The Bristol United Guild is a new, not-for-profit Community Interest Company
Set out to address a stubborn blind spot for both commercial planners and City policy makers: the independent and freelance creative community.
We believe the COVID19 pandemic has catalysed an issue a long time in the making.
As a result, the bridge between the independent arts and music culture that Bristol is internationally known for, and the next generation of independent artists, performers, musicians, producers, designers, technicians, and venue operators – especially from our most deprived districts – could be cut; resulting in a lost generation of talent and vocation.
BUG will now work collectively to build frameworks of support, and to develop a whole new civic ecosystem whereby the freelance/independent arts community is given not only recognition for the value it brings to this City and its communities, but is also offered the access and investment to forward a multiplicity of paths that it deserves.
Underpinned by the UK’s first city-wide “Business Improvement District” five-year plan to address this blind-spot, BUG will act as an alliance of freelance/independent creatives working in unity to maximise opportunities of space, place, materials, education and investment – with a permanent and shared imperative to support the next generation of freelance/independent Bristol artists and creatives.
If you would like to know more about the BUG project, or are interested in joining the Guild, please contact us.