Creative compact

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About
Members
Terms of Reference
Achievements
FAQs

About

Warwick District creative compact will provide strategic and visible leadership for the cultural and creative industries in the district and deliver the creative framework vision. The compact, made up of 19 local leaders, will work across sectors to make new connections and drive new partnerships. It will link the cultural sector to broader cultural, social, economic aspirations and priorities for the District. It will create opportunities to connect existing projects and strategies and make better use of existing spaces and resources. It will discover new investment opportunities and be focused on delivering the objectives of the creative framework via a clear action plan and deliver tangible outcomes. compact activity will be informed by five strategic themes; Engagement, Voice, Pathfinding, Place making, Innovation.

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Members

Members in principle (A-Z) include:

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Terms of reference

Members have agreed to the following terms of reference:

Expectations of compact members

Match funding of at least 10% through funds or resources
Member organisations are responsible for ensuring that their nominated representative attend compact meetings
Members of the compact should be at director / senior manager level or equivalent and therefore able to speak on behalf of their organisations without having to report back or seek guidance
compact members should be empowered to make or influence decisions within their own organisation and commit resources, when appropriate
compact members are responsible for reporting to the compact on relevant issues from within their own organisation; and for communicating compact business to their own organisation, where appropriate
The Chair for the compact may represent the compact on a range of other appropriate boards or working groups as necessary
Members will be expected to respect the confidentiality of some discussions and documents to support compact decision-making

Best practice

The compact will operate to the principles of best practice - in compact meetings and when working on behalf of the compact, members will:

Work in the public interest - contributing positively to discussions and champion the strategic development of the creative sector
Consult as plans are developed - working with other members to achieve consensus on key issues to address priorities for action
Always consider what is in the best interests of the District and its creative sector and to balance this with the interests of their organisation
Remain accountable to their organisation and / or their sector
Raise areas of concern and contribute their experience and expertise to compact
Engage on discussions in order to achieve good, workable solutions
Encourage mutual trust, respect the views of other members and work collaboratively
Declare and manage conflicts of interest Act with due diligence in relation to (public) funding
Be prepared to attend regular compact meetings
Be committed to equality of opportunity
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Decision making

Decisions will be reached by consensus:

The compact will meet every two months
Meetings will be minuted. Agendas and associated papers will be circulated to members at least 7 days before the meeting
Agenda items should be submitted not later than 14 days before the meeting. Items can only be tabled at the meeting with the permission of the Chair
For the compact to be quorate, and where it wishes to make a decision, it will require a minimum of one third of its members present to include either the Chair or Vice Chair
An Extraordinary Meeting may be convened with the permission of the Chair and the Vice Chair provided that a minimum of 14 days’ notice is provided to members
All members of the compact will observe the probity responsibilities. These include declaration of conflicts of interests.
The terms of reference of the compact will be reviewed after the first year of operation
On occasion non-members will be invited to meetings to present on specific issues

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Achievements

Here's a summary of what the Creative Compact has achieved over a 12 month, Arts Council England funded, period (Apr 2021 - Mar 2022):

Campaigns and initiatives:

Developed and implemented CultureFest and selection panel
Established a Coventry and Warwickshire Creative Freelancer initiative
Supported programming and development of Spark 2022
Developed a creative consultation project for Leamington Town Hall Creative Hub project
Developing a Town Hall Tower project with Warwickshire College Group and Coventry University

Lobbying and advocacy:

Represented Warwick District’s creative sector at
- CWLEP Digital and Creative Business Group (Member)
- CWLEP Tourism Group (Member)
- Warwickshire County Council Cultural Strategy Conference (Guest Presenter)
- Coventry University’s uXplore Steering Group (Stakeholder)
- Coventry University’s Strength In Places bid (Stakeholder)
- University of Warwick’s Institute of Engagement (Regional Fellow)
- WMCRU Compact+ (Member)
- Shakespeare’s England (Guest Presenter)
- Coventry and Warwickshire Creative Health Alliance (Member)
Helped secure three new pieces of public art in Leamington:

Funding:

Applied for £2.6mil via Arts Council England’s Cultural Development Fund
Written four letters of support for 4 funding applications; Lights of Leamington feasibility study, Art in the Park, Coventry University’s Universe of Wisdom exhibition

Inward Investment:

Delivered 3 walking tours of Leamington with CWLEP to businesses hoping to relocate to the area
Brought Coventry University’s uXplore launch event to Leamington Town Hall
Delivered 9 facilitated tours of Leamington Town Hall

Other:

19 Members with high levels of engagement
Developed an Action Plan
Met 6 times during full compact meeting, including a facilitated tour of Creative Quarter and Town Hall
Met 17 times as part of workstream groups

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Frequently asked questions

1. What is a creative compact?

creative compacts are a way to realise the ambition of an area’s creative sector. They are seed funded by the Arts Council England and are initiated by local councils. However, compacts must be embedded in their community and driven by the local creative sector. Typically, compacts are independently chaired by a local leader drawn from the business, education or cultural sector. Board Members of the compact represent the breadth and diversity of an area’s cultural organisations. For most areas this simply means providing the framework to bring people together and enhance existing structures, rather than creating a totally new forum. Each compact is unique, but all must have a strategy (for Warwick District it is the creative framework) and a supporting business plan, with clear and measurable aims, and publish a report on progress annually. The key to a successful compact is to bring together partners who will commit to a shared vision around the impact that culture and creativity can make across an area – and, most importantly, are able to contribute resources and to take action. Effective compacts also have a close relationship to other local delivery bodies and strategies, including Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to agree the cultural component of a Local Industrial Strategy, health and wellbeing strategies, or spatial and economic plans, and are the go-to body for discussion with national governments

2. How was the compact established?

Warwick District Council have been instrumental in forming the creative compact for the district, with support from Arts Council England. The creative framework, created in consultation with our creative sector, provides the vision and strategic direction for the compact. To kick-start the initiative, Warwick District Council, with the support of its critical friends, identified and engaged a small group of local leaders from organisations representative of the creative community. The group met in September and November 2020 to discuss Terms of Reference and to establish an action plan for future activity.

3. Where did the idea of ‘compacts’ come from?

In late 2018, the UK Cultural Cities Enquiry outlined initiatives that would help UK cities prosper through investment in culture. In light of increasing financial pressures it sought to develop new models that would help arts and culture to thrive. The Enquiry made several key recommendations – including the introduction of Cultural City compacts. Initially aimed at cities, but now including towns, compacts are intended to be a ‘step change’ and draw together partners from across government, culture, business and higher education to provide leadership and strategic capacity. The UK City of Culture project has already shown what can be achieved when a region pulls together in support of culture to drive lasting social and economic benefits. A co-ordinated approach from key stakeholders can significantly raise levels of ambition, and align investment and resources towards common goals. By creating a clear, united vision compacts can unlock additional local resources – money, skills and property – for strategic cultural projects, and also increase the chances of success in attracting additional external investment. Many cities have successfully formed their own Cultural compact’s including Birmingham, Nottingham, Northampton, Coventry, Stoke and Sheffield.

3. What is the Creative Framework’s Vision for Warwick District?

By 2025 Warwick District will have an established reputation as a thriving creative cluster of national significance and be known for its distinctive blend of rich cultural heritage and cutting edge creative companies. Residents will feel pride in their local area and be inspired by shared cultural experiences which celebrate the dynamic, innovative character of the district. In five years’ time Warwick District will be experiencing the positive economic and social benefits of creative regeneration. Our thriving, interconnected creative sector will play a crucial role in the prosperity of the area and support the ambition of Warwick District being the first choice for people to live, work, and visit.

4. Can I Get Involved?
The compact has identified that the gaming sector is not currently represented in the Membership. If you are interested in representing the gaming sector and agree to the Terms of Reference (above), please contact Johnathan Branson, Project and Development Manager (Arts) on johnathan.branson@warwickdc.gov.uk or 01926 456351 to find out more.

5. How do I find out more?
Contact Johnathan Branson, Project and Development Manager (Arts) on johnathan.branson@warwickdc.gov.uk or 01926 456351.

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