With only three days to go until the next Big Meet, we’re excited to share the outline of the day with you. We’ve got some fantastic speakers lined up, all ready to dazzle you with insight into different aspects of the arts and culture sector in Cumbria. From funding and finance to filmmaking and project management, we’ve brought together a fantastic line-up of people who really know their onions.
We hope that there will be something for everyone at the Big Meet, whether you’re just starting to figure out what you want your career to look like or you’re thinking about heading in a different direction. There will be plenty of opportunity to chat, network and ask questions on the day too.
If that’s not enough, there will be lunch provided for everyone, and you’ll get the chance to check out the Gladiator Exhibition at Tullie too.
Demystifying the culture sector in Cumbria.
1000 Gladiator Exhibition opens – all welcome with free Tullie day pass
1030 Coffee available
1100 Welcome | CACN staff & Gary Jones, Tullie
1110 Introduction to Cumbria Arts and Culture Network and See It To Be It | Kate Parry from CACN
1125 Where can you get funding, what is Arts Council | Chris Bridgman from CACN
1150 Running a business, minding the money | Emily Elshaw from CACN and Carmina Ardelean from Whitehaven’s Howling Wolf Cafe
1215 What does a producer/project manager do? | Sim Leech from Lakes International Comic Arts Fest and Hannah Kessler from Rosehill Theatre
1240 Outside the room | Caroline Howsley and Ameena Khatun
1245 Lunch – Roman Gladiator selfie time….
1330 Filmmaking in Cumbria – a conversation | Stuart Armstrong and Dom Bush
1400 What is a CIC and how do you run it | Emily Ford from Queer Cumbria
1415 Breakout discussions | Everyone
1500 Traineeships and why they matter | Emma Salmon and Ro Borgia from Soundwave
1520 Final questions panel | Kate Parry, Sim Leech, Lindsey Atkinson and Zoe Forster
1550 Next steps | Tom Speight, Kate Parry and Stuart Armstrong
1600 End
Event details
Saturday February 14th 2026, 1030 – 1600 | Tullie, Carlisle, CA3 8AN
Carlisle is well served by buses and trains; there is parking next to the Castle in Devonshire Walk opposite Tullie – CA3 8UR/8UL. For full information about getting to Tullie, click here.
Tullie Roman Exhibition
Tullie will be open from 10am on Saturday. If you would like to see the brilliant new Roman Gladiator exhibition, then between 10am and 11am is probably the best time to do so. The Big Meet starts promptly at 11am. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available from 10.30am.
Travel bursaries
We don’t want cost to be a barrier to attending the Big Meet, so we have created a small number of £30 travel bursaries to cover travel expenses getting to and from the event. The bursaries are available to any young creatives wishing to attend. To apply, please email us on hello@cacn.co.uk with a short explanation of the circumstances.
Lunch and dietary options
There will be lunch available on the day. If you have any specific dietary requirements, please can you let us know by 12pm on Thursday 12th of February by emailing hello@cacn.co.uk.
Can’t make it?
If your plans have changed and you can no longer make it, it would be great if you could let us know so that we’re not overordering or wasting food. You can either cancel your tickets directly on TryBooking or emailing us on hello@cacn.co.uk.
Please note that there will be filming and photography on the day. If you do not want to be featured, please let a member of CACN staff know on the day.
