Coventry Cultural Challenge: Data Slackers

Share a Plate, Share a Story

The Coventry Cultural Challenge was a two-day event where teams were given access to the latest Coventry cultural data and asked to develop an idea/proposal that had the potential to ‘make life better in Coventry’. At the end of the weekend, each team presented their ideas to a jury of experts.

Idea/Proposal

When answering the question ‘to what extent do cultural activities enhance community cohesion?’ the team focused on the aspect of food deprivation.

People from different social classes don’t often interact with each other, which can lead to poorer community cohesion and feelings of being unsafe. Participation in cultural activities leads to greater interaction and therefore enables people to feel safer.

Communities facing food deprivation are less likely to attend cultural events, which has an impact on community cohesion. What can be done to encourage cultural participation?

Six geographical areas in Coventry were identified to host community engaged, artist-led ‘Share a Plate, Share a Story’ events that bring different groups together, sharing food and cultural traditions to cross boundaries.

Through food and story exchanges, the events would capture participant stories and input, which would act as a qualitative data gathering mechanism against a common series of questions that consider:

• improving the places we live
• creating stronger and safer communities
• increasing cultural engagement.

Team Members

• Connor Cassidy
• Justin Hui
• Kellie Wen
• Max Shenton
• Victoria Barker
• Ziling Yang