WED 29 JUN 2011

Six arts organisations teamed up to host one national event about collaboration.

Northern Stage and Pilot Theatre, with support from Arts Council England, hosted an afternoon of creative thinking to inspire and provoke. Innovatively, three national venues – Cornerhouse, Manchester, Watershed in Bristol and Lyric Hammersmith - live streamed the event to more delegates across the country.  Some of the best thinkers and leaders from the cultural sector and beyond shared their thoughts and provoked the conversation all across the UK.

Are we prepared to give up some individual autonomy in order to innovate together?  How do we shift the debate from efficiencies to sustained creative action? What models of collaboration and sharing can we celebrate and learn from? Is there a limit to the value of working together?

We were stirred, motivated and challenged by, amongst others:

• Maria Balshaw,  Manchester Galleries
• Roland Harwood from innovation agency 100% Open),
• Kate McGrath from theatre producers Fuel
• Alan Lane from Slung Low
• Matt Peacock from Streetwise Opera
• Mark Robinson of Thinking Practice
• David Jubb, Battersea Arts Centre
• Lyn Gardner, Journalist and Theatre Critic
• Anthony Sargent, The Sage Gateshead
• Clymene Christoforou from Isis Arts
• Katherine Zeserson, Sing Up / The Sage Gateshead
• Mark Dobson, Tyneside Cinema
• Andy Field and Debbie Person from Edinburgh’s Forest Fringe
• Annabel Turpin, ARC Stockton.
• Suzy Glass from Culture Hack Scotland

Northern Stage transformed the main auditorium into a giant living room. There were some curated conversations in Stage 2 looking at the limits of collaboration and the challenges of working internationally; a chance to see some case studies of excellent strategic collaborations across the building and a speed-dating event where artists, producers, funders and policy-makers get to chat to each other for three minutes each about an idea they have, or simply to make a new connection.

Tapas, entertainment and good conversation for those who can stay in Newcastle into the evening. Click here to pre-book your evening meal.

Need to stay overnight?  Visit NewcastleGateshead's guide to accomdation in the city.

Follow us on Twitter @northernstage or follow the event using the hashtag #artstogether

Got a question? Email Ruth McClure on rmcclure@northernstage.co.uk or call 0191 242 7217