OAUK Conference 2023: Reconnect

*IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT STRIKE INFORMATION AT BOTTOM, PLEASE READ BEFORE BUYING*

OutdoorArtsUK is really pleased to invite those working in outdoor arts to gather in Bradford for our first live conference for a couple of years. It is a chance to reconnect with the sector and build new working relationships in person (at last). The main conference day will be a combo of presentations, networking, socialising and discussions to inspire, engage and connect.

Taking place across two venues - Bradford Cathedral and Kala Sangam Arts Centre - there will be lots of inspirational speakers as well as plenty of time to connect and network. We will have some smaller discussion areas and some speed-meeting sessions to connect on a more personal level.

We will hear about the plans and opportunities coming up in Bradford as City of Culture 2025 and celebrate some brilliant creative outdoor arts partnerships. As the whole cultural sector needs to be ever more resourceful, we will provide opportunities to encourage creative ways of working together to build on the ambitions of the sector.

Thu 2 Feb 09:30-18:00 Conference Day

• Artist Spotlight: inspirational stories showing how outdoor arts bring communities together
• Bradford 2025: discover opportunities and plans for the next City of Culture in 2025
• Artist Marketplace: a space for artists and programmers to share bookable shows
• Ideas Summit Session: new ideas looking for partners
• Partnership Stories: hear about cross-organisational projects in the outdoor sector
• Sector speed-meetings: forge new connections and make new contacts
• Vegetarian lunch will be provided
• Funding advice with ACE
• Quiet room: live streaming away from the main hall
• BSL interpretation available
• Registration opens 09:30 with coffee, the first session begins at 10.00am

Welcome Party Wed 1 Feb 19:30 - 22:00

At the party, there will be lots of mingling time, entertainment from Bradford based artists and a bar, with good non-alcohol options; doors open at 19:30 and we’ll wrap up at 22:00.

• FEBRUARY STRIKE DAYS

As you may have seen, yesterday, fresh train driver strikes were called for 1 Feb & 3 Feb. The strikes are expected to halt most train services across 14 train operating companies on those days, including intercity and commuter routes, with potential disruption on 2 Feb as well. In terms of context, the 1 Feb strike day coincides with industrial action by 100,000 civil servants in their dispute over pay and jobs, a strike by teachers over pay and nationwide protests against the government’s new strike law.

We are very pleased to let you know that we will be going ahead with the OAUK Conference next month with a few amendments.

We have made some changes to the timings on Wed 1 Feb, to allow more time for you to arrive in Bradford, but the main day Thu 2 Feb is going ahead as planned, with registration from 09:00 and the first conference session at 10:00 – everything done by 18:00.

Car Share
Please have a look at the spreadsheet if you are in need of a lift (or if you’d like to travel in a more eco-friendly and cost effective way).
We currently have more lifts than passengers so we urge you to see if there’s anyone leaving from your area.
Car Share Spreadsheet.

Wed 1 Feb Timings
If you are planning on attending any of the pre-Conference sessions, here are the new timings. They all take place in Kala Sangam Arts Centre and details of how to book and capacities will be with you next week:

• Bradford Cultural Voice Forum: 12:00 – 14:00
• Light Up the North partners meeting: 12:00 – 16:00
• Carnival sector session: 15:00-17:00
• Outdoor Arts newcomers session: 15:00-18:00
• Mela sector session: 16:00-17:00
• Light Night sector general session: 16:00-17:00

OutdoorArtsUK is funded by Arts Council England.

With thanks to Bradford City Council, Bradford 2025, Bradford Producing Hub and Bradford Cultural Voice.

Image: The Show Globe and Thingumajig Theatre in Bradford | pic: Frank Garland