Change On Our Streets

Tuesday 3rd & Wednesday 4th February 2026, Cambridge

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The OutdoorArtsUK National Conference 2026 will give sector colleagues the space to come together and reflect on the ever-shifting cultural landscape.

By bringing creativity directly into the heart of communities, our artists, producers, and festival-makers work on the frontline of where art meets the public. We are continually navigating through the needs and aspirations of diverse communities to create work of meaning and resonance.

As devolution gathers pace, political, policy, and funding landscapes are changing, potentially fuelling the social tensions already playing out on our streets. What role can Outdoor Arts play within these complex social dynamics? What leadership can we show in uncovering common ground in this evolving world?

Delivered through the generous support of Cambridge City Council and Arts Council England

Conference Itinerary Day 1: Tuesday 3rd February (1pm - Late) Marketplace Pitching Newcomers Induction Self Guided Networking Tours Welcome Speech Networking Drinks Day 2: Wednesday 4th February (10am - 6pm) Keynote Speech Panel Discussions Open Forum Marketplace Networking Cafe Self Guided Networking Tours

Conference Programme (4 Feb)

Keynote Speech

Navigating Social Change in Times of Community Tension

Clare Farrell, co-founder of the climate movement Extinction Rebellion, will deliver this year’s keynote speech to set the context for our conference. Her address will help us explore what positive social action might look like in periods of division and uncertainty. What role can art play in shifting perspectives and bringing people together?

Morning Panel Discussion

Outdoor Arts: The Frontier of Where Art Meets Public Life

Our panel will discuss how today’s complex social dynamics are affecting the outdoor arts sector. They will share approaches for navigating this shifting landscape and explore a key question: What leadership role can the sector play in shaping the future of the Arts and Creative Industries?

Chair

  • Amanda Parker – Arts Consultant and Columnist for The Stage

Panel Speakers

  • Adriana Marques – Assistant Director of Cultural Programming and Strategy at Peabody Trust
  • Chenine Bhathena MBE FRSA – Former Director of Culture and Environment at Brighton & Hove City Council (moving to Royal Borough of Greenwich in January 2026)
  • Joe Mackintosh – Artistic Director and CEO of Out There Arts
  • Parmjit Sagoo – Executive Producer and Creative Lead of Inspirate
Conference Itinerary Day 1: Tuesday 3rd February (1pm - Late) Marketplace Pitching Newcomers Induction Self Guided Networking Tours Welcome Speech Networking Drinks Day 2: Wednesday 4th February (10am - 6pm) Keynote Speech Panel Discussions Open Forum Marketplace Networking Cafe Self Guided Networking Tours

Click here to buy tickets
Sell tickets online with Ticket Tailor

If you would prefer to pay by invoice, please see the FAQs at the bottom of this page.

Join OAUK for Discounted Tickets!

Afternoon Panel Discussion

Positioning Outdoor Arts in Local Cultural Strategies and Ecologies

Our panel will explore ways to create bolder programmes by combining a spectrum of needs of diverse communities. Can outdoor arts secure a stronger position in place-based Strategies by deepening its ties to local ecologies?

Chair

  • Cllr Antoinette Nestor – Cabinet Member for Culture, Economy and Skills of Cambridge City Council

Panel Speakers

  • Ali Pretty – Artistic Director of Kinetika and Beach of Dreams
  • Aretha George-Tooley – Head of Culture at Hounslow Council and Chair of 18 Hours
  • Professor Flora Samuel – Head of Architecture Department of Cambridge University and Co-Leader of Public Map Platform
  • LaToyah McAllister-Jones – Co-founder of Citizens For Culture and former Executive Director of St. Pauls Carnival

Delegates Take Centre Stage

Marketplace, Pitching and Open Forum

This year, delegates are taking centre stage at the Marketplace, Pitching and Open Forum. Browse our members’ stalls at the marketplace and be inspired by new ideas, projects and concepts at Pitching and Open Forum. The Marketplace will run over both days, Pitching on Tuesday 3rd and Open Forum on Wednesday 4th.

