James’ role

James’ role within the C4CC has been to liaise with Tom Fleming’s team on the recent Creative Lincolnshire research, to help shape the research design and strategy, advise on interim progress and play a role on on-going strategic discussions. Some of his on-going personal research into dialogical value for cultural organizations, and the potential for developing social infrastructure for expanding access to creative opportunities also fits into this creative city agenda.

A bit of background

James’ previous professional achievements have included developing and running research and delivery projects focussed on the creative industries – notably working with Professor Colin Mercer’s on his early creative city programme within the Cultural Policy and Planning Research Unit, and devising bespoke support initiatives geared towards professional and business developments for creative business, as the Creative Collaborations project within Nottingham Creative Partnership . This entailed a particular focus on understanding the independent creative ecology of freelance creative practitioners, supporting this realm of activity into business and generally supporting DiY creative networks as part of this support. This led to him being the Pecha Kucha city co-ordinator in his home town of Nottingham for around 4 years. Find out more at https://www.pechakucha.com/

In recent times he has continued this DiY civic creative activity by devising and running Lego Club – a fortnightly open to the public Lego play sessions as part of his role within Make to Make, a Community Interest Company. Find out more at https://www.maketomake.co.uk/

This work also has led to the following publications,

• 2019 – Dialogical Value for Cultural Organizations. In the Journal of Creative Communication: Sage
• 2017 – Where is Creativity: A Multidisciplinary Approach. London: Routledge
• 2014 – Understanding Creative Business: Values, Networks and Innovation. London: Gower
• 2014 – 97 Ideas About Creativity. Nottingham: Nottingham Creative Partnership
• 2011 – New Spectacles for Julliette: Values and Ethics for Creative Business. Nottingham: Nottingham Creative Network
• Economic Conscience and Public Discourse. In Capital and Class 35 (3): Sage
• 2008 – Soul Food, and Music: Research and Innovation for Creative Business. Nottingham: Nottingham Creative Network: Nottingham
• 2007 – Fish, Horses and Other Animals: Professional and Business Development for the Creative Ecology. Nottingham: Nottingham Creative Network: Nottingham
• 2005 – Nottingham’s de facto Cultural Quarter: The Lace Market, Independents and a Convivial Ecology. In Cities of Quarters: Urban Villages in the Contemporary City (M. Jayne and D. Bell eds.) London: Ashgate
• 2004 – The Creative Industries: Production, Consumption and Resistance. In Capital and Class Special Issue. No. 84 (1)
• 2004 – The Engineered and The Vernacular in Cultural Quarter Development. In Capital and Class Special Issue. No. 84 (1)
• 2004 – The New Cultural Economy, The Artist and the Social Configuration of Autonomy. In Capital and Class Special Issue. No. 84 (1)
• 2004 – Accounting for Independent Creativity in the New Cultural Economy. In Media International Australia (incorporating Culture and Policy) No. 112
• 2002 – Towards Cultural Citizenship: Tools for Cultural Policy and Development. Copenhagen: Girdlunds

And finally…

As well as all this academic stuff, James tries to find time to continue with his painting – in the cross-over space between landscape and abstract. He also tries to find time for hiking in the Peak District. His daughter Ella is 36 now and she writes scripts for Coronation Street, and his son George is almost 18. He just got his first Life Guard Certificate and is planning to study history. When James grows up, he is going to try to become as cool as they are.