©Philipp Ebeling 11 – 11.30am: Arrival and refreshments
11.30am: Welcome – Lorraine Cox, Creative Estuary Director
11.45am: Keynote speaker – Kwame Safo, British Council
Creative Trajectories: Kwame Safo speaks on how creativity and awareness of local resource has enabled him to advocate for culture at international stages. What advantages do grassroots artists bring to the wider discussion?
12.05pm: Sho Shibata, OutdoorArtsUK Director
Making Impact – the importance of arts access and the role of outdoor arts in social cohesion. Sho will introduce the recently launched Outdoor Arts Sector Strategy: Wherever You Are, Whoever Your Are, The Arts Are Yours – A Strategy for Joy and Belonging. He will also reflect on values-led leadership by speaking about his own professional journey
12.25 – 1.45pm: Lunch and networking
1.45 – 1.55pm: Luke Branch, Cool Thing Music
Cool Thing: Ten Years of Cool Thing in the Thames Estuary. Luke will trace the journey of Cool Thing Music from independent record label to full-service music company working at the top of the industry — exploring what happens when DIY ethics, creative ambition and a strong sense of place combine, and the unexpected ripple effects that follow.
– Azzees Minott – 2-3 Degrees
How to Meaningfully Engage with Young People: led by Azzees Minott, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of 2-3 Degrees, this talk is for anyone interested in better understanding how to meaningfully engage with young people. Drawing on her background in public policy at the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London’s Office, and her work supporting thousands of young people through programmes like Mastering My Future and Greener Living, Azzees shares practical insights on building trust, avoiding tokenism, and creating opportunities that empower young people to shape their futures and communities.
2.30pm – 2.45pm: Break and refreshments
2.45pm – 3.45pm: Workshop discussions
3.45pm – 3.55pm: Short break
3.55pm – 4pm: Closing remarks from Lorraine Cox
4pm – 5pm: Networking and drinks
