How Culture Central’s ‘A Creative West Midlands’ can support your NPO application with Dr Anthony Ruck, Chief Strategy Officer, Culture Central
As Arts Council England places increasing emphasis on evidence, place, inclusion, and public value, organisations seeking National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status need to demonstrate a clear understanding of their communities, cultural ecology, and the impact of their work.
This online workshop explores how insights from the A Creative West Midlands research can be used to strengthen strategic planning, articulate local and regional need, and build compelling evidence for funding applications. Participants will gain an overview of the research findings and consider how they can be applied to support organisational narratives around audience development, cultural participation, partnership working, skills, innovation, and place-based impact.
Through practical examples and discussion, the session will help organisations identify relevant data and insights that can be incorporated into their NPO proposals, business plans, and investment cases. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how research can be translated into persuasive evidence and how regional intelligence can support stronger, more credible applications.
Who should attend:
Arts and cultural organisations, freelancers, consultants, senior leaders, producers, and development staff preparing for future Arts Council England funding opportunities, including National Portfolio Organisation applications.
Participants will:
Gain an understanding of the key findings from A Creative West Midlands.
Explore how research evidence can support NPO application development.
Learn how to connect regional insights with organisational strategy and artistic ambitions.
Consider approaches to demonstrating need, impact, relevance, and public value.
Identify practical ways to embed evidence into funding bids and business planning.
Getting involved
These meetings take place online at 9.30-10.30am on the second Tuesday of every month. If you would like to join the learning sessions, please sign up using the form linked below or email info@culturecentral.co.uk.
We aim to facilitate and accommodate all accessibility needs. Please do let us know below if you have any specific questions, needs or comments and we will do our best to meet them.
About WMCRU
Set up during COVID, our regular West Midlands Culture Response Unit (WMCRU) meetings were a vital lifeline for the sector in connecting, sharing and getting practical information and advice. WMCRU has continued to be a useful space for organisations and individuals that Culture Central continues to support as a collective and collaborative space for all those that are interested in the cultural ecology of the region. In 2026-7, WMCRU meetings will explore key strategic challenges and opportunities that affect the sector and the region.