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Join the national conversation about arts and culture

Get Creative kicked off with a series of debates about art and culture up and down the UK. The BBC will be capturing the conversation across the nations and regions to get people talking about the role and social value of the arts in their lives.

From Cambridge to Cardiff, and Belfast to Glasgow highlights from these debates will play across national and local radio stations allowing listeners and presenters to explore issues in-depth, from the role of the arts in urban and rural communities to what makes a City of Culture.

Click on the organisations' links below to find out more about the debates happening near you, giving everyone an opportunity to get involved in a unique national conversation about arts and culture.

Get Creative debates

  • Cambridge – 19 Feb

    Parliamentary candidates discussed 'arts, culture and quality of life' and its role in shaping Cambridge, in this debate from What Next? at Cambridge Junction.

  • Radio 4 - 23 Feb

    John Wilson, a panel of guests and a live audience at the Hull Truck Theatre opened a national conversation exploring the relationship between the state and the arts.

  • London – 23 Feb

    At Sadler's Wells the artists Carlos Acosta, Seeta Patel and Pam Zinkin, and the Place’s Kenneth Tharp and Breakin’ Convention’s Jonzi D discussed dance’s power to create change.

  • Norfolk – 23 Feb

    Organised by What Next?, a panel at The Curve in the Forum asked 'Do we need the arts?', 'What is art anyway?' and 'How does it affect our community?'.

  • Cardiff – 23 Feb

    Funding the Fundamental: The future of investing in arts. Yvonne Murphy of Omidaze, Graeme Farrow of Wales Millennium Centre and BBC Arts Correspondent Huw Thomas are at Wales Millennium Centre. Organised by What Next?

  • Caerdydd – 23 Chwef

    Bydd Yvonne Murphy, Omidaze; Graeme Farrow, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru a Huw Thomas, Gohebydd y Cyfryngau a Chelfyddydau’r BBC yn arwain trafodaeth gyhoeddus ar ddyfodol celfyddydau a diwylliant.

  • Radio 4 - 24 Feb

    The BBC's "Get Creative" campaign is encouraging us to get involved in art. But where does the money come from for such creativity? It's hard to argue with the benefits of things like singing, dancing or painting, but what benefits have you actually seen?

  • Manchester – 24 Feb

    The What Next? 'Creativity Counts' debate at The Royal Exchange Theater explored why Greater Manchester places such value on arts, culture and creativity.

  • BBC Four – 24 Feb

    Do you think your taxes are wasted on the arts? Is modern art rubbish? BBC Four staged a special Arts Question Time, chaired by Kirsty Wark at Broadcasting House in London.

  • Wandsworth – 24 Feb

    Can Wandsworth become the most creative place in the UK? Battersea Arts Centre invited the people of the borough to debate Everyday Creativity.

  • Cardiff – 24 Feb

    What next? is at the Sherman Theatre, where artistic directors Rachel O’Riordan, of Sherman Cymru, and John McGrath, of National Theatre Wales, asked 'Can new writing be the voice of a city?'

  • Caerdydd – 24 Chwef

    Ymunwch â Rachel O’Riordan, Sherman Cymru, a John McGrath, National Theatre Wales, wrth iddyn nhw drafod materion sy’n amgylchynu Celfyddyd a Diwylliant ym mhrif ddinas Cymru, gan dalu sylw at sgwennu newydd yn cynrychioli pobl Caerdydd.

  • Reading - 25 Feb

    Thames Valley Analogue Digital Collision and Reading Arts Business Club hosted an online debate asking 'Why creativity matters to us’ on their social media channels.

  • Camforth – 25 Feb

    Queen Elizabeth School debates 'Cultural Education in the Rural Landscape' - exploring the role of schools and implications of technology. Organised by Curious Minds.

  • Hounslow – 25 Feb

    Organised by the Cultural Learning Alliance, young people at Heston Community School worked with teachers and artists to ask ‘What is the future of education?’

  • Online – 25 Feb

    An online debate on Google Hangouts with musician Soweto Kinch, David Binder of LIFT, John Cumming of Serious and others, on how arts festivals help cities express themselves.

  • Liverpool – 25 Feb

    Following a performance of Willy Russell’s Educating Rita at Liverpool Playhouse, a panel from different arts backgrounds considered ‘Where does creativity sit in education?'

  • Coventry – 26 Feb

    At Belgrade Theatre What Next? examined diversity in the arts, in partnership with The Third Conversation - a meeting of artists who share, learn and network.

  • Cardiff – 26 Feb

    Roots to a Future. At St David's Hall Danny KilBride from Trac, Lisa Davies of Community Music Wales and Anthony Owen Hicks from Arts Council Wales looked at the future of folk music. Organised by What Next?

  • Basingstoke – 27 Feb

    At Proteus Creation Space some of the region’s leading cultural thinkers discussed the challenges of the future of arts and culture outside of big cities. Organised by What Next?

  • Kent – 27 Feb

    What’s it worth? A What Next? debate at Gulbenkian Theatre on the social value of the arts. With Laura Dyer of Arts Council England, Steph Fuller of Ideas Test, Robin Simpson of Voluntary Arts and Tom Andrews of People United

  • Hull – 27 Feb

    What Makes a City of Culture? Hull Truck Theatre considered the real value of Hull's 2017 accolade and its impact and legacy for communities. Organised by What Next?

  • Online – 27 Feb

    In a 'Twitter takeover', Welsh National Opera's Artistic Director David Pountney asks ‘Will austerity kill our culture?’ Join the debate at #KillCulture. Organised by What Next?

  • Nottingham – 27 Feb

    What is the role and value of creativity and culture in Nottingham? Politicians, activists, artists explore the power of the arts in a What Next? debate at The Malt Cross.

  • Northampton – 27 Feb

    Northampton is creative because... An open debate at NN Contemporary Art by What Next? with artists, business leaders and academics.

  • London 28 Feb

    Elephant in the room: What is the social responsibility of The Arts? As part of VAULT Festival, representatives working with vulnerable and minority groups discuss how issues can be successfully addressed through The Arts.

  • London – 24 to 28 Feb

    To accompany Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle at Southwark's Unicorn Theatre, audiences can write their views about creativity and why it matters on a 'debate wall'.

  • London - 8 April

    Creative Industries Hustings at the Royal Opera House. Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, Labour's Harriet Harman and representatives from other parties debate the arts and creative industries

  • Sheffield - 16 April

    A What Next? Sheffield public debate and discussion inviting speakers from outside the arts sector to address the question of how we articulate the value of arts and culture.

  • Exeter - 30 April

    An opportunity to ask five parliamentary candidates how they see Exeter's cultural community developing in the coming years and the values they place on creativity in all areas of life.

  • London - 9 May 15:00

    What commitment should the new government be making to culture and education? Join members of the cultural world and debate the value of arts and culture.

  • Hay Festival - 25 May

    In this debate from What Next? and CLA, education and cultural professionals discuss the value of arts and culture to young people and ask whether they're being offered the right choices.

  • Edinburgh Fringe - 16 August

    How does being creative shape us as individuals, as communities and as nations? Listen to the debate at the BBC's Fringe venue.

Elsewhere on the BBC

Arts, culture and creativity discussions across the BBC's national and local networks:

'People are itching to talk about creativity'