About Us
Who are we?
Southend Creatives is a self-governing network of businesses, organisations, and self-employed creative professionals who deliver culture and the arts for the local community and further afield.
Southend has a rich history of diverse culture across artforms and creative businesses. We pride ourselves on being inclusive, supportive and open to all that work across the creative and cultural sector at any level.
We primarily organise quarterly network events for Southend’s creative and cultural sector, as well as advocate for better conditions for our community to thrive.
Our Purpose
We have two main aims:
CONNECTION
We facilitate creative practitioners, organisations and businesses to make meaningful connections. We encourage collaboration over competition. We want to be the go to place for new creatives to find community. We do this by;
- Four networking events a year, featuring a talk by a guest speaker from the creative sector.
- A creative directory for members, representing the dynamic range of skills and encouraging connection.
- Maintaining our presence as a collective group through our website and social media channels.
ADVOCACY
We advocate for fair pay and better working conditions as we believe art is work. We understand the creative industries rely on freelancers and are aware of the struggles they face. We represent Southend in wider conversations within other networks and political circles. We do this by;
- Providing useful resources for best practice as a creative professional or businesses.
- Maintaining and promoting our organisational charter, which reflects our core values as a group.
- Providing a conduit from the creative and cultural sector to key decision and policy makers. As an example, we facilitate an annual BIG conversation event, to connect Southend’s creative community with councillors and local political leaders.
Who is the Network for?
Southend Creatives welcomes anyone interested or involved in Southend’s creative and cultural sector. This includes arts organisations, education providers, independent businesses, freelancers or creative practitioners.
We welcome members from across all disciplines including (but not limited to) the visual arts, theatre, performance, fashion, film, music, gaming, design, heritage, digital technology and much more.
We also recognise Southend to include the areas of Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, Prittlewell, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay and Shoeburyness. We understand our community extends far beyond these boundaries and welcome anyone with a connection to the area.
What does it cost?
Southend Creatives is a registered Community Interest Company (CIC) without any regular core-funding, relying on the voluntary input of our members. For the network to operate, we have an annual target to raise year-on-year.
This allows us to continue our work, but more specifically goes towards the running costs of our website and social media platforms, as well as the organisation of our regular events with the need to hire venues, pay speakers and other associated costs.
It is free for anyone to become a member of the network, but we ask that you consider a donation to ensure it can continue. We operate a tiered system so you pay what you can afford. Without this vital support from members, the network would not be able to continue.
Organisational Charter
In 2022, Southend Creatives developed an organisational charter to advocate for creatives living and working in Southend. Everyone joining the network will sign up to the following pledges:
- Art is Work
- Freedom of Creative Expression
- Recognition
- Collaboration over Competition
Southend Creatives believes that this collectively developed charter will help support people in their creative practice and amplify the voice and agency of creatives in Southend.
Our People
As well as an expanding member-base of practitioners, organisations and businesses from/based in Southend, we also have a steering group who meet regularly to consult on our work as a network.
Kelly Buckley: Artist, sound designer and freelance journalist.
Andrea Cunningham: Director of arts organisation Metal Southend.
Julie Curtis: Graphic designer and founder of Icicle Graphic Design.
Rachel Dingle: Playwright, theatre maker and founder of Show Up Southend.
Emma Edmondson: Artist and founder of The Other MA (TOMA).
Fern Potter: Fundraiser, Mentor, Dancer
James Ravinet: Artist, curator and trustee at local artist studios/charity The Old Waterworks.
S Reeson: Poet
Natalie Scarsbrook: Filmmaker and founder of Blatella Films.
Kate Waterfield: Musician and Deputy Director at Focal Point Gallery.
Fern Worsely: Artist and Director of artist studios theblokhouse.
If you’re interested in joining or would like to find out more, please contact us at southendcreatives@gmail.com
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