Get Creative Debates - Programme Plan

All debates are open to the public, and details on how to take part can be found on the Get Creative website www.bbc.co.uk/getcreative

What Next? Cambridge - Thursday 19 February, 18:30 at Cambridge Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX

Arts, culture and quality of life - the political debate. Join the Parliamentary Candidates for Cambridge to discuss the role creativity plays in shaping Cambridge and hear their views on the future of arts and culture in the UK.

Covered by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

Why Dance Matters - Sadler’s Wells - Monday 23 February, 09:30 – 11:00 at Rosebery Room, Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN

Join artists Carlos Acosta, Seeta Patel and Pam Zinkin, The Place’s Chief Executive Kenneth Tharp and Breakin’ Convention’s Artistic Director Jonzi D as they debate dance’s power to create change.

Covered by BBC London

What Next?Norfolk - Monday 23 February, 13:00 at The Curve in The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1TF

Do we need the Arts? What is Art anyway? How do they affect our city/communities/young people? Are they worth supporting or can we live without them?

Covered by BBC Radio Norfolk

What Next? North West - Tuesday 24 February, 16:00 at Royal Exchange Theatre, St Anns Square, Manchester M2 7DH

Creativity Counts - a discussion about why Greater Manchester places such value on arts, culture and creativity. We hear from people working within different aspects of public life from across the region about whether, in these times of austerity, creativity really counts.

Covered by BBC Radio Manchester

Cultural Learning Alliance - Wednesday 25 February, 11:00 – 15:15 at Heston Community School, Heston Road, Hounslow, London, TW5 0QR

Young people of Heston Community School will be working with teachers and artists to ask ‘what is the future of education?’ They’ll present their ideas to the education and arts leaders of the Cultural Learning Alliance.

Covered by BBC London

Curious Minds - Wednesday 25 February, 10:30 – 14:00 at Queen Elizabeth School, Kirkby Lonsdale, Camforth, LA6 2HJ

C:ED Talks – Cultural Education in the Rural Landscape. The event will involve discussion and debate on the role that schools have to play in cultural education in the rural environment, the implications of technology and the wider engagement of children and young people with communities of cultural interest within and beyond the locality.

Covered by BBC Radio Cumbria

Liverpool Playhouse - Wednesday 25 February, 20:00 at Williamson Square, Liverpool L1 1EL

Inspired by, and following a performance of, Willy Russell’s Educating Rita, a panel of experts from different backgrounds debate the question, where does creativity sit in education?

Covered by BBC Merseyside.

What Next? Midlands Diversity - Thursday 26 February, 17:30 – 20:00 at Belgrade Theatre, Weston Learning Space, Coventry, CV1 1GS

What Next? Diversity West Midlands presents the Third Conversation in partnership with the Belgrade Theatre. The Third Conversation is a dynamic meeting of artists who share, learn and network amongst established and emerging artists whilst discussing issues around sustaining a career in the arts.

Covered by BBC Coventry and Warwickshire

What Next? Basingstoke - Friday 27 February, 09:00 – 10:00 at Proteus Creation Space, Council Road, Basingstoke, RG21 3DH

Interested in the future of Arts and Culture outside of large cities? Does Culture matter in the Countryside? Want to discuss the challenges with some of the region’s leading Cultural thinkers?

Covered by BBC Radio Berkshire

Ideas Test presents for What Next? Kent - Friday 27 February, 09:00 – 10:00 at Gulbenkian Theatre, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NB

What’s it worth? A debate about the social value of the arts. Featuring a panel including: Laura Dyer, Executive Director, Arts Council England; Steph Fuller, Creative Enabler, Ideas Test; and Robin Simpson, Executive Director of Voluntary Arts, this public debate asks what arts and culture contribute to our society.

Covered by BBC Radio Kent.

