Creative Island is committed to convening a series of local conversations with the cultural community of each town on the Isle of Wight. The ambition is to speak about and listen to the particular challenges and opportunities that we all face, to explore collaborative opportunities, share information and network with others. One of the 6 places or “towns” that we host these meetings is West Wight. Below you’ll find a short summary of each meeting previously held:
June 2025 | Saw West Wight Town Conversations hosted at Freshwater Library, welcoming around 30 creatives, organisers and community members. The discussion celebrated the area’s rich mix of creative practice and focused on how to strengthen connection, visibility and collaboration. Common themes included the need for a shared creative hub, stronger youth and intergenerational engagement, better use of community spaces, digital inclusion, and caring for the natural environment. There was clear momentum to continue meeting, with interest in regular gatherings, ongoing connection, and collective support for wider initiatives in West Wight.
November 2024 | Brought together around 20 creatives for the second West Wight session, led by Creative Island’s Director. Conversations explored the realities of living and working on the Island, with many more positives than challenges identified. The session also featured local artist research that sparked discussion around place, connection and shared narratives.
April 2024 | Marked the first West Wight Town Conversations at West Wight Sports and Community Centre, bringing people together to introduce their work, share ambitions and test the appetite for regular local gatherings. The response was overwhelmingly positive and set the foundation for an ongoing, place-based network.
West Wight also has a dedicated WhatsApp group to help keep momentum going, share opportunities, and develop ideas collaboratively between these meetings. If you’d like to be a part of this community WhatsApp group, please email your number to Sam at sam@creativeisland.org.
For future Newport Town Conversations, we’ll update this page and our socials, please connect with us to stay tuned. Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
