Culture West

Super Culture is committed to enabling artists and organisations within North Somerset to flourish and to ensuring more communities take part in and create art experiences.

As part of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority Place Partnership Programme; Culture West we work with a range of organisations opening up the area to more diverse talent and helping to build a strong creative sector that will drive economic growth in the region.

Within this, ‘Culture West’ is an ambitious £3.1 million initiative, supporting creativity and culture in the region through a two-year programme that aims to consolidate the West of England’s position as a worldwide centre for creative and cultural innovation.

Through the partnership, funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and Arts Council England, Super Culture is supporting creative talent development opportunities in North Somerset for 16 – 30 year olds, designed to develop skills – from paid work placements and new artist commissions to emerging producer roles, mentoring and networking. 

This work is supported by a wider training offer including masterclasses and workshops, delivered in conjunction with MUTI, Boomsatsuma, Creative Youth Network and Bath Spa University as part of the West of England’s Mayoral Combined Authority’s Regional Creative Agency Hub.

One of the recent opportunities working in tandem with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Place Partnership Programme was the MUTI ‘Creative Producing for Live Events Bootcamp’ being delivered in Weston-super-Mare and Bristol. Super Culture was one of three creative partners taking part, alongside Bristol organisations, Watershed and St Paul’s Carnival. The Weston bootcamp was a twelve-week course developing event production skills, including sessions on fundraising, marketing, and project planning with a finale showcase and networking event for local creatives. 

Also in North Somerset, the Council are working with Bath Spa University to identify resources – both space and equipment – offering a practical backbone that can strengthen North Somerset’s arts infrastructure.  Affordable space and kit hire can help people develop their careers, pilot a new product or learn a new skill.

The offer of placements and commissions will be linked to Super Culture’s wider work including festivals and events, giving a larger platform to young creatives and enabling industry experience in a range of context and roles.  

At ‘Whirligig’ festival in Weston-super-Mare in September, a group of young people experienced outdoor arts roles in production, tech and marketing.  ‘Good Grief Weston’ in October provided students with professional mentoring and skills building in photography and filmmaking, while Tyntesfield’s ‘Christmas Past’ festive offer has provided an opportunity for the development of animation skills.

“With the support of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and in partnership with some of the West of England’s most innovative arts organisations, the programme is building a diverse network of new creatives in North Somerset that is energising the cultural sector for the long term.

“This multi-faceted, multi-partner programme is genuinely reaching into a wide range of communities across the West of England and making cultural careers a real possibility.” – Fiona Matthews, Creative Director at Super Culture.

The video for Good Grief Weston 24, a partnership between Super Culture and University of Bristol, featured music by Harry, as part of Culture West programme