Shape Coventry

Shape Coventry is a three-year programme (2026-2029) opening up exciting creative opportunities for children, young people, schools, artists and communities across Coventry.

Backed by Arts Council England, this significant investment in Coventry's arts and culture sector will help to inspire the next generation of creative talent while strengthening the city's vibrant cultural community.

Whether you are a teacher looking for inspiring opportunities for your students, a young person exploring a creative future, an artist wanting to collaborate, or a community organisation keen to get involved, Shape Coventry is for you.

We are making creativity more accessible, developing new skills, creating career pathways and giving more people the chance to experience, make and shape culture in Coventry.

Representatives of Coventry University, Coventry City Council and Arts Council England at an event at Coventry Transport Museum where the Shape Coventry project was launched

A new era for arts and culture in Coventry

Coventry University is leading the delivery of a major new initiative which will give thousands of people access to opportunities and career pathways in the creative sector.

Read the full story

Visual arts

Discover exhibitions, workshops, artist-led projects and opportunities to create, exhibit and explore visual arts.

Young people and communities will have opportunities to engage with the British Art Show, one of the UK's most significant contemporary art exhibitions, alongside year-round creative activities across the city.

Person close up singing into a microphone

Performance

Take part in theatre, dance, storytelling and live performance projects.

From school workshops and community performances to working alongside professional artists, there are opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels to get involved.

Music

Discover new musical experiences through workshops, performances, creative projects and opportunities delivered with Coventry Music Service and partners.

Whether you're picking up an instrument for the first time or developing your musical talents, there's something for everyone.

Person wearing VR headset in Delia Derbyshire building

Creative technologies

Get hands-on with immersive experiences, digital storytelling, virtual production, AI, games, XR and other emerging creative technologies through workshops, events and industry opportunities delivered by Coventry University and CreaTech Frontiers.

A city-wide partnership

Shape Coventry is delivered through a unique partnership of organisations committed to creating more opportunities for young people and strengthening Coventry's creative future.

Key partners include Coventry University, Coventry City Council, Coventry Cultural Education Partnership, Culture Coventry, Coventry Music Service and University of Warwick alongside many schools, artists, cultural organisations and community partners from across the city.

Shape Coventry partner logos

ERIC
Etch & Pin
Hayward Touring
Highfield Music
Highly Sprung
Hill Group Ltd
Hillz FM Community Radio Station
HQ Recording Studio Leicester
Media Mania
Music Managers Forum

Musicians Union
Ode Creatives
Off Balance Dance
PRS Foundation
Royal Ballet & Opera
Stratford upon Avon College
The Twelfth Studio
Tin Music & Arts
Warwick Arts Centre
West Midlands Combined Authority

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Get in touch

We are always keen to hear from schools, artists, creative organisations, community groups, young people and anyone interested in helping shape Coventry’s creative future.