In March 2020, Creative Lives (formerly known as Voluntary Arts) launched #CreativeNetwork - a series of online get-togethers open to anyone involved in arts, culture and creativity in order to connect and collaborate in unusual times. Facilitating these conversations has enabled people from across the UK and Ireland to talk with others, develop ideas and projects, and find sustainable ways forward in changing circumstances.

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After more than 100 inspiring Creative Network sessions since 17 March 2020, we started to develop themed sessions that take place regularly. We'll be continuing these for the foreseeable future and invite anyone interested in these topics to join a session. See what's coming up below.  

Monday 25 October, 1 - 2pm

#CreativeNetwork - Wellbeing  Delivered in partnership with The Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance

Register

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If you have any additional accessibility requirements for Zoom meetings, please contact us at [email protected] in advance and we will do our best to make sessions inclusive for everyone.

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Regular sessions

#CreativeNetwork - Children & Young People 

#CreativeNetwork - Crafts 

#CreativeNetwork - Coventry 

#CreativeNetwork - Dance 

#CreativeNetwork - Local Arts Wales 

#CreativeNetwork - London 

#CreativeNetwork - South West

#CreativeNetwork - Theatre 

#CreativeNetwork - West Midlands 

#CreativeNetwork - Wellbeing

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The sessions above are particular areas of focus that we have embarked on recently, either because of local capacity or specific skills and interests. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every location or art form, but we hope there is something that interests everyone. We will continue to host open sessions for wider discussions so do check the weekly schedule above for details.

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In March 2021, we hosted a special #CreativeNetwork event to mark one year since we started this series of online conversations. We were joined by 10 distinguished guests who shared their views and insights into the growing importance of everyday creativity in the arts sector as well as in people's lives. You can now read the conversation script by downloading our publication 'Valuing Everyday Creativity' (PDF, 2.64MB). You can also read it online below.

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Here's some of our #CreativeNetwork participants' feedback:

I absolutely love these meetings: they always spark something in me.

I find it a complete pleasure to interact with people whose paths I wouldn't normally cross so I always find I get out more than I put in! So thank you for getting me involved - it is joyous.

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It’s genuinely refreshing and welcome to have someone with such an accessible approach. I felt that the Zoom session was really comfortable and that we were in the right place. That’s not often the case.

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Really great, thought-provoking discussion this morning. Wonderful to be there and hear all the views.

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If you're new to working independently or working from home, try our new Briefing on Remote Working: a guide to working from home. We explain the common tools used in plain English, including video conferencing, cloud storage and live collaboration on documents, plus there are tips on how to manage your work and your workspace to ensure you have an uncluttered mind before and after work.