A Cultural Compact for Derby.

It was a real pleasure to work on a Cultural Compact for my adopted city.

It was a journey that opened my eyes to a place I thought I knew well. Working with the numerous cultural groups, businesses and individuals within the city has taught me that even after 25 years I continue to meet organisations and people dedicated to improving lives through culture, and together they contribute to the rich ecosystem that binds the city.

Working in the post-pandemic era is an interesting time to be developing cultural analysis and strategy. What had started as a slow decline on the high street, has rapidly accelerated through the lockdowns and new habits have formed; what was already on the minds of many councils has been refined; and what was once considered a risk is now an eagerly awaited new approach to society and community cohesion.

This is why working with The Fifth Sector is important to me. It allows the residents and the leaders to see their home through fresh eyes and provides them with tools and strategies to nurture and develop their existing talents and dreams. I look forward to watching Derby grow into the thriving,  creative city we all know it’s capable of being.

I have forged my career around writing and art with time spent in the publishing industry, through to more recent marketing and administrative roles supporting art and education charities. As well as being an associate of The Fifth Sector, I continue these roles in a freelance capacity alongside the letterpress studio which I co-founded with my husband Chris in 2013.

Hannah is co-founder of letterpress studio The Smallprint Company and works across a number of cultural and education organisations providing marketing, copywriting services and event management alongside associate work with The Fifth Sector.