The East Kent Cultural Conversations project began with an exciting networking event at UCA Canterbury in June 2012 to become an annual gathering.  Feedback collected from attendees confirms a fairly widespread agreement that while we have much to celebrate, it is crucial to continue building upon existing collaborations and networks, and to seek out new and innovative opportunities. (Read the full report here)

Following the 2012 event, six organisations stepped forward to begin enhancing cultural collaborations, focusing on students as the emerging potential catalysts for, and leaders of, a rich East Kent Cultural Ecology.

Over the course of last year, the East Kent CC team have been working with the six organisations to understand their aims, and to propose collaborative ideas that could engage UCA students.

The event became a catalyst for a number of cultural initiatives, including a major EU interreg funded collaborative projects that includes cultural stakeholders in East Kent and Northern France, an agreement of collaboration between École Supérieure d’Art du Nord- Pas de Calais (Dunkerque et Tourcoing) ( http://www.esa-n.info/ ) and UCA resulting in a number of mutual visits, including a visit of 50 UCA foundation students to Dunkirk, as well as collaborative arrangements between East Kent arts organisations and them and cultural stakeholders in Nord pas de Calais.

East Kent Cultural Conversations II (2013) is now being planned. It will be a multi-locational event spanned over several days. Please read the description of this years East Kent Cultural Conversations Events and Register for the networking event on the 4th June if you would like to come along.

Look Forward to seeing you there!