The C Word

The c-word is important to Audiences South West.   We like to use it in polite company as it’s a crude way of demonstrating that we are not scared of colourful language.   Yes, ‘collaboration’ is a word much used and much understood as being many different things to many different people.   Where common usage has a range of referents, there confusion lies.

Of late, Audiences South West has been busy, perhaps too busy, working with arts organisations to develop collaborations.   What we have learned is that common language develops through dialogue and that this happens over time.   This means that people not involved in a discussion tend to reject its conclusions.  

We have also leant that trust depends upon a mutual declaration of self-interest and acting up to this requirement takes confidence and clarity of purpose on behalf of the organisations seeking a collaborative outcome.  This means openness about competition, strengths and priorities for growth.  

This understanding of collaboration as being structured by self-interest and competitive advantage leads us to want to ditch the old c-word for another old one, co-opetition.  

To work out what co-opetition might mean, amongst other things, Audiences South West have invested time and finances into an emerging and dynamic example of collaboration that is based in the City of Exeter – Exeter Cultural Partnership.

Exeter Cultural Partnership has a steering group made of individuals with backgrounds in creative industry, higher education, museum, arts, local government, sports and food sectors.   These people have stepped up as being prepared to take a lead in improving the city’s cultural offer and increasing the public appetite for that offer.   The partnership has a hinterland of some 50 organisations based in and around Exeter.

The steering group is raising its aspirations, beginning to develop a cultural strategy and reaching out to stakeholders through events and social networks – google us to find our ning.  This has all been established for less than £3K plus the time-bank contributions of the participants.   This looks like pretty good value to Audiences South West. 

Exeter now has an emerging mechanism to grapple with the necessaries of leadership, strengthening organisations, understanding audiences, increasing engagement, and linking arts and lived culture.   Interesting to register where self-interest plus honesty can get you – to a shared understanding of collaboration, for instance.

Jim Brewster, Chief Executive, Audiences South West