It’s been a busy summer at Collective Wisdom, our work has spanned major cultural announcements, festival launches, heritage celebrations and national literary moments. From Wrexham’s bold UK City of Culture bid to landmark British Library programming, theatre awards, creative education milestones and literary festivals, it’s been a period defined by ambition, impact and strong media interest across the board. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to…
Wrexham reached a pivotal moment as Wrecsam2029 formally submitted its citizen-led bid to become the first Welsh UK City of Culture, having been longlisted earlier this year. Led by Wrexham Community & Culture Trust, the independent charity established with the support of Wrexham County Borough Council, the bid draws on the city’s international reputation for radical playwork, its centuries‑long history as a place of enterprise and innovation, and its distinctive borderland identity.
The vision positions Wrexham as “the world’s most playful place”, using culture to strengthen communities, drive wellbeing, boost the visitor economy and unlock long‑term investment. Thousands of residents, creatives, young people and cultural organisations have shaped the bid over the past four years, reflecting a deep sense of local ownership and ambition.
Our bilingual team secured 22 pieces of coverage including regional print and online in titles such as The Leader, The Herald, Daily Post, Cymru Fyw and Golwg 360. We also set up interviews with spokespeople for BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, BBC Radio Wales Drivetime and BBC Wales Cymru.
The British Library announced American Writers’ Week, a major five‑day programme running from 28 September to 2 October, marking 250 years of the United States with conversations featuring Joyce Carol Oates, Alison Bechdel, Armistead Maupin, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Katie Kitamura and more. Presented in association with Festival America, the series brings together some of the most essential voices in contemporary American literature, exploring identity, history, creativity and the responsibilities of storytelling. The programme offers audiences a rare opportunity to hear from Pulitzer Prize winners, groundbreaking graphic novelists and internationally acclaimed authors. The announcement generated strong industry interest, with coverage in The Bookseller, BookBrunch and Publishers Weekly, alongside regional pick up with London Post covering.
The Stage announced the shortlist for The Stage Debut Awards 2026, in association with Netflix, celebrating breakthrough performers and creatives making their first professional or West End debuts across UK theatre. This year’s nominees include major names such as Sadie Sink, Noah Jupe, Brendan Gleeson, Tom Fletcher, Robert Aramayo and Ralph Fiennes, alongside exceptional emerging talent.
The awards recognise debut work across performance, writing, directing, design, composition and lyric writing, with nominees drawn from productions staged in the West End, regional theatres, touring shows and fringe venues.
We secured early coverage in The Independent, The Standard, Broadway World, Irish News and many more in print and online.
Stratford Literary Festival unveiled its most ambitious autumn programme to date, running from 29 October to 1 November. The line‑up spans biography, fiction, politics, history, music, comedy and hands‑on creative workshops, with headline speakers including Celia Imrie, Greg James, Matt Baker, Sir Nicholas Hytner, Bonnie Garmus, John Boyne, Victoria Hislop, Joanne Harris and Sarah Moss. The festival continues its commitment to the National Year of Reading and expands its Writers’ Weekend with subsidised places to ensure accessibility.
So far, we have secured trade coverage in BookBrunch, regional coverage in Stratford Herald, Warwickshire World and Stratford Observer, with further coverage and interviews to come.
Croydon Council have announced the return of the Open House Festival to the borough, a nine‑day celebration inviting visitors to explore the architecture, heritage and community stories of Croydon. This year’s programme includes a major new exhibition at the Museum of Croydon, a commissioned mural marking the 750th anniversary of Surrey Street Market, guided pub tours, hands‑on family activities in Queen’s Gardens, and creative workshops across the Whitgift Centre. The festival showcases Croydon’s modernist landmarks, Tudor streetscapes and evolving skyline, while celebrating the communities who shape the borough.
Coverage landed in London Post, Sutton & Croydon Guardian and Norbury Gazette, with more expected as the festival approaches.
The Royal Navy Museums announced that the Royal Marines Experience will officially open on 24 October 2026 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The £15m project will transform the historic Boathouse 6 into a new national home for Royal Marines heritage, offering immersive galleries, multimedia storytelling, hands‑on Commando challenges, VR and AR experiences, and hundreds of historic and modern objects spanning more than 360 years of service.
Designed for families, veterans, serving personnel and history lovers, the Experience will bring visitors closer to the ethos, operations and human stories of the Royal Marines.
Coverage appeared in print and online in The News (Portsmouth), Museums + Heritage Advisor, ADS Advance and the Daily Star.
It has been a busy period for our client English PEN, with two major prize announcements. Margaret MacMillan was named the “Winner of Winners” for the PEN Hessell‑Tiltman Prize’s 25th anniversary edition, recognised for the enduring impact of Peacemakers.
English PEN also announced Jacqueline Rose as the winner of the PEN Pinter Prize 2026, praised for her fearless, incisive writing across feminism, psychoanalysis and international politics. Rose will receive the award at an official ceremony at the British Library in October, where she will also announce her choice for the International Writer of Courage Award.
We secured coverage for both announcements across The Bookseller, BookBrunch, Library Journal and The Irish Times.
Wimbledon BookFest has announced a new wave of speakers for its 2026 festival, with Clare Balding joining the programme for a special live recording of the National Literacy Trust’s new podcast The Joy of Reading with host Gaby Huddart. Additional names include Celia Imrie, Sir Ian Botham, Julian Clary, Lady Anne Glenconner, Tim Marshall and Booker Prize‑shortlisted Avni Doshi, expanding an already strong line‑up revealed earlier in the summer. Revenue is already up by 35% on this time last year.
This year’s festival places a particular emphasis on widening access during the National Year of Reading, including the introduction of £10 Under 30s tickets for 16–29‑year‑olds.
Our work with the team has included a strategy of weekly thematic newsletters and social media posts proving popular among audiences and digital ads to keep a steady stream of engagement. Our striking print programme has been distributed to friends, subscribers and local residents and businesses across Merton.
Appledore Book Festival launched its full 2026 programme with a lively community event on Appledore Quay, complete with local pirates, shanty singers and a village‑wide brochure drop. The festival’s 20th anniversary programme features more than 90 events, with newly announced speakers including Frances Tophill, Baroness Minette Batters and Rachael Stirling, joining an already packed line‑up of national treasures, bestselling authors and cultural commentators.
The launch also marked the beginning of the Big Summer Read, encouraging residents and visitors to read Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall together over the summer. Coverage appeared in the North Devon Gazette.
Our client, Big Creative Education celebrated exceptional results for the Class of 2026, achieving a 100% pass rate across all courses, with nearly one‑third of students awarded distinctions. Staff and governors praised learners’ talent, resilience and ambition, reflecting BCE’s commitment to preparing young people for careers in the UK’s fastest‑growing creative sectors. This year’s progression routes span leading drama schools including Rose Bruford, Mountview and Royal Central, top UAL colleges, and a notable rise in international destinations, from music training in the United States to Fine Art in Seville and placements in China.
