteen, Folkestone Fringe and The Institute of Culture and Creative Industries at The University of Kent (iCCi) to discuss developing international partnerships and taking your work abroad.

Speakers:

  • David Sefton of iCCi (Chair)
  • Tom Green of Counterpoint Arts
  • Aser El Saqqa of Arts Canteen
  • Marianne Grove of Circo Rum Ba Ba
  • Diane Dever of Folkestone Fringe.

11.45am to 12.45pm: Short talks, and questions and answers

  • Theme: A word from the funders
  • Location: Queen’s Hall.

Hear an introduction and an outline of current opportunities from:

12.45pm to 1.30pm: Hidden (Dis)abilities talk

  • Location: Space II

Artist Jonathan Ash leads a talk with practical exercises looking at how his practice has been helped (and hindered) by colour-blindness and Level 1 autism.

Speaker: Jonathan Ash.

12.45pm to 3pm: Funders Fair 

  • Location: Queen’s Hall.

Meet local, regional, and national funders for one-to-one advice, conversation, and networking.

Participants:

  • Arts Council (booked sessions only)
  • Freelands Foundation
  • Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust
  • Kent County Council
  • National Lottery Heritage Fund
  • Kent Community Foundation
  • Youth Music.

3pm to 3.45pm: Roundtable (discussion, and audience questions and answers)

  • Theme: Kent Connections – working regionally across Kent and the South East
  • Location: Queen’s Hall.

Chaired by the South East Creative Economy Network (SECEN), Kent County Council, the Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust, Cement Fields, and the Turner Contemporary will share case studies and discuss the power of regional partnership, as well as upcoming opportunities across Medway, Kent and the South East.

Speakers:

  • Alex Riley of SECEN (Chair)
  • Kent County Council
  • Stephen Fenning of Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust
  • John Hartley of Cement Fields
  • Toby Parkin of Turner Contemporary.

4pm to 5pm: Roundtable (discussion, and audience questions and answers)

  • Theme: The Creative Medway Journey
  • Location: Queen’s Hall.

Reflections on the journey to create and implement Medway’s unique sector-led cultural strategy.

Speakers: To be confirmed.

5pm to 6pm: Reception and networking hosted by Creative Medway – all welcome

  • Location: Space II.