Lydia Baldwin

The Intercultural Network (ICN) is a friendly and growing collective of global majority creatives in Peterborough, supported by Peterborough Cultural Alliance (PCA). The network exists to create space for connection, collaboration and shared creative exploration, bringing together artists and creative practitioners from across the city. ICN is centred around building relationships, celebrating diversity and amplifying the visibility of Peterborough’s global majority creatives. 

During its first year, the Intercultural Network hosted ten sessions shaped by the interests, experiences and ambitions of its members. These gatherings offered opportunities for discussion, peer support and the sharing of resources and creative opportunities, alongside moments of solidarity and reflection. The year also included the creation of a collaborative artwork and a process of creative evaluation, supported through two artist commissions, allowing artists to respond to the network in thoughtful and imaginative ways.

Through the network, we aim to nurture connection, co-creation and artistic development, while creating space for global majority creatives to be visible, heard and valued within the city’s cultural landscape. ICN recognises that meaningful creative practice grows from trust, care and dialogue, and that bringing people together regularly can lead to both individual growth and collective impact.

As part of our 2026 programme, the Intercultural Network will host ten sessions across the year, with six of these led by artists. The programme will include commissioned opportunities and artist-led activity, as well as time to come together, exchange ideas and make work with and around the city. These sessions will continue to build on the foundations laid in year one, offering space to explore practice, respond to place and shape the future of the network together.

Peterborough Cultural Alliance is proud to partner in our city’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2029, alongside our members, Peterborough Positive, Peterborough City Council, and Peterborough Tourist Board. Our collaborative ambition supports Peterborough’s Cultural Strategy and its vision for creativity to connect people and empowering residents to shape our future as a thriving, cultural, and inclusive city.

Find out more here.

Congratulations to Hilary Steele the winner of Peterborough Poet Laureate 2026. All the finalists provided outstanding performances and PCA’s very own Hana Sayeed along with fellow judges Kat Beeton and outgoing Poet Laureate Alex Tyler had a difficult task. 

Thank you to Syntax Poetry Collective and hosts University Centre Peterborough University Centre Peterborough (UCP)

A new year of PCA’s Peterborough Collective programme begins!

We’re excited to welcome 4 new young cultural leaders to the Peterborough Collective, supported and mentored by the brilliant founders of the Culture Talks podcast.

So, what can you expect from the year ahead?
·      New Culture Talks podcast episodes
·      Inspiring conversations with local creative people
·      Opportunities to engage with Culture Talks in-person and connect with Peterborough’s creative community

You can find out more about Culture Talks here, and listen to episodes.

Huge thanks to our programme partners Norfolk & Norwich Festival and University Centre Peterborough (UCP) for supporting these young people to grow, lead and engage young audiences across the city. And a special shout-out to Amy Nomvula joining us as a mentor – we’re thrilled to have you on board.

In our inaugural year Peterborough Cultural Alliance (PCA) have successfully kick-started our programme of Leadership & Accountability. This programme objectives looks to inspire and grow conversations about the impact of culture on identity, ambitions, education and growth.

Last week, we launched our Cultural Conversations series with thought-provoking insights from Lord Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, playwright and poet.

During his time in Peterborough, Lord Williams met with city and cultural leaders, young people and members of the public to share his perspective on culture as ‘nurture and growth’ and the pursuit of providing the right conditions in our city for people to grow.

As Lord Williams commented “Culture, the whole imaginative life of a society, matters so that the more complicated story of who we are can be told, and so we don’t find ourselves driven into oversimplified, polarised, untruthful narratives.”

We would like to say a huge thank you to our PCA partners for hosting these important conversations and demonstrating their commitment to cultural growth in our city, and to all who came and contributed!

Our future Cultural Conversations series will continue next year where we will continue to invite trailblazers in British culture. These events will continue to help to create cultural discussion, debate, networking, in expected and unexpected places, across the city.

If you have any questions or queries about the Cultural Conversations series, please contact Lydia.Baldwin@neneparktrust.org.uk.

To answer ‘big’ questions around culture, we invite you to our annual Cultural Conversations, with this year’s esteemed guest, Lord Williams of Oystermouth.

Each year, the Peterborough Cultural Alliance welcomes a person of fame/good repute to kick-start cultural conversations when we discuss, debate and disagree whilst envisioning, dreaming and building civic pride throughout Peterborough.

This year, we are thrilled to extend a special invitation to you for a unique event, featuring Lord Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, prolific writer, poet and public intellectual.

Join us as Lord Rowan delves into the profound influence of culture in Peterborough and the significance it serves in shaping our narratives and in building our city. This will be followed by an interactive and vibrant discussion so, please do have your questions at the ready.

Event details

Wednesday, 11 September | 2-3 pm

Key Theatre, Main Auditorium

Book your free tickets here | https://keytheatre-peterborough.com/event/cultural-conversations-with-rowan-williams/

Your participation is crucial in building these important conversations and so, we encourage you to send this invitation to those who share our passion for cultural conversations and making Peterborough a city that is joyous and proud of itself.

If you have any questions or queries, please do reach out to Lydia.Baldwin@neneparktrust.org.uk.

We look forward to welcoming you and your guests, on the day.