Culture Forum Meeting Recap - Reconnecting & Bringing Out Our Dead!

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A very friendly group of 22 creatives, who were a mix of regulars and new faces, got together on Tuesday 14 January, to kick off the New Year by connecting up with others, and sharing those jobs which we shy away from - and ask to be held accountable for (Bringing Out Our Dead). Everyone chatted in small groups, and then introduced each other (very time efficient) - a session which was described by one participants as “comfortable and easy” (and not at all like networking!)

There was also tea, sandwiches and lots of rice cakes.

 

Here’s an overview of the people who were there, and what was on their minds… (as described by their table partners.)

 

Jack Wilkin who is (very tall) a freelance artist and working part-time at Metal came to share that there are exciting opportunities for artists coming up soon. He's also experimenting with working with voice and movement in non-verbal ways and is making playing cards. He wanted to emphasise that "We (Metal) are still here". Jack is also the founder of Queers on Cue, a new film programming initiative focusing on creating LGBTQIA+ youth friendly film screenings and experiences. Their next event is a film screening and pin & patch workshop on Friday 21 February; sign up now.

Jack also wants to make everyone aware of an opportunity for Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent (DDN) artists and creatives with "Hiding In Plain Sight", an informal chat with Autistic filmmaker John clarke about the current day-to-day barriers facing DDN artists and how to collaborate and create ways to help those hiding in plain sight to thrive. This is a two-session event (you’re welcome to attend either or both), running in-person on Thursday 6 February and online on Thursday 13 February.

 

Eleanor Gibson runs vocal improvisation sessions that explore non-verbal cues and creating connections through them. She's passionate about communicating in ways other than verbal and building community in Oundle. She's looking for connections and to find folks to build networks and create new sessions with. She also shared news of a workshop space under Becketts’, Resonance, which holds regular space for painting sessions. Registrations are accepted through the year but are limited to groups of 10 members.

 

Ann Bellamy is a local visual artist and her art heavily involves working with women. She's focused on art sessions with people outside of main communities, including in Wisbech and for Art Pop Up in Stamford. Art Pop Up are currently fostering community through the Stamford Cheer Club, with events running through to March 2025.

 

Amanda Rigby works at Paper Rhino. She's highly motivated by the recent Peterborough City Council budget and cults to culture... to do something! She has decided to respond by using funding to generate new art projects and create a culture of growth. There’s currently an ongoing petition to oppose budget cuts for libraries, Peterborough Museum and Lido, access and sign it here before the deadline on 26 February.

 

Emily Steele-Dias, from Gateway Film Festival, and Jumped Up is screening a selection of films in February, including Home (2015) and Bob Marley One Love (2024) on Sunday 16 February at the Key Theatre. She's also entering her last year of her BFI Spotlight project. Emily’s also running a campaign to get people involved in the recent Peterborough City Council consultation - which the room generally agreed was neither proactive or constructive - and to challenge apathy while getting the message out about what's happening and how the consultation affects everyone. Check out her Instagram account called Campaign for Culture Peterborough and engage with her message today.

 

Lydia Baldwin works for the Peterborough Cultural Alliance and has been working with young people to create a manifesto for culture that's for them (young people). Currently the PCA is looking into how to help open up modes of communication for the cultural sector and how to set up alternative hubs, in schools for example. Lydia's wants to get to know everyone and is very happy to introduce herself to new people and have conversations. If you’re looking for other goings-on across Peterborough, the Cultural Alliance have a list you can go through here.

 

Lauren Kendrick is Peterborough's current Poet Laureate (until February) and is currently working on the Growing Together project, for which she will be submitting an ACE bid shortly. This project is about exploring and celebrating the relationship people have with food. She's currently busy putting together the funding bid, working out exactly what events will be involved and how they will be showcased. If people want to get in touch about getting involved, now is the ideal time so Lauren can add the details to her bid: Contact Lauren here.

Lauren's working with Gateway Film Festival to screen The Nettle Dress, a beautiful documentary, with a follow-up discussion with Luke Payn from Westraven Community Garden about biodiversity and steps they are making to improve their site. Places at this screening are free but must be booked in advance so book your place here.

 

Mixy is a previous Poet Laureate for Peterborough, and a great ladder-holder during mural painting. He's running an event with Peterborough's alternative music scene called Offline, and has just achieved funding to try and support rappers without a platform, or those struggling with mental health. He's working hard to bring the social aspects of Hip Hop culture to Peterborough. Social media for Offline is available on Facebook and Instagram, and for Mixy himself.

 

Nathan Murdoch from Street Arts Hire has recently done a collaborative programme called Diesel Streets and is working on a new one called Diesel City, and a new show at Peterborough Art Gallery to come in February 2026. He has the largest Peterborough Graffitti Street Art archive in existence and wants to do something with it that makes it available to other people - though it means sifting through 20,000 photos and turning them into something interesting. He's currently working with a consultant (Angela from Sage) on his application to the Arts Council for funding, and is looking for check-ins so he can be accountable about getting his funding bid completed in time.

