SIMON POULTER CONSULTANTS

RECENT WORK

A UK based practice, developing thinking across art, technology and public engagment
Go to CLIENT: Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council (2019-2020)

CLIENT: Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council (2019-2020)

The task was to investigate the supply and demand of creative workspace across Greater Cambridge, feeding into a planned Cultural Infrastructure plan in 2020. We carried out a broad survey of creative industries in the expanding area and interpreted this data back to the two local authorities. We devised a series of roundtable events with stakeholders, deliberately mixing up public, private and voluntary sector people. We interviewed a range of people, finding out what was great about Cambridge and what they needed to thrive. We presented the report back to our clients and updated key stakeholders with our key recommendations.

Go to CLIENT: Doncaster Creates (2019)

CLIENT: Doncaster Creates (2019)

We were asked to work with Doncaster Creates to develop their project timeline and key milestones for their three year programme. Working with the two executives, we developed a critical path of actions and a funding matrix to support the proposed work. We then worked with the client to devise a large scale funding bid to Arts Council England, which was successful. We have provided ongoing support in the next steps, considering how this can be developed into a heritage programme for Doncaster.

Go to CLIENT: New Art West Midlands (2017-2019)

CLIENT: New Art West Midlands (2017-2019)

We worked with New Art West Midlands to co-develop a Visual Arts Strategy for the West Midlands region. This involved arranging stakeholder meetings with artists and arts organisations across the region. We invited speakers to address some of the key issues identified, as a part of the strategy. This included diversity, talent retention, artist-led practice and how the creative industries can flourish in the West Midlands. We worked with most of the key universities in the region, to unlock connections between graduate opportunities and the arts and creative sector. A final strategy document was published in late 2019, and is being used as a road map for new growth.

Go to CLIENT: Coventry Biennial (2018)

CLIENT: Coventry Biennial (2018)

We were asked to carry out organisational development for Coventry Biennial, navigating from a position of being an unincorporated group to a not for profit. We established a working development team, club computing, web services and a representative board for Coventry Biennial. In 2019, the biennial delivered its second edition, using the new systems and structure we helped them to build.

Experience and method
"What we are trying to organise, is a situation where anything can happen."

We have an established practice working with UK creative industries, artists and arts organisations. We specialise in developing creative strategies, programmes and ideas that lead to action. Our approach is hands on, we don't just leave you with a PDF file, we help you implement the work itself. Clients include Images&Co, Metal, AND Festival, Coventry Biennial, Coventry University and Furtherfield.

London | Plymouth