LCB Depot Collective Meeting: Building a Shared Voice for Leicester’s Creative Community

On 18th December 2025, LCB Depot hosted a Collective Meeting, bringing together a broad and vibrant cross-section of Leicester’s creative community. The event was designed to establish a shared voice, strengthen collaboration, and surface opportunities across the city’s creative ecosystem connecting people, amplifying impact and informing future policy, funding and opportunity.

The meeting welcomed creative practitioners, businesses, CICs, cultural organisations, educators, filmmakers, fashion professionals, architects, digital agencies, heritage bodies, wellness providers, and social impact organisations. From digital and marketing agencies to music, film, fashion, performing arts, incubators, and cultural producers, the room reflected the depth and diversity of Leicester’s creative industries.

There was a strong sense of energy and ambition throughout the event, with attendees recognising both the scale of local talent and the potential unlocked when sectors come together. Networking was a key highlight, with meaningful conversations and new connections forming across disciplines.

Key Challenges Facing Leicester’s Creative Sector

Through discussion and shared reflection, several common challenges emerged:

• Fragmentation of networks, leading to duplication of effort and missed opportunities for collaboration.
• Talent drain, with creatives often leaving Leicester for London or other cities to progress their careers.
• Gaps between education, early career, and professional practice, making sustained creative pathways difficult.
• Limited visibility of Leicester’s creative success stories, both locally and nationally.
• Transport and infrastructure barriers, restricting access, participation, and inclusion across the city.

These challenges were acknowledged collectively, alongside a shared belief that Leicester has the creativity, drive, and capacity to address them.

One of the clearest messages from the meeting was that meaningful change must come from within the creative community itself. Collaboration, increased visibility, and a unified voice were seen as essential tools for strengthening the sector and advocating effectively for support and investment.

Attendees recognised the importance of working together not only to support one another, but also to ensure Leicester’s creative achievements are seen, celebrated, and valued.

Next Steps and Actions

For attendees, the focus moving forward is on reflection and action:

• Consider what changes are needed across the sector.
• Identify ways organisations and individuals can better support one another.
• Share LCB content and campaigns through personal and professional networks.
• Continue the informal conversations and collaborations sparked at the event.

For LCB, commitments include:

• Continuing to convene and facilitate cross-sector dialogue.
• Capturing and distilling collective priorities into clear, shared messages.
• Supporting storytelling through film and communications.
• Strengthening links with city stakeholders, universities, and funders.

The Collective Meeting reinforced the strength of Leicester’s creative community and the opportunity that comes from working together with purpose. By connecting voices, amplifying stories, and aligning ambitions, Leicester can continue to build a creative ecosystem that is visible, resilient, and inclusive.

Further conversations will continue through future events more information can be found at lcbdepot.co.uk