Coventry University is leading the delivery of a major new initiative which will give thousands of people access to opportunities and career pathways in the creative sector. Shape Coventry - a new creative skills development programme - will be rolled out across Coventry over the next three years and was launched this week at a Cultural Champions event at Coventry Transport Museum.

The £1.14m programme, supported by nearly £650,000 of National Lottery funding from Arts Council England’s Place Partnership Fund, brings together more than 20 partners, including Coventry City Council, Coventry Cultural Education Partnership, Street Art Strategy, the University of Warwick, British Council and CreaTech Frontiers, all working collectively to support Coventry’s creative economy and future talent. 

Thousands of people across Coventry, including children and young people, will have the opportunity to experience arts exhibitions, take part in events and develop new creative skills. The activities will take place at venues across the city, including the Delia Derbyshire Building, home to Coventry University’s College of the Arts and Society, and the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum. Murals will also be created in public spaces across the city.  

More than 100 schools will be involved, giving young people the chance to develop creative skills, work towards Arts Awards and gain insight into careers in the sector through engagement with artists, industry professionals and university expertise. 

The programme will also support local artists and creative professionals through paid work placements, internships, networking opportunities and business support - helping to strengthen Coventry’s creative economy and retain emerging talent. 

Activity linked to the prestigious British Art Show 10, arriving in the city in October, will also form part of the programme. 

Find out more about studying creative courses at Coventry University here.

Image: Left to right, Lisa Wilson and Sinead Ouillon from Coventry University, Cllr Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Coventry City Council, Saavan Tah from Arts Council England, and Mark Steele, chairman of Coventry Cultural Education Partnership.