A global peer learning series on financing the cultural and creative sectors

Interest in repayable finance, impact investment and blended funding models for the cultural and creative sectors is growing internationally. Yet the field remains small and dispersed, and those working in it rarely have the chance to learn directly from peers in other countries.

Figurative is now convening a global peer learning series to help address this. At first, this will be a series of online events bringing together practitioner organisations from different countries to discuss their work candidly: what they set out to achieve, what they have learned, and the questions they are still working through. Each session will include a moderated discussion and peer questions. The emphasis throughout is on honest, practical exchange rather than formal presentation.

We’re happy to announce the first two sessions, both chaired by cultural impact investment expert Florencia Giulio:

• 2 July (3pm UK time) – Impact measurement in outcomes-based funding and impact investing, with Fundación SURA and Latimpacto (the Cultura Latinoamérica programme) alongside Figurative’s Cultural Impact Development Fund. Register here.
• 23 July (4pm UK time) – Lending to culture: loans and blended finance in the cultural and creative sectors, with Cultura Capital (Nuevo León, Mexico) and Figurative’s Arts Impact Fund. Register here.

Please note that these first sessions are aimed at practitioners actively investing in the cultural and creative sectors or with proven interest in this field (for example, through active fund design & development). As such, we ask attendees to tell us briefly about their work or interest when registering, and places will be offered on that basis. We plan to run more open sessions later on, so that those newer to the field can take part too.  

Figurative is providing the secretariat for these initial sessions, but the longer-term ambition is a shared one. We believe there is appetite for a genuine global community of practice in this field, and how such a community should take shape – who participates, how it is governed, and what purpose it serves – is a question best answered by those who form part of it. We are therefore treating this as the start of a conversation that will seek a plurality of views.

There will be opportunities to contribute your views at the end of each of these first two sessions and through a short follow-up survey. We would also welcome ideas directly: if you have thoughts on the series, or on what a community of practice in this field might look like, please email me at seva.phillips@figurative.org.uk. 

We hope you can join us for one or both of these dates.