What Next? Hull - Friday 27 February, 10:00 at Hull Truck Theatre, 50 Ferensway, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU2 8KB

What Makes A City of Culture? Hull was named the UK City of Culture 2017 in November 2013 - a date hailed by the Hull Daily Mail as "the day the city changed forever." But what is the real value of this accolade, what impact will it have for communities across the city and what will the legacy be?

Covered by BBC Radio Humberside

What Next? Nottingham, through Pecha Kucha Nottingham - Friday 27 February, 16:00 – 18:00 at The Malt Cross, 16 Saint James's Street, Nottingham NG1 6FG

Talking Creativity: What is the role and value of creativity and culture within Nottingham? Politicians, community activists, artists, producers, venue managers, residents, journalists, local media, businesses, young people and residents explore the power and meaning of the arts, culture and creativity in the life of the city.

Covered by BBC Radio Nottingham

What Next? Northampton - Friday 27 February, 17:30 – 19:00 at NN Contemporary Art, Number Nine Guildhall Road, Northampton, NN1 1DP
Northampton is creative because…: A debate about what makes Northampton creative, with contributions from creative people from all walks of life including audiences, artists, business leaders and academics. Followed by a creative and inspiring evening with Northampton’s own Alan Moore (described as “the best graphic novel writer in history”) and comedian, actor and writer, Robin Ince.
Covered by BBC Radio Northampton

What Next? Cardiff

• Discusses ‘How do we ensure that children and young people all over Wales have access to a varied diet of meaningful arts experiences whilst they are growing up?’ at Theatr Iolo at Chapter Arts Centre, Market Rd, Canton, CF5 1QF, Cardiff on Saturday 21 February, 12:30
• On the topic of ‘Funding the Fundamental: the future of investing in arts and culture’ at Japan Room, Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL, on Monday 23 February, 17:00
• ‘Can new writing be the voice of a City?’ at Sherman Theatre, Senghennydd Rd, Cathays, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF24 4YE on Tuesday 24 February, 18:00 (before a performance of Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage)
• Roots to a Future at St David's Hall, Lefel 1, The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1AH. On Thursday 26 February, 18:30, before the Roots Unearthed event The Unthanks at 20:00 discussion on the future possibilities and practices of folk and roots music in Wales, what draws us to it and how it will engage the next generation of audiences and artists. Led by a panel consisting of Danny KilBride from Trac, Lisa Davies from Community Music Wales and Anthony Owen Hicks form Arts Council Wales.
• • Join an online debate with Welsh National Opera Chief Executive & Artistic Director David Pountney as he asks ‘Will austerity kill our culture?’ Follow the discussion on Twitter at #KillCulture on Friday 27 February, 13:00

BBC Radio 2 – On his afternoon show Jeremy Vine will be discussing Rembrandt’s self-portraits. Exploring how this popular painting subject offers a ‘window on the soul’, listeners will be encouraged to discuss and debate the topic.

BBC Radio 3 – Free Thinking will offer a series of interviews on BBC Radio 3 with public figures on the role of art in their lives from Monday 23 to Thursday 26 February.

BBC Radio 3’s Breakfast Show will this autumn be asking amateur composers to write a new Christmas Carol to become part of the sound of Radio 3’s Christmas. During December, a shortlist of the finest entries will be drawn up by panel of judges including some of the most well-known names in composition and choral writing. Those chosen carols will be performed by the BBC Singers, and as well as being broadcast they’ll be made available for download and in the run up to Christmas Radio 3 listeners will vote for their favourite. The winning carol will be announced in time for it to become a major part of Radio 3’s Christmas celebrations.

BBC Radio 4 – In a Front Row Debate broadcast at 9am on Monday 23 February, John Wilson presents a public debate exploring the relationship between the state and the arts. Joined by a panel of high-profile guests, Wilson hosts the discussion recorded in front of an audience at the Hull Truck Theatre to mark the launch of the BBC’s Get Creative campaign and to open up a national conversation on whether artists are owed a living.

BBC Radio 5Live – On Thursday 26 Feb, BBC arts editor Will Gompertz joins a discussion about the power of creativity on Radio 5 Live’s Afternoon Edition.
BBC Asian Network – Nihal’s discussion programme, on air from 10:00 to 13:00 will feature a series of in-depth interviews about getting involved in the arts across the week, including:

• Indhu Rubasingham, artistic director of the Tricycle Theatre (Monday 23)
• Suki Singapora – burlesque dancer in UK and Asia (Tuesday 24)
• A What Next? debate around diversity in the arts at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (Wednesday 25)
• Amit Sharma, director of a theatre company scheme called 'Write to Play' for disabled actors (Thursday 26)

BBC Radio Scotland – BBC Radio Scotland’s Culture Studio, on air from 2.05pm to 4pm, explores how and why you should get creative in a week-long special from Monday 23 February. There is a cultural activity on all our doorsteps and Jemma Neville, Director of Voluntary Arts Scotland, whets our appetite for the sheer range of cultural groups meeting all over Scotland every week as she tries her hand at a new activity, whether it's rapper sword dancing and life drawing to upcycling furniture and tango dancing.

We will also hear inspiring stories of how people are involved in creative organisations. Volunteers from the Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies tell us about passing the baton of their experience onto other arts organisations through the Casting On project and we will hear from youth ambassadors from Time to Shine, an arts strategy giving voice to the next generation on the importance of creativity in Scotland. Every day this week we’ll shine the spotlight on a different individual or organisation to find out ‘What getting creative means to them’ and listeners are encouraged to let us know what they might take up in this #bbcgetcreative year.

BBC Radio Wales - On Thursday, 19 February BBC Radio Wales will be exploring the concept of Wales as a nation of creative thinkers. The Big Welsh Idea will look back at some of the best Welsh innovations, explore what makes a good invention and how you can bring ideas to life.

On Morning Call with Oliver Hides at 9am BBC Radio Wales will look at the past, present and future of Wales as a creative nation and find out what the listeners think. Jason Mohammad’s programme will host The Big Welsh Idea Innovation Challenge, a Dragons Den style contest for teams of students from Cardiff University, Swansea University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales pitching ideas to an expert panel.

It will also feature The Creative Mine; a documentary about UK Intellectual Property Office (formerly The Patent Office) as author and broadcaster Dan Anthony charts the history of this internationally renowned institution 25 years after the move from London to Newport. Dan finds out about great Welsh inventions registered at the Office and the challenges of the 21st century where the competition to turn ideas into cash is fierce.

On Eleri Siôn’s programme at 1pm, Lawrence Smith-Higgins, Head of Campaigns and Education at the Intellectual Property Office, shares the weird and wacky patents issued over the years and Eleri asks listeners for their bright ideas. Finally at 6.30pm Wales at Work hosts an expert panel to debate the creative state of the nation and its future discussing such topics as the importance of meaningful creative links between the academic and business world and the kind of practical support needed translate ideas into a commercial reality.

The Arts Show will have a Get Creative special on Wednesday, 25 February when they will be discussing creativity.

BBC Radio Northern Ireland - The Arts Show (Radio) with Marie-Louise Muir and Michael Bradley will host the first in a series of Arts centred ‘Get Creative Conversations’ throughout the year, week beginning Monday 23 February.

The conversations, which will include debate and discussion, will be in a variety of formats, live and pre-recorded, studio and on location, and range across a variety of themes including: What would life be like without arts?; Northern Ireland – a special creative place? and Young at Art – how do we ensure continuing creativity?

There will also be a series of inspirational ‘Get Creative Interviews’ with recognised ‘local’ artists from across a range of arts talking about their personal journeys, working practices and work in an earthy accessible way. This will include previously recorded interviews e.g. Michael Longley, Glenn Patterson, Tony McAuley etc. as well as new recordings with other artists, including emerging talent.