Stoke Creates
Stoke Creates CIO is the Cultural Compact for Stoke-on-Trent, convening arts organisations, universities, the city council, and freelancers to coordinate regional cultural development through funded programmes including CASCADE, Exchange Forum, and Culture Volunteer North Staffordshire.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersHanley, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Stoke Creates does
Stoke Creates CIO (Charity Number 1213381) is the designated Cultural Compact for Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding North Staffordshire area, established in 2019 with seed funding from Arts Council England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is one of 20 such cross-sector partnerships across England, operating as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with a 9-person staff team and a board chaired by Prof. Carola Boehm of Staffordshire University. Its core function is to convene and coordinate the regional arts ecosystem rather than deliver cultural programming directly.
The organisation runs four interlocking programmes. CASCADE is a three-year, multi-funded initiative (Arts Council England plus UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund) that organises arts delivery across four Cultural Action Zones through funded partners Appetite, B Arts, Urban Wilderness CIC, and Partners in Creative Learning. Exchange Forum is a recurring networking and professional development gathering for 400+ freelance creatives. Culture Volunteer North Staffordshire operates a volunteer matching service that placed 347 opportunities in 2025. The Philanthropy programme and the World Craft City initiative (secured in 2024) round out the portfolio, alongside flagship events such as The People's Parade (7 June 2025).
The business model is grant-funded and mission-driven. Primary revenue flows from Arts Council England as the Cultural Compact funder, supplemented by the Shared Prosperity Fund and a nascent Stoke 100 Club donor programme that raises approximately £8,400 annually. The organisation facilitated £126,000 in grants for seven partner charities through Arts Council England and The Big Give, and secured an additional £125,000 ACE grant for centenary programming. The organisation is currently transitioning from CIC to registered charity status with a planned community membership governance structure. No commercial pricing model applies; services are free to participants.
Stoke Creates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stoke Creates
- Legal name
- Stoke Creates CIO
- Website
- https://stokecreates.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Stoke Creates CIO is the Cultural Compact for Stoke-on-Trent, convening arts organisations, universities, the city council, and freelancers to coordinate regional cultural development through funded programmes including CASCADE, Exchange Forum, and Culture Volunteer North Staffordshire.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stoke Creates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cultural Development Services
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)
Keywords
Where Stoke Creates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Stoke Creates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Arts Council England Funding: Primary government funding from Arts Council England as a Cultural Compact, including significant grants for CASCADE project (3-year initiative) and centenary celebrations.
- Philanthropy and Donations: The Stoke 100 Club secures £8,400 annually from donors to support cultural growth. Individual philanthropist engagement through events and targeted giving programs.
- Grant Facilitation: Helped 7 charities raise £126,000 for community arts through Arts Council England and The Big Give campaigns, acting as matchmaker and facilitator.
- Government Shared Prosperity Fund: Complementary funding from government's Shared Prosperity Fund to support CASCADE initiative alongside Arts Council England investment.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Stoke Creates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stoke Creates CIO is the Cultural Compact for Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding area, coordinating and funding arts and culture programmes across the region. It delivers initiatives including the CASCADE three-year arts ecology transformation project, the Exchange Forum for freelance creatives, Culture Volunteer North Staffordshire for volunