Creative Futures Conference 2015 (QAA 2,6)

Objective:

• To provide students with opportunities to develop subject relevant knowledge, understanding and expertise, to equip them for their future professional development.
• To provide students with opportunities to develop their interpersonal skills, develop professional networks, and create opportunities for collaboration, employment and self-employment.
• To bring students into contact with a wide range of leading creative industries professionals.
• To encourage students to reflect on their own professional development and career ambitions, to identify positive actions and opportunities, and to gain the belief and confidence to employ these changes going forward.
• To inspire students to strive towards a successful career within the creative industries.

Introduction:

Creative Futures is a 4-day long, annual creative industries conference, held at Glyndwr University in North Wales. Organised by the University’s Careers Centre in partnership with the School of Art, Media and Design, the conference is integrated into the timetables of undergraduates, striving to inspire and equip them for futures as successful creative professionals.

Due to the nature of the creative industries, a large proportion of art, media and design graduates will find themselves self-employed at some point during their careers, and so it is essential that they leave University with the ability to do so confidently and professionally.

Creative Futures 2015 brought together over 50 professionals, inclusive of practising artists and performers, trainers, educators and business advisors, to deliver lectures, workshops and seminars on every aspect of developing a successful career. These were complimented by networking opportunities for students, and opportunities to reflect on their own skills, identify opportunities and action plan for the future. The conference was also integrated into the ‘Creative Futures Module’ taught to students on a number of art and design programmes, and allowing the conference itself to contribute to academic assessment.

In 2015 the conference sought to open its doors to a wider audience, and welcomed delegates from schools, colleges and the wider public for the first time. This changed the dynamic of the event, provided students with wider opportunities for network and exchange ideas, and provide a platform from which the University to promote courses, recruit students, and develop partnerships.

Activity:

The main activity associated with the planning and delivery of Creative Futures 2015 was as follows;

Planning and Promotion (16 weeks)

• A steering committee was established to oversee the planning of the event. This was chaired by Neil Pritchard, from the University’s Careers Service, with representatives from marketing, student recruitment, enterprise and art, media and design.
• Though a successful application to the Arts Council of Wales, funding was sourced to support the conference delivery.
• Sub groups were established to manage specific elements of delivery (for example, website development, promotion to schools, room bookings etc.).
• All members of the committee shared contacts from their professional networks, as candidates to lead conference sessions.
• Monthly meetings with held by the steering committee, with regular updates and discussion via email, and regular meetings of individual sub groups.
• Where possible, students were involved in planning (for example, graphic design students producing posters and marketing materials).
• The event was promoted to students via their tutors, to schools via the University’s existing networks (through the student recruitment team), and to creative professionals and the interested public through web, social media and printed press marketing (through the marketing team).
• ‘Delegate Packs’ were created for students and all other visitors, inclusive of a timetable, information about contributors and business start-up information.
• The event ran from 2 – 5 March 2015.

Event – Lectures / Seminars / Workshops

• Approximately 50 lectures, seminars and workshops were held over the 4 days.
• Each day followed a similar format, with a key note address to every delegate, followed by a series of smaller sessions running in parallel.
• The timetable was designed to offer a valuable session in every timeslot, irrespective of a students’ area of practice.
• Speakers ranged from animators and film makers, to painters and journalists, school teachers and entrepreneurs. 
• Students were provided with reflection forms, and reflected on how the learning points in each session they attended could be applied to their own practice and development.
• Members of the public were able to book free tickets to these events, using the online platform EventBrite.

Event – Fringe Programme and Networking

• Supporting the day-time programme of sessions, arts events, hosted by creative partners in the locality of the University, were promoted to all delegates, on each evening of the conference.
• These included live music performances, fine art exhibitions, and interactive poetry workshops.
• The purpose of this fringe programme was to encourage students to network with fellow creatives in an informal environment, to network outside of the University walls, and for the University, to strengthen its relationship with local arts organisations.
• Networking was also fostered during the day. ‘Network Cafes’ were held in between conference sessions, in various communal areas around the University campus, where delegates and speakers were encouraged to meet informally, discuss the content of sessions, and exchange ideas. These cafes were facilitated by student volunteers.
• Many conference contributors encouraged students to engage with them via social media, and this too provided valuable opportunities for students to establish relationships before, during and after the event.

