Freelance creatives across Hull and East Yorkshire will benefit from a new range of events and consultations to support them to develop, delivered by artist-led not-for-profit, WAC We Are Creative. Made possible by support from HEY Creative, the cross-sector partnership supporting arts and culture in Hull and East Yorkshire, WAC will also undergo a period of organisational development.
A series of networking events will be supplemented with in-depth consultation on the professional development and training needs of freelance creatives living and working in Hull and East Yorkshire. WAC will also develop its website and social media presence and strengthen relationships between the freelance artist community and regional arts organisations and funders.
Founded in 2020 as a response to freelance artists expressing a sense of isolation, a lack of professional support and the need for better representation, WAC now boasts over 180 members, and is free to join. WAC Steering Group member Rupert Creed said: “This grant will support WAC to play a more impactful role in growing the arts in our region. It provides a platform and voice for the many freelance creatives across Hull and East Yorkshire.
“The partnership with HEY Creative offers the opportunity for freelance artists, writers, performers and producers to connect better with other creative freelancers, and with arts organisations and funding bodies in the region”, Creed continued. “It’s about joined-up strategies to help grow the arts for everyone.”
HEY Creative Chief Officer, Max May, underlined the importance of developing the freelance sector and its voice: “Freelancers are vital to our sector, representing up to 50% of the workforce. HEY Creative is committed to advocating and growing our Hull and East Yorkshire’s incredible arts, culture and heritage, and ensuring we have a strong and coordinated voice around freelance support and development needs is key to how we listen and respond.”
HEY Creative is the Cultural Compact for Hull and East Yorkshire, one of over 30 such partnerships established by Arts Council England and the Department of Digital Culture, Media and Sport. It supports the regional cultural sector to grow by increasing cross-sector partnerships. Last year it designed and launched the Hull & East Yorkshire Creative Charter, a first of its kind in the UK that has received over 100 signatories from businesses around the region.
WAC will be holding its first 2025 network event – ‘We Want to Know You’ – at 6:30pm on Wednesday 12th March at the Edge Hub in Hull. At the event, WAC will be launching its freelancer consultation survey, and the team from Hull-based Arts Council funded organisation Back to Ours will be sharing how they commission projects and artists. The event is free and you can sign up to attend and get more information at www.eventbrite.com/e/we-want-to-know-you-tickets-1252801315459.
You can also join WAC by emailing wearecreativehey@gmail.com