Sara’s background included producing, programming and presenting content for the live performance industry, when she took up the new role of Director of Creative Economy in 2014. Her vision was ‘to make Cardiff the most creative place it can be.’ She has been a pivotal figure in the design and launch of both Creative Cardiff and Clwstwr. Both initiatives reflect her passion for championing and developing creative talent and ideas and for brokering partnerships.
Sara writes:
Together, we have built a network to be proud of. A network that has been co-produced with, by and for the creative community to encourage connectivity and collaboration, amplify opportunities, provide a catalyst for innovation, a voice for the creative sector and an evidence base for the development of policy.
Among the most significant achievements of these first five years are:
- 3900 Creative Cardiff network members.
- 65 in-person and online events (with 3000+ attendees).
- 1.5M hits on creativecardiff.org.uk and 1000+ jobs uploaded.
- 100+ fortnightly enewsletters sent to members with latest news, events and jobs.
- 18K followers on social channels (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn).
- 2700 plays of our 2020 podcasts Rhywbeth Creadigol? and Get A ‘Proper’ Job.
- Mapped Cardiff’s creative economy resulting in a research report, interactive maps and sharing with 10+ speakers and 100 attendees.
- Founding of the Festivals Research Group, the Coworking Collective and Immersive South Wales.
- Research focusing on hubs and coworking, festivals, COVID-19 Self- Employment Income Support Scheme and creative city networks.
As one of the UK’s fastest growing cities, Cardiff has witnessed much change over the past five years; the creative sector even more so and most especially since COVID-19.
Creative Cardiff’s work has always been about helping to grow momentum, and understanding, of the city and its region’s creative economy, this turn has played an important part in providing jobs, prosperity and a culturally and socially richer way of life in all aspects, including a commitment to addressing social issues such as ensuring a more equal, diverse and inclusive creative sector.
It is vital that we continue to work with others to ensure that the benefits and opportunities are felt by all across the region, and beyond.Some of the current pressing matters for our community include: work spaces, innovation readiness, enterprise skills, diversity, attracting and retaining talent, availability of tech skills and health and wellbeing.
These are all key concerns for Creative Cardiff, and we are already trying to address them with initiatives such as the Coworking Collective and Immersive South Wales meetups. We are developing plans for the next five years to enhance impact further and ensure that the network functions as a support resource for the sector post COVID-19, but there is more to do.
The goal which drives us forward every day is to support the growth and development of the creative economy in this part of the world so that it is resilient and consequentially is recognised and celebrated in and around the world.
If we can achieve this goal, all creatives in the region will have the opportunity to achieve greater visibility, profile and success.
