A report on July’s Culture Forum by Jen Ramm, journalism student at UCP Peterborough and member of Jumped Up’s Theatre’s New Creatives group.

On the 16th of July, Chauffeur’s Cottage became a hivemind for arts and culture across Peterborough, in another successful Peterborough Culture Forum meeting. The next twelve months of local arts and culture activities were mapped out, in a room that was positively brimming with a shared enthusiasm for the city.

One upcoming project, spearheaded by a dedicated team of five young creatives, is The Cultural Alliance’s new radio show, Culture Talks. In the meeting, Eva Woods took the time to explain what’s driving the show and just why it’s necessary. With many different voices of the city built in, Culture Talks aims to raise the profile of culture in Peterborough by speaking to different communities and highlighting emerging creatives and experienced mentors too. Funded and supported by the Cultural Alliance and hosted on PCR FM every fourth Monday of the month from 6-7 pm, this new radio show hopes to serve as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for people to learn more about local culture.

Championing the work of young people could be key to sustaining the cultural vibrancy of Peterborough for years to come, but it’s also crucial to provide them with spaces where they can flourish and develop as individuals first. Having opened at the start of the year, the YMCA Youth Cresset in Bretton works with artists and builds engaging programs alongside young people. Project Manager Sarah Saxby shared that the youth hub is calling out for suggestions and initiatives to help grow the program - by actively involving young people in cultural activities and decision-making processes for the city in which they live, we can solidify a long-lasting sense of community. Similarly, Jumped Up Theatre hopes to signpost young people to all sorts of projects and activities, by calling out to 16-25-year-olds who want to have a voice for arts and culture in the city. Fresh perspectives could very well be what Peterborough needs.

At the same time, we should make a conscious and collective effort to maintain history and keep shining a light on stories from the past that may be overlooked. When we talk about Peterborough’s culture, I think it’s fundamental to look to the diverse cultural influences that have shaped our community, which is what 62 Gladstone Street does. Opening the door for conversations that need to be had around displacement and refugees, they are facilitating several projects, as shared by Anita Nayyar in the Culture Forum meeting. Conversations about cultural history can help to bridge the gap between generations, perhaps addressing the disconnect so many in Peterborough feel today too. So what’s next, and what is needed? Coming this August to the Key Theatre is Refugee!, a fresh political, devised theatre piece written by Aisha Zia. Also, aimed primarily at students and teachers is an upcoming Palestine-focused storytelling workshop. Looking to the future, there are also talks of organising a Muslim Women’s Fencing group and a project involving refugee poetry commissions.

In terms of celebrating Peterborough’s rich history, Nene Park’s Louise Thirlwall shared details about another initiative which will explore the history and culture of Peterborough, which is Nene Park’s Young Heritage Rangers project, combining art and nature with walks and talks.

It’s was also worth knowing about the Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance, an organisation that supports anyone working in the creative health area. The network is free to join and offers advice and a framework for project planning and resources.

‘Programming & Projects: Connections & Clashes’ was the theme for the Culture Forum meeting this time around, and I felt a sense of pride as well as privilege, typing away on a laptop in the corner, and watching the magic of co-creation unfold. Raised hands, attentive ears and the odd shout-out of ‘I know the person who can help set this in motion!’ made for a very exciting meeting. I think that fostering a sense of community - organizing events, workshops, and activities that bring people together - is more than possible if we keep communicating, and upholding a culture of care for one another.

Jen Ramm