One element of the work we are doing at Creative Island, is to commit to convening a series of local Town Conversations with the cultural community of each town on the Isle of Wight. Having established these in Ryde, West Wight, Newport, and The Bays – we invited the community of Cowes (& surrounding areas) for the first Town Conversations (10th December 2024), 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.
The session began with Gavin, Director of Creative Island, introducing our work as the Island’s Cultural Development Agency. The discussions were filled with enthusiasm & dedication, highlighting the passion for forward thinking & the opportunities that not just Cowes have but the Island itself. In true Islander spirit, we addressed challenges – some of which we don’t have the answers for but for some, are keen to work collaboratively to find solutions.
Maggie Ankers from the IW Literary Festival summed it up perfectly: “If we all stick together & bat in the same direction, stay in contact & work with each other, there is nothing that cannot be achieved.”
Thank you to everyone who attended & contributed to this inspiring session. Let’s keep building on this momentum & working together for a vibrant future. Our next meeting will be Spring 2025, please keep an eye on our Instagram for updates.
Thank you to Cowes Community Club for kindly offering to host our first Cowes session.