Further details to be announced in January…

Digital Brochure (Submissions Open)

If you miss out on securing a spot for Marketplace or Pitching, don’t worry! Once again, OAUK members can submit their work to OutdoorArtsUK Digital Brochure. The Brochure will be circulated to all the delegates ahead of the conference and will continue to live on our website, too. Browse the current brochure here. We look forward to hearing about your tour-ready work and pitches for existing shows or new ideas.

Submission Deadline: End of Day, Friday 16th January 2026

Fund A Freelancer Scheme

Returning this year is the Fund a Freelancer scheme. This is a pay-it-forward scheme, where you can choose to contribute towards increasing the number of bursaries available when you purchase your ticket. Help us make more bursary places available!

A shining alien performer suspends from a hoop, their extended arm meets a shadowed crowd of hands reaching up to touch them. Text reads 'Fund A Freelancer'

Networking Opportunities

Networking Drinks

Tuesday 3rd February

Join us at the Corn Exchange in the evening to make new connections and catch up with sector colleagues.

Networking Café

Wednesday 4th February

During the conference, we are making designated space for delegates to sit down over a hot drink and catch up with new and old acquaintances. Using the delegate list, connect with other delegates to arrange meetings or simply turn up and grab a free seat. The networking café is a relaxed, informal, conversational space.

Self-Guided Networking Tours

Tuesday 3rd & Wednesday 4th February

Explore Cambridge and meet colleagues from the sector with our self-guided networking tours. It’s a chance to make new connections with your peers and navigate our host city for 2026.

We’ll contact delegates in January with further information about booking a tour group.

Newcomers Induction

Tuesday 3rd February

This session is designed to be a soft landing for newcomers before the conference gets into full swing. It’s intended for those who may be attending our Conference for the first time, on their own, or find meeting new people challenging. We’ll give you the chance to spend time with like-minded individuals, receive an introduction to the sector, and some tips on how best to navigate what can be a busy and full-on experience.

You’ll also meet the OAUK team and board members who can look out for you throughout your time in Cambridge.

A giant puppet of a young black girl wearing a bright yellow hoodie walks through a crowd of people. Text reads 'Newcomers Induction'.

Watch the 2025 Highlights Video

The OutdoorArtsUK National Conference 2025 took place in Stoke-on-Trent on Thursday 6 February 2025. “Equity in Action: The Power of Diverse Narratives” explored how Outdoor Arts leads the way in delivering high-quality arts experiences to hard-to-reach communities.

…It was great to catch up and connect with colleagues across the sector. And also a day of vital and necessary conversations, reminding us all that within a world that currently feels so divided, the arts is a place where Care, Inclusion, Safe Spaces and Wellbeing can and should be nurtured. Thoughts and questions I am left with…

How do we courageously and collaboratively commit and delve into long term change making processes, which involve sitting with discomfort, proactive learning and self reflection, and having honest conversations?…

Parmjit Sagoo, Executive Producer, Inspirate

Join OAUK for Discounted Tickets!

Join OAUK

Join OAUK for Discounted Tickets!

Join OAUK

Click here to buy tickets
Sell tickets online with Ticket Tailor

If you would prefer to pay by invoice, please see the FAQs at the bottom of this page.

Access

Find out more about access at the Conference. OutdoorArtsUK is committed to providing access to our 2026 conference. You can let us know your access requirements at the ticket checkout. Please give us good notice so that we can make the appropriate arrangements.

We understand that not all delegates are able to sit for the entirety of a panel discussion or keynote speech. At checkout, please let us know if you’d like an ambulant seat at the conference. This will be a seat with space around you to move and stand up.  

Captioning & BSL will be provided during our keynote speeches and panel discussions. They can be made available for other sessions on request. Please let us know your access needs at your ticket checkout stage.

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to make the conference available for delegates not able to attend in person. However, digital content of the conference will be shared after the event.  

Cambridge Corn Exchange

More information about Cambridge Corn Exchange’s accessibility can be found here. 

Following the successful introduction of Wellbeing Coordinator in our last conference, OAUK are pleased to make these support available to delegates with relevant access needs. Let us know at checkout if you require access to our quiet spaces so we can make sure our wellbeing coordinators know how many delegates they might expect to see.

If you’d like to speak with the OAUK team about access support, please contact General Manager David by email: David@outdoorartsuk.org 

Sustainability

The climate crisis greatly impacts the outdoor sector and threatens the livelihood of its existence.

We understand our responsibility in minimising the negative environmental impact of the organisation’s activities, alongside the requirement to help create and communicate the resources, guidance, and best practice required to upskill our members, and the wider outdoor arts sector, to reduce the impact of their events.

We are delivering the conference in line with our environmental policy and our green code of conduct. You can find our policy here and our code of conduct here. Below is a list of things we’d like to make you aware of so that you can help us minimise the environmental impact of the conference.

We’ve continued to use our conference as a case study on how to use the OAUK DATE toolkit, you can find out more here.  

The OAUK DATE toolkit was developed by Andrew Lansley to provide businesses and organisations with a quick and effective way to profile their accessibility and sustainability practices against nationally recognised standards frameworks. Find out more here.  

As part of our sustainability measures taken for Conference 2026, there won’t be any physical print for delegates attending unless specifically requested for access purposes. If you do need physical print copies of any of the conference information, please contact General Manager David, click here to email David. 

Please bring your reusable water bottles as there will be refill points at the Corn Exchange and Guildhall for you to use. 

Please bring your reusable hot drink cups, as we will not be supplying them or supplying one use hot drinks cups. 

OAUK will provide name badges and lanyards at the conference, and we will ask you to return them at the end of the event so that we can reuse them. Delegates are welcome to bring their own lanyards to the conference from previous events.

To get a better understanding of the carbon impact our conference creates, we will be circulating a travel survey before and after the event, asking how delegates have travelled/will be travelling to the conference. 

If you’re planning on driving to the OAUK Conference, why not car share? You can offer a lift or have a look to see who else is driving via our car share spreadsheet here.  

This year, we’re asking delegates to bring their food with them or explore the various catering options that central Cambridge has to offer. 

Conference FAQs

You can purchase tickets above or via our ticket tailor booking platform. Click here to book tickets.

If you’d like to pay by invoice, please contact General Manager David about paying for tickets by BACS transfer at David@ourdoorartsuk.org. Click here to email David.

In your email to him, please could you say:

  • Which tickets you’d like
  • How many tickets you’d like
  • The name the invoice should be made out to
  • The address the invoice should be made out to

For full conference T&Cs, please go to: Conference T&Cs.docx

Corn Exchange

The Corn Exchange is on Wheeler Street, which is located in the centre of Cambridge, directly behind the Guildhall which is in the Market Square. For the nearest parking, follow signs to Grand Arcade car park.

The Corn Exchange is accessible by turning either from Hills Road or Trumpington Street into Lensfield Road then into Tennis Court Road, right into Downing Street and left into Corn Exchange Street.

By Bicycle

The Grand Arcade cycle park has covered space for over 200 cycles. It closes every night at 11.30pm. Cyclists can access the cycle park from Corn Exchange Street – when travelling from Downing Street, the entrance is on the right after the car park entrance – and pedestrians can enter from Grand Arcade or Fisher Square.

By Train

The Corn Exchange is approximately a 20 minute walk from the train station. Upon leaving the station go straight down Station Road and turn right onto Hills Road. Walk down Hills Road which leads on to Regent Street. Turn left into Downing Street, and then turn right after The City Centre Hotel onto Corn Exchange Street. The Corn Exchange is at the bottom of this street.

For further enquiries call the National Rail Enquiries (24 hours) on 08457 48 49 50.

Park and Ride

The county council provide timetable information about the Park & Ride service.

Parking

Visit the car parking map on the Cambridge City Council website.

Grand Arcade Car Park

This car park is just a couple of minutes away, across the road from the Corn Exchange.

Information about the Grand Arcade car park

Queen Anne Car Park (Gonville Place)

This car park is slightly further away, but is no more than a 10 minute walk from Cambridge Corn Exchange.

Directions: Head out of the car park and down Regent’s Terrace (runs alongside the big green park called Parker’s Piece) into Regent Street, turn left into Downing Street and right into Corn Exchange Street.

Guildhall

The Guildhall is in the Market Square, at the heart of Cambridge city centre. It is directly opposite the Cambridge Market and within walking distance of the Grand Arcade shopping centre.

For the nearest parking, follow signs to Grand Arcade car park.

The Guildhall is accessible by turning either from Hills Road or Trumpington Street into Lensfield Road, then into Tennis Court Road, right into Downing Street, and continuing straight into the Market Square area.

By Bicycle

The Grand Arcade cycle park has covered space for over 200 cycles. It closes every night at 11.30pm. Cyclists can access the cycle park from Corn Exchange Street – when travelling from Downing Street, the entrance is on the right after the car park entrance – and pedestrians can enter from Grand Arcade or Fisher Square.

By Train

The Guildhalls are approximately a 20-minute walk from the train station. Upon leaving the station, go straight down Station Road and turn right onto Hills Road. Walk down Hills Road, which leads onto Regent Street. Continue along Regent Street, then turn left into Downing Street. Walk straight until you reach the Market Square, where the Guildhall is located directly opposite the Cambridge Market.

For further enquiries call the National Rail Enquiries (24 hours) on 08457 48 49 50.

Park and Ride

The county council provide timetable information about the Park & Ride service.

Parking

Visit the car parking map on the Cambridge City Council website.

Grand Arcade Car Park

This car park is just a couple of minutes away, across the road from the Corn Exchange.

Information about the Grand Arcade car park

Queen Anne Car Park (Gonville Place)

This car park is slightly further away, but is no more than a 10 minute walk from Cambridge Corn Exchange.

Directions: Head out of the car park and down Regent’s Terrace (runs alongside the big green park called Parker’s Piece) into Regent Street, turn left into Downing Street and right into Corn Exchange Street.

We will be providing a cloakroom space. Please note this will not be attended by a staff member and any items left are left at your digression. 

Early Bird Tickets

1 – 31st October 2025

Open Forum Applications

Deadline: Friday 5th December, decision communicated by Fri 19th December 2025

Marketplace Bookings

First come, first served.

Pitching Applications

Deadline: Friday 5th December, decision communicated by Friday 19th December 2025

Bursary Applications

Deadline: End of Day, Sunday 16th November, decisions communicated by Friday 28th November

Digital Brochure Submissions

Deadline: End of Day, Friday 16th January 2026

Become A Member

Join OutdoorArtsUK for discounted conference tickets! Become part of the Outdoor Arts community with regular news updates, access to friendly support and resources, opportunities to develop skills and invitations to contribute to sector advocacy.

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Image Credits:

Main Image – Rave New World by Revoluton,Tangled Feet & Pirates of the Carabina, Outside Marsh House Community Centre Luton, 2025, photo: Greta Zabulyte

Day 1 & Day 2 Image: Starsaucer by The Dream Engine at Warrington Arts Festival 2025, photo: Rob Watson Photography

Marketplace: Roots to Rise by Nandita Shankardass at Stockton International Festival 2025, photo: Stockton Council

Pitching: Rave New World by Revoluton,Tangled Feet & Pirates of the Carabina, Outside Marsh House Community Centre Luton, 2025, photo: Greta Zabulyte

Open Forum: PoliNations Trees by Trigger at Shangri-La Glastonbury 2025, photo: Giulia Spadafora

Fund A Freelancer: Rave New World by Revoluton Arts, Tangled Feet & Pirates of the Carabina, Outside Marsh House Community Centre Luton, 2025, photo: Greta Zabulyte

Networking Drinks: OutdoorArtsUk National Conference 2025

Networking Cafe: OutdoorArtsUk National Conference 2025

Self Guided Networking Tour: TRUTH! by Hijinx and Ramshacklicious at The Big Feast 2024, preduced by APpetite, Stoke-on-Trent , photo: Jenny Harper

Newcomers Induction: Zee and the City by Puppets with Guts at Bradford 2025, photo: Scott Salt, Big Blue Whale