If you’ve ever found yourself having an intense, hour-long debate with your cat about font choices or wondering if anyone else in the borough is navigating the exact same freelance rollercoaster you are – good news.
You’re definitely not alone, and you officially no longer have to work in a vacuum.
Today was the official launch of Creative People Bedford, a brand-new, independent social enterprise on a mission to unite, empower, and champion the borough’s 5,000+ strong creative community.
The Creative People Bedford launch captured by Rebecca Fatharly @social.daemon
Whether you’re one of the town’s 1,500 independent freelancers, an agency regular, or a solo designer holding down the creative fort inside a corporate firm, this new community is designed to combat isolation, ditch self-doubt, and spark proper, in-person connections across Bedfordshire’s fast-growing creative economy.
Powered by local talent (no London commute required)
It’s no secret that the UK’s creative industries are booming and that there is a wealth of incredible talent right here on our doorstep.
The creative industries are expanding four times faster than the wider economy, and Bedford has been singled out as a major regional hotspot for growth.
But despite the huge concentration of talent in our town, working solo can be a lonely, vulnerable business.
That’s where Creative People Bedford comes in. What started as a few informal breakfast meetups has snowballed into a town-wide movement.
Read: New breakfast event launches to strengthen Bedford’s creative community
Operating on a community-first model, where every penny of surplus goes right back into local events, venues, and accessibility schemes, the initiative brings London-grade inspiration, peer support, and high-level skill-sharing directly to Bedford.
“We believe creative careers are deeply meaningful, valuable and fulfilling professions,” said Carly Cook, the founder of Creative People Bedford.
“Our goal is for Bedford to be synonymous with empowered, successful creatives, making ‘not a proper job’ a phrase of the past.
“By nurturing the individual creative person, we naturally fuel the creative identity and resilience of our entire town.”
Join the launch event
Get ready to swap screen time for real talk at the Creative People Bedford official launch. Early bird tickets are live for the inaugural Creatives Night: Future in Motion on Wednesday, 4 November.
The evening features an in-conversation session with Darryl Worbey, an internationally acclaimed puppet maker, exploring the past, present, and future of sustaining a creative career.
To book your tickets and join the community, head over to creative-people.co to get involved.
