We’ve had a jam-packed June here at Collective Wisdom, from prize winner ceremonies at Conway Hall, to higher education report launches in the House of Commons and even a quick trip to Glastonbury festival! Read on to find out what we have been up to.
It’s been wonderful to support The Orwell Foundation on this year’s Prizes, celebrating writing that captures the political and emotional realities of our time. The late Ukrainian author Victoria Amelina was posthumously awarded the Prize for Political Writing for Looking at Women, Looking at War—an unfinished yet powerful diary documenting the strength and resistance of women during the war in Ukraine. Irish writer Donal Ryan receives the Prize for Political Fiction for Heart, Be at Peace, a moving portrait of a tight-knit Irish community told through 21 interconnected voices. The team supported on PR and social media strategy and secured over 35 pieces of coverage ranging from a feature interview with Donal Ryan in The Irish Times to a BBC Radio 4 World Tonight interview with Victoria’s publisher, Arabella Pike, and close friend, Nataliya Gumenyuk. The news story was covered in The Bookseller, The Guardian The Kyiv Independent and RTÉ, the latter interviewing Donal on Morning Ireland. Our refreshed social media strategy culminated in a ten-fold increase in engagement with the winner posts, as well as a raft of engaging content with the finalists.
Glastonbury 2025 kicked off in style and we had the joy of working with Trigger on their eye-catching installation at the Shangri-La stage. The 40ft PoliNations trees were installed around the stage, and draped in a canvas, onto which scenes of nature were projected. The trees were repurposed for Glastonbury following their initial installation in Birmingham’s Victoria Square to create a super garden, where they formed a canopy and collected rainwater to feed the living oasis of 6,000 living plants. This installation by Trigger went down a treat with festival goers and gained some excellent media traction, with Trigger’s Creative Director Angie Bual interviewed on the BBC Glastonbury Live Stream and coverage in Dezeen and Creative Boom. Shangri-La’s Creative Director also discussed the stunning trees in an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.
Kingston University launched their fourth Future Skills report with a fun evening at The House of Commons. Collective Wisdom founder Truda Spruyt FRSA was originally involved in the first report in 2021, so it was brilliant to be involved in copywriting the report and see how the Future Skills programme has evolved. This year’s report Future Skills: Perspectives from East and West, revisited the annual YouGov survey on employers’ attitudes to skills, as well as publishing new research about skills demands and policies in East Asia from Nanyang Technological University Singapore. The research found that 56% of UK employers are now looking at skills-based hiring policies, in response to the rapidly evolving landscape and only 23% of employers think that AI will fundamentally transform their businesses. Kingston University has completely embedded Future Skills into its undergraduate teaching, from September all undergraduates will be studying Future Skills modules, equipping them for the workplaces of the future.
June also saw the launch of the Child Friendly Creative City programme which aims to revolutionise children and young people in Nottingham’s access to creativity and culture. Led by ChalleNGe Nottingham and 22 of the city’s leading arts, educational and cross-sector community organisations this £1.5m, 3-year programme, addresses access challenges and brings together expertise across Education, SEND, Mental Health, Environment, Early intervention, Community development and Arts and Creativity. The team worked on creating a stakeholder pack for each of the partners, full of engaging social media content, which reached Nottingham audiences far and wide. We also had the privilege of attending the launch at Primary Parliament in Nottingham’s Council House, where children from around the city come together to discuss the issues that affect them in a fun and engaging manner. NottsTV came down on the day to interview ChalleNGe Manager, Cathy Mahmood alongside children and representatives of the involved organisations. You can find out more here – Arts Professional.
Our client OmenaArt Foundation held their annual TOP CHARITY auction last month raising a record breaking €14million for charitable causes. The gala attracted international leaders, and the special guest of the event was Will Smith, the brand’s new Artistic Director. The philanthropic initiative of Omenaa Mensah and Rafał Brzoska, gathers artists, donors, and art enthusiasts who can bid on unique works of art and other exclusive items. The proceeds from the auction are allocated to charitable purposes, supporting aid projects in Poland and around the world. Congratulations too to our client Saad Qureshi whose intricate leaf sculpture sold for €75,000.
We have had the joy of supporting the Barbican Centre on their external affairs strategy, devising key messaging and profiling. June was a busy month for the team, launching Devyani Saltzman’s new Artistic Vision for 2025-2030, of ideas-led seasons that find synergies across its many artforms. Brought to life in this autumn’s programme, which has a cross-disciplinary focus on the environment in all its aspects, the vision includes a renewal of the Barbican’s purpose as a leading space for critical conversations in our changing world. As well as a renewed purpose across its artistic programme, the Barbican is renewing its physical space, with an exciting call out this month inviting visionary proposals for the future of the long-vacant Exhibition Halls.
