In this talk, Dr Liz Roberts will be presenting work on the Alternatives at Scale project. This project aims to identify opportunities for change and dialogue within the creative sector in the South West UK to create a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable creative economy.

Liz will be asking a series of questions - What would an alternative Creative Economy look like if:

• it wasn’t highly precarious, often reliant on short-term contracts and free labour?
• survival or success wasn’t measured purely on economic terms?
• ‘soft skills’ were recognised and valued alongside ‘high skills’ as integral to making the Creative Economy thrive?
• collaborations were supported and opportunities better shared so that the ‘creative entrepreneur’ wasn’t operating in isolation and in competition but worked in a supportive environment where financial and other rewards were more distributed?
• creative workforces and freelancers had access to the same benefits as other workforces such as appropriate unions and benefits and had more of a say in what their work conditions looked like?
• culture and creativity were understood as a right that everyone should have equal access to and an integral part of citizenship?

Dr Liz Roberts is a Research Fellow in the Creative Economies Lab UWE, working on the Bristol+Bath Creative R+D Cluster and MyWorld programme. Liz is a cultural geographer who has worked at the intersection of social science and arts and humanities across a range of interdisciplinary projects.

Open Studio Fridays

From 10:00 - 17:00 you can stay at the Studio for Open Studio Fridays - join us to continue the conversation or work on your own projects. The Studio provides chairs, tables, wireless and a great space. You bring what you need to work with (laptop/mobile). Tell us what you’re up to, or allow us to facilitate conversations within the resident community. Studio staff and residents will be around to chat, answer questions, or tell you more about what we do. The open afternoons close at 17:00, sometimes with a trip to the Café & Bar.

Where to find us

The Lunchtime Talks take place in the Pervasive Media Studio, which is in the Watershed building. The Studio is just beyond the Café & Bar, turn right and then go down the corridor to your left (where the toilets are). The double doors here will be open, go all the way down until you reach the Studio. A member of staff will sign you in, and check your ticket, if you have booked.

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