Event – School Engagement

• School students were offered their own bespoke conference programme.
• Each school were offered a free, single day visit to the conference, sharing the key note presentation with all other delegates, followed by a campus tour, and a workshop delivered especially to cater to their own abilities and interests.
• Each attending school student also received a conference delegate pack.
• This offer was promoted to students of further education within Glyndwr University’s catchment area.
• Student volunteers supported the school groups during their visits.

Post Event and Legacy

• A selection of conference sessions were filmed, and made available for students as downloadable audio and video files through the University Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
• A selection of speakers were invited to feature in one minute ‘mini-films’ communicating key messages to students, for dissemination via the University’s social media platforms.
• Where possible, PowerPoints and other resources used in sessions were made available to delegates via the University’s VLE.
• The steering committee met post-event, and all evaluative data was gathered, collated, and formal reports produced for funders.

Impact:

Overall approximately 730 people attended sessions during the conferences 4 days (not including audiences at fringe events). This broke down as approximately 500 students, 70 school students, and 160 members of the public and wider arts community.

The conference was effective in establishing relationships between the University and a wide-range of creative professionals and organisations, with opportunities for numerous future collaborations developing as a direct result.

The feedback from teachers and students involved in the schools programme was very positive, with a number of students considering applications to study at Glyndwr University as a direct result.

The support of the Arts Council of Wales helped the event to grow in scope and stature from previous years, and strengthened opportunities to bring in additional revenues at further events (through sponsorships, grant funding or otherwise).

Feedback from students was very positive, who reported that the conference had made a positive impact on their development.

Learner outcome:

Approximately 500 undergraduate learners attended the conference sessions.

The conference successfully achieved its aims in providing students with opportunities to develop their networks, skills, knowledge, understanding and ambition.

For a number of learners, the conference was a challenge, with an intense programme of lectures and seminars being unfamiliar to those from more practical courses. However, the diverse range of sessions on offer, coupled with the resources with were provided via the University VLE post event ensured that all were able to take something positive away.

Feedback from learners included;

• ‘Inspiring, seeing a life beyond university that we don’t need to wait ‘till we graduate first.’
• ‘I got to know different artists and see their work which inspired me a lot.’
• ‘Creative Wrexham talk made me feel part of something interesting here in Wrexham.’
• ‘The importance of preparation, clarity of vision, focus, planning but then determination and crossing the finish line. Not dreaming, doing!’
• ‘Immensely valuable series of talks from some very impressive professional speakers.’

Resources:

• This event was only possible, thanks to the collaboration of a number of academic and operational departments at the University. The integration of the conference into academic assessment for several student cohorts helped to ensure high attendance, and the securing of external funding helped the conference to grow in scope and reach, to engage with schools and the general public.
• For a How-To Guide on engaging with externals, see ‘Guest Lecture Guidance.’

References:

• Creative Futures 2015. 2015. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/creativefutures/. [Accessed 17 August 2015].
• Glyndŵr University – Google Plus. Creative Futures 2015. [ONLINE] Available at: https://plus.google.com/photos/+GlyndwrUniofficial/albums/6121596789687506769. [Accessed 17 August 2015].
• Creative Futures 2015 - YouTube. 2015.[ONLINE] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zp-SN4M3bY. [Accessed 17 August 2015].
• Creative Futures - Mike Corcoran - ZONE Enterprise Hub - YouTube. 2015. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgCNGpL7zFc. [Accessed 17 August 2015].
• How to Speak in Public (Mike Corcoran) - YouTube. 2015. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMnh02odBNA. [Accessed 17 August 2015].

Author:

www.macorcoran.com

With thanks to Neil Pritchard Student Services Department, Glyndwr University and the School of Art, Media and Design, Glyndwr University.