Producer Hub 2026/27
A project which aims to help develop talent, skills and ideas among the creative community in Bedfordshire.
Artists & Associates
The Producer Hub is an initiative run by 1DegreeEast, a producer-led arts organisation that supports artists, producers, and programmers to create high-quality work through mentoring and advice to develop projects and produce new work. The Bedford Producer Hub is delivered in partnership with Bedford Creative Arts, a contemporary arts charity dedicated to commissioning high-quality art for, with and inspired by communities and working with artists to explore new developments in socially engaged art practice. Together they aim to enable creativity and nurture talent in Bedford.
Everyone Creative
The focus of the Producer Hub is on emerging and local talent – the hub is supportive, open and hands on – created specifically to the needs of the individuals, organisations and areas. We particularly want to support talent and participation from under-represented communities in order to showcase a more diverse and representative range of cultural activities in Bedford.
Our Bedford Producer Hub provides general, open mentoring and advice as well as a mentored Cohort. Each academic year up to 10 people from Bedford are recruited to be mentored both individually and collectively through seminars and 1-2-1 sessions and group critique to develop an idea for a creative project. Each person is entitled to a bursary of up to £500 (or 10% of their project costs if lower) to help with match funding.
The main objectives of Producer Hub are:
- To provide a suite of support for early and emerging producers and self-producing artists, helping them to produce more high-quality creative arts projects that are designed to reach diverse Bedford audiences.
- To provide opportunities for local creative professionals to meet, network and share ideas and feel that this is beneficial to their professional development and wellbeing.
Apply to join the Cohort
Key Dates
August 2026 – 2026/27 Producer Hub applications open
September – Creative Exchange ‘Make it Happen’ events
2nd October – Producer Hub applications close
22nd October – first Producer Hub session
19th November – session 2
17th December – session 3
21st January 2027 – session 4
18th February – final session
Case Study
From Producer Hub to hEDs up!: A Journey in Persistence and Production, by Alison Goodyear
What better way to find out about Bedford Producer Hub than to hear from a creative producer who was part of a previous cohort.
We asked Alison Goodyear if she would be willing to share her Producer Hub experience – and how it benefitted her and her practice – with the next cohort.
An idea had been taking shape in Alison’s practice since 2018, though at the time she didn’t yet have the technical expertise, knowledge or confidence to realise it fully. And in her words, “In 2024, the Producer Hub arrived at exactly the right moment.”
Find out more about Creative Exchange ‘Make it Happen’ and sign up to the events:
If you’re interested in accessing the Producer Hub, please contact Elaine Midgley at info@bedfordcreativearts.org.uk.
Photo credits: Andy Willsher/Michal Spisiak