 

Rose Croft wears many hats - facilitator, artist and all sorts of other things - and came along with a strong intention to make a protest piece around the lack of rehearsal spaces, but now wants to take a more proactive stance. She is looking to find funding to resolve the problem by taking action on it. Rose hosts a paint jam, a live painting event by and for artists called Angry Pencil where artists can get together and create art as a collective. She's currently working to find funding for artists as community anchors, but wants to actively do things for artists rather than workshops and community engagement.

 

Tim Keogh currently works with Jumped Up but also works as a freelance actor and voice artist, writer and marketing professional. He's engaging with the Culture Forum to discover opportunities for skill development, meet likeminded people, and network. He's open to new work if anyone has anything that requires narration or voiceover, if there are any performance opportunities or collaborations, or needs anything promoted or written up. He has a home studio with which to record vocally and can deliver high quality with a very fast turnover.

Tim’s recently appeared in a fiction audio drama podcast called Waiting For October by Monkeyman Productions; if you’re a fan of queer supernatural drama - or just want to hear Tim sing - check out Episode 3: "Small Town" here.

 

Jason Mitchell is Artist Director at Small Nose Productions - check out their new website - and is currently working on a climate project with Jumped Up Theatre's New Creatives group. He's also working to complete a PhD on Resilience and Clowning, working with Year 6 children and interviewing their teachers in order to create material for it. He's also looking for accountability when it comes to this, and is happy for people to check in with him as to how it is going.

 

Lynne Collins works for Natural England but is also an artist and has, over the last 10 years, been illustrating from benches in Peterborough. She's currently working on a book that puts together her illustrations. Lynne came to the meeting for a general catch-up, so definitely check in with her.

 

Emily Bowers is a freelance artist and has worked on several commissions relating to nature and the environment, with a particular focus on birds. She has a trip to Spain coming up where she'll work on illustrations there. She's at the meeting to catch up, see what's going on in Peterborough, and see if there's anything she can get involved in. Be sure to chat with her about any art opportunities you have coming up.

 

Ellie Sandall is an artist, illustrator and after-school teacher and has a space in Deeping that she wants to convert into a studio for artists to come and work in. She's already teaching in the space but has an upstairs area that she wants to get funding to renovate into a proper artistic space. Check out what she has on offer here.

 

Oloyede Michael Taiwo is a poet, a novelist and playwright. He's into Jazz music too. Taiwo is trying to create a blog for Peterborough culture, a platform where events can be hosted, and he's happy for you to tag him in events coming up. He's on social media and his blog is called Peterborough Culture. He’s open to adding any updates you want to send to his blog, so get in touch.

 

Helen Claire Gould is a published author and came to the meeting to catch up with everyone and learn what people are doing. She's currently dealing with the fact that she has work for a book on an old computer, and so isn't able to set it up easily - reminding everyone to make sure that your work is easily accessible in the future. Helen offers writing workshops, as well as editing, proofreading and feedback for writers.

 

Charley Genever (She/Her) is a producer at Peterborough Presents. Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent creatives might be interested in a call-out from Peterborough Presents for people to work across the city with DDN communities.

Charley is a host on the "We, The Poets" podcast, with episodes released regularly, available to listen here.

 

Cheryl McGuire works with PCVS on a project around poverty (Poverty Truth Commission), which is about capturing the lived experience of people and working with civic people who work together with them to create change for Peterborough.

She’s also working on A Monster Calls with Mask Theatre to show at the Key Theatre from 26-29 March. Book your tickets now.

 

Sarah Haythornthwaite is Programme Director at Peterborough Presents and is busy submitting a funding application for the next three years. She wants to make the group aware of an upcoming exhibition in February about their work in Eye, with a film and interviews with locals about the local area and its history. The free exhibition will run Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10am - 4pm, from 21st February at Peterborough Museum. A workshop will be held on Saturday, 15th March.

She’d also love to hear from anyone with ideas of how to establish better connections into Dogsthorpe, Welland and Fengate.

 

Kate Hall from Jumped Up gave a heads up about a Community Dance Day that they are creating at Key Theatre for Sunday 16 March, and a day of connecting and inspiration for any working with young people and creativity - artists, educators, youth leaders and young people - on Friday 21 March at ARU (Peterborough).

Sign up to the Jumped Up newsletter for details about these events when they become available, or go to the website, or follow socials (Facebook and Instagram).

 

Follow Up & Comment

If you want to follow up with anyone about topics, events or ideas they’ve raised in this meeting, ask any questions, or just want to say hi, their email addresses or social media accounts are available below.

If you have an activity, event or service that we’ve not mentioned - especially any updates or anything coming soon - leave a comment. Let’s make this a live bulletin for the arts in Peterborough!

Attendees & How to Contact Them:

The next meetings of the Peterborough Culture Forum are:

  • Tuesday 25 February, 6:00pm - 7:30pm:
    How to Tell Your Nan You’re an Artist
    Online training with Laura Sweeney from The Uncultured
    Use this link to sign-up for this online training session - we need to know you’re coming to be able to send you a Zoom link!

  • Tuesday 11 March, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
    Environmental Responsibility in the Arts
    Lunchtime Meet-Up at Peterborough Museum