Bucks Culture Conference 2026

Creative Landscapes

5th November The Hub, High Wycombe

Creative leadership, culture and AI in a changing world

Creative Landscapes 2026 will bring together artists, makers, freelancers, creative businesses, educators, cultural organisations and sector leaders from Buckinghamshire and neighbouring areas for a day of ideas, conversation, creative practice and connection.

Promotional image for the Bucks Culture Conference featuring attendees in discussion, with text highlighting themes such as 'Cultural Landscapes' and 'Art & Culture in times of Rapid Change'. The event is scheduled for 5th November in High Wycombe.

Bucks Culture invites you to explore challenges, share ideas and consider the trends shaping our cultural sector as we work towards a more creative and sustainable future.

As technology rapidly reshapes how we create, communicate and collaborate, what does creative leadership look like now? How can we embrace the opportunities of AI while protecting what makes culture deeply human? And how can the arts adapt to change while honouring the ethos and ethics of socially engaged practice?

Through keynote talks, workshops, creative interventions and shared discussion, Creative Landscapes will explore how AI and emerging technologies are influencing cultural practice, alongside questions around authenticity, access, environmental responsibility, making, sustainability and the value of human creativity.

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Programme at a glance

Morning: Welcome, reflection and keynotes

The morning will begin with a welcome from Bucks Culture, alongside reflections from our Chairs and Director on five years of activity, impact and learning, and a celebration of some of the creative work and partnerships that have shaped the organisation.

Poetry, music and movement will be woven throughout the morning as we move into keynote conversations exploring creativity, leadership and technological change.

Think Like an Artist – Will Gompertz
Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum, Will Gompertz will open the wider conversation by inviting us to consider the value of creative thinking and what artists can teach us about responding to uncertainty and change.

Adapting to Rapid Technological Change – Owen Hopkin
Director of New Technologies and Innovation at Arts Council England, Owen will explore how an established cultural institution adapts in the face of rapid technological change while continuing to support new and evolving forms of creative practice.

Integrating Technology and AI into Creative Practice – Christopher Kelly
Artist practitioner and Founder of Neuroverse Artists Collective, Christopher will explore the adoption of AI and technology within creative practice and the relationship between innovation, artistic identity and human connection.

Creative interventions throughout the morning will include contributions from John Prebble of The Poetry Exchange, Rosie Axon of Chiltern Music Therapy, Vache Baroque and Liezl de Wouters of Dew Dance.

Afternoon: Choose your workshop

Following lunch and creative networking, participants will choose from a series of smaller sessions exploring different aspects of the conference theme.

Making, Materials & Being Human – Alex McIntyre
How can working with materials and developing ideas through creative practice deepen our understanding of what it means to be human?

Managing Sustainability with(out) AI – Pietari Kaapa
An interactive workshop exploring responsible ways to apply AI tools while considering sustainability and the environmental impact of cultural production.

Shared Environments – Signdance Collective
A creative exploration offering a glimpse into how Signdance Collective adapts to and responds to shared space.

Talking About AI in Culture – Jocelyn Burnham, AI for Culture
A structured group discussion exploring the opportunities, ethical questions and practical realities of AI across the cultural sector.

Creativity, place and shared learning

Later in the afternoon, the programme will come back together to explore place-based cultural work and collaboration across Buckinghamshire.

We Make Wycombe will share reflections on building networks and celebrating place-based projects, followed by Together We Grow, marking five years of Bucks Culture and looking at the organisation’s journey, partnerships and impact.

The conference will also feature Snapshot, Bucks Culture’s short-form documentary and digital storytelling project showcasing the breadth, ambition and impact of Buckinghamshire’s creative sector.

Over cake and coffee, a panel conversation will bring together ideas from across the day and ask:

How can creativity, community and innovation help shape a more inclusive and sustainable future?

What to expect

Your ticket includes:

  • inspiring discussion around creative leadership and emerging technologies
  • practical insight into AI and its impact on the creative and cultural sectors
  • workshops and interactive creative experiences
  • conversations around ethics, sustainability, access and inclusive practice
  • opportunities to share challenges, ideas and solutions with peers
  • meaningful networking throughout the day
  • connections with artists, organisations and creative businesses from across the region
  • celebration of the creativity, talent and innovation flourishing in Buckinghamshire
  • lunch and refreshments throughout the day
  • the Bucks Spark Awards 2026

Who is it for?

Creative Landscapes is for anyone working in, with or alongside the cultural and creative sector.

Whether you are an independent artist, maker, freelancer, creative entrepreneur, producer, educator, student, heritage professional, cultural organisation, creative business or sector leader, you are welcome to join the conversation.

You do not need to be an expert in AI or technology. The conference is designed for people who are curious about what change means for their work and who want to explore these questions alongside others.

Tickets

We want the conference to be accessible to as much of Buckinghamshire’s cultural sector as possible, so there are several ways to book.

Early Bird Ticket – £60
Available until 30 September 2026.

Standard Ticket – £75
For bookings made after 30 September.

Freelancer Subsidised Ticket – £20
A reduced-price ticket for freelancers and independent practitioners for whom the full ticket price may be a barrier.

Supporter Ticket – £150
If you are in a position to contribute a little more, choosing a Supporter Ticket helps us subsidise places for freelancers and independent practitioners who may otherwise find the cost of attending prohibitive.

The Supporter Ticket gives you the same conference experience as every other ticket, but the additional contribution helps us make more £20 subsidised places available and welcome a broader range of voices into the room.

There is absolutely no expectation to choose this option. Our £60 Early Bird Ticket remains the best-value way to attend, while the Supporter Ticket is there for those who would like to help someone else take part too.

Booking is now open

Bucks Spark Awards 2026

The day will culminate in the Bucks Spark Awards 2026, presented by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, The Countess Howe.

The awards celebrate the people, organisations, projects and partnerships contributing to Buckinghamshire’s cultural life and provide an opportunity to recognise the creativity, collaboration and talent flourishing across the county.

Explore our speakers, facilitators and contributors

Want to discover more about the people, projects and ideas contributing to Creative Landscapes? Explore some of their work below.

Join us

Thursday 5 November 2026
The Hub, Union Baptist Church, Easton Street, High Wycombe

Join us as we explore how creativity, community and innovation can help shape a more inclusive, sustainable and imaginative future.

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Curious about what to expect?

Take a look back at our 2024 conference and discover the ideas, conversations and creative moments that shaped the day. -> Creative Collaboration Conference