IOU Symposium, 15/07/2026
A Curious Tapestry: Crafting New Cultural Ecologies

This one day event is an opportunity for artists, researchers and policymakers to come together to explore our collective and individual contributions to the creative environments we inhabit. 

In contemporary times of increasing political polarity, public funding for the arts is under major review, different models of support for artists are being piloted and responsibilities of care for freelancers are being considered at government level.

In this context, we are asking –

‘What are the characteristics and conditions we all need to thrive creatively’?

‘How can practices, strategies and policies be crafted with care and attention’?

Join us as our programme takes the themes of time, place, organism and system as guides in this investigation. We’re going to hear from a range of speakers on specific policy initiatives designed to support the development of cultural ecosystems.

Artists will be sharing how their practices have been influenced by the exploration of archives, institutional relationships and the passing of time.

Arts organisations will be considering their roles in place-based work and the wider community of artists and their needs.

We’re delighted to announce the following speakers as part of this.

Jacob Dafydd Ellis – Director for External Relations and Culture, Office of the Future Generations Commissioner

Kedisha Coakley – Artist

Kelly Loughlin – Artist

Sho Shibata – Director, Outdoor Arts UK

Dr Susan Croft – Director, Unfinished Histories

Tahir Shah – Culture, Heritage and Sport Policy Officer, West Yorkshire Combined Authority