Calling all artists and creative freelancers based in Cambridge! Are you looking to discuss your creative practice or explore a project idea? 

Metal is hosting free 1:1 Open Advice Sessions in Cambridge with guest artists as part of the Create Cambridge programme. These sessions are for artists and freelancers who live and/or work in Cambridge and will be led by you and what you would like to discuss. 

This might include: 

• discussing your creative practice 

• talking through a project idea 

• advice or sign posting to different funding routes or opportunities. 

These sessions give artists focused time to discuss any creative challenge, question, or ambition – whether that’s developing a new idea, tackling a barrier in their practice, or simply talking through their work with someone experienced. 

Why are we offering Open Advice Sessions?  

We’re hosting a series of workshops, dinners, and open advice sessions with local creatives to gain insights to inform a new cultural strategy being developed for Cambridge. Through art, conversation, and collaboration you will help shape the future of Cambridge, as guest artists anonymously feed back any reoccurring themes, hopes and challenges that come up in the sessions.  

Create Cambridge is the city’s cultural compact bringing together artists, cultural organisations, universities, industry and civic partners to shape a bold new vision for culture in Cambridge. Find out more about Create Cambridge here. 

About the Guest Artist 

Issam Kourbaj is a Syrian-born artist who has lived and worked in Cambridge since 1990. He trained in fine art, architecture, and theatre design in Damascus, Leningrad and London. His multidisciplinary practice often responds to cultural memory, displacement, and transformation, and his work has been exhibited internationally, including at major museums and biennales. In this one-to-one session, Issam can support you with any creative problem or challenge. Specialisms include conceptual framing, archive or memory-based work, or site-responsive practice – drawing from his deep experience working across disciplines and geographies. 

How to Book:  

Sessions will be 1 hour long and hosted by a guest artist.  Each one-to-one is informal, artist-to-artist, and entirely tailored to you 

There is one session available per artist, and they are reserved on a first come first served basis (to those who live and/or work in Cambridge).  When booking the session, please let us know of any access requirements.  

Book your free place here