Metal, alongside CT Consults and Intelligence Agency, has been appointed by Create Cambridge to undertake research to support the development of a new cultural strategy for Cambridge.
Supporting the Development of a New Cultural Strategy for Cambridge
Culture and creativity are in the DNA of Cambridge. The city is home to extraordinary pioneers — innovators whose ideas have global impact, radical cultural producers, and communities whose creativity shapes the city every day.
Yet alongside its strengths, Cambridge faces challenges: stark inequalities in income, health, and education, exacerbated by the pandemic. At this pivotal moment, as debate continues about the city’s growth and future, Create Cambridge has called for culture to be placed at the heart of these conversations. Believing sustainable growth can only truly happen if culture, and those who make it, are recognised, supported, and celebrated.
Metal are supporting this by undertaking research to contribute to the development of Cambridge’s Cultural Strategy, specifically leading on the artist and freelancer strand, making sure that the voices of artists and freelancers are included. Our consultation work will help feed into a shared vision and direction that will help set out the next steps.
Artist and Freelancers’ Dinner
In order to collect a range of creative voices from across the city, Metal arranged an artist and freelancers’ dinner to kick off the process and to start the discussion together about how Cambridge ‘could be a thriving place for artists and what this might look and feel like.’
Workshops and Open Advice Sessions
Following this Metal arranged a series of free workshops and open advice sessions for artists in Cambridge to share ideas, insights, and creative responses to feed into the new cultural strategy. Workshops were led by artists Dr Zhuozhang Li, Kate Genever and Amy Vaughan and open advice one-to-one sessions with artists Issam Kourbaj, Bryony Kimmings and Mark Titchner.
Artists to Artists Commissions
Metal is also inviting two artists to take part in Artists to Artists, two new creative commissions that invite artists to spark conversations and imagine the cultural future of Cambridge, exploring what it could look like, feel like, and mean for the people who make and experience art here.
Each commissioned artist will connect and host conversations with their peers and networks to gather ideas, insights, and visions, ensuring that creative voices help shape the city’s future. From these conversations, the artists will create a small artwork that captures the spirit of these shared reflections.
The commissions will be delivered in February 2026.
Metal Sector Support and Consultancy
At Metal, we make creative ideas happen. If you need support working through an idea, shaping a funding bid, or if you’re building a cultural strategy, we’re here to help. Metal offers expert consultancy with deep-rooted experience in creative collaboration, citizen-led decision making, socially engaged artist-led practice and developing both local and national networks and cultural infrastructure.
If you’d like to find out more, drop us an email to arrange a chat. We’re open to designing something that works for you. Please contact our Executive Director (Parental Leave), Bobbi Robertson on: bobbi@metalculture.com
About Create Cambridge
Create Cambridge is the city’s cultural compact, bringing together artists and cultural organisations with academic, industry, and civic partners to lead on a bold new vision for culture in Cambridge.
