Free advice programme for Bedford creatives looking to make their creative ideas a reality re-launches.
Local arts charity Bedford Creative Arts (BCA) and regional producing agency 1 Degree East are re-launching their Producer Hub programme this Autumn – a free opportunity for local creatives to develop their skills in making creative ideas a reality.
The Producer Hub is a programme of networking meetings, talks and advice sessions running from October to March at the University of Bedfordshire. It supports people with a creative idea to develop the skills and networks they need to make their idea a reality.
Elaine Midgley, Director of BCA and mentor on the programme says, “A creative idea could be anything - an event, a performance, a festival, an exhibition – as long as it’s for the benefit of the Bedford community. We’re looking for local people who want to make creative and cultural activity happen in Bedford but maybe don’t yet have the experience or confidence to know where to begin. The Producer Hub can offer advice and mentoring that covers everything from project planning, budgeting and funding through to marketing, event management and how to evaluate your project for funders”.
Matthew Jones, founder of the Producer Hub concept which runs in different locations across the East of England said, “Bedford has such a richly diverse range of communities offering great cultural activities throughout the year. We’re looking to support people with a new idea who maybe wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity – perhaps because they are just starting out, having a change of career, moving into a different direction or just don’t know where to begin.” Matthew is leading the sessions alongside local creative producer Jo Hudson-Lett and a team of colleagues working across performing arts, outdoor events, visual arts, community events and more.
The Producer Hub is now in its third year in Bedford and has supported local creatives who have gone on to develop arts & wellbeing activities, visual art exhibitions, theatre productions and dance workshops. This year BCA are especially keen to reach people new to delivering activity as well as people who represent the diverse range of backgrounds in Bedford such as those from Global Majority backgrounds, people who may not have had a formal education, and people living across a wide range of wards and communities in the Borough.
Former Producer Hub mentee and alumnus from the 25-26 Producer Hub cohort Anthea Barclay said, “I would especially encourage younger creatives and people from backgrounds that remain under-represented within the arts to take the leap and get involved. The knowledge, relationships and sense of community gained early in your career can pay dividends for years”.
Bedfordshire theatre practitioner, Cheryl Prince who attended the Hub in 2025 is performing the outcome of her experience, a play called “Awaken”, at The Place Bedford this October. Cheryl said, “I’ve had an extremely busy year producing, and I wanted to take a moment to say how valuable Producer Hub was to me. The skills, mentoring and support I received gave me so much of the knowledge and confidence I needed to launch my debut play this October. Thank you!”
Applications to sign-up for the mentoring programming of sessions are open until 2nd October with up to 10 free places available for mentees. The application form for the programmes is available on BCA’s website. Producer Hub 2026/27 - Bedford Creative Arts
If anyone is keen to find out more and experience a taster session before they apply, they can attend one of the free sessions happening in September:
19th September - Make it Happen in a Day (10am – 2pm)- a hands-on half-day crash course in producing @ Bedford Heights.
22nd September – ‘Join our Cohort’ webinar (6-7:30pm) - an online session to explain how the Cohort programme works and how to apply.
To find out more, people can visit our website including booking on to the events: