We are delighted to announce that we are working with a consortium of cultural organisations to deliver No Boundaries for the second year running. It takes place on Tue 29 and Wed 30 Sept 2015 at new international cultural arts venue, HOME Manchester and here at Watershed. Part of Arts Council England’s State Of The Arts thought leadership programme, No Boundaries is the arts industry annual conference with a focus on presenting questions and challenging new ideas on the role of arts and culture, finding positive approaches to influence change and support the sector’s growth in a world where there is no normal.

No Boundaries 2015 will follow last year’s innovative conference format, which live-linked two venues as one conference. In September 2015, HOME and Watershed will provide delegates with a rich and diverse schedule of events and speakers, alongside connected breakout areas for conversation and networking designed to bring spaces and delegates together. As Russell Willis Taylor memorably said: “If people who run theatres think their competition is other theatres, I want some of what they're smoking.”

Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chair, Arts Council England says,

“Last year’s conference was a huge success and we look forward to a similar meeting of minds in September- something which will be even more important given that by then we will have had a general election and a spending review so the arts and culture landscape may have changed. The State of the Arts events are great platforms to encourage creative thinking and to stimulate debate.”

No Boundaries 2014 took place in February and was attended by 400 delegates (split equally between Bristol and York) and hosted a high profile, diverse array of speakers including RSA Chair Vikki Heywood, Bigga Fish CEO Nii Sackey, Executive Director of Cast Doncaster, Kully Thiari, political theorist Dr Benjamin R Barber, and Joy MBoya, Artistic director of Nairobi’s Godown Centre. You can watch all the provocations and discussions that took place and read the evaluation report.

Watershed Managing Director Dick Penny says,

"We are excited that Arts Council England and British Council have asked Watershed to run No Boundaries again, this time alongside new partner HOME, as well as Pilot Theatre and Bristol Festival of Ideas. We promise provocations and surprises as we debate the role of culture at the beginning of a new parliament.”

Programme details will unveiled over the coming months, and delegate passes will be on sale at the end of February 2015. Sign up to register your interest and keep in touch with updates and news.

Supported by Arts Council England and the British Council No Boundaries is a State of the Arts Event. State of the Arts has evolved from the Arts Council's single annual conference to become a series of diverse activities encouraging thought leadership in the arts and cultural sector and providing platforms to develop new ideas and respond to the political, social and economic developments in the outside world.

No Boundaries 2015 is produced by Watershed, HOME, Pilot Theatre and Bristol Festival of Ideas.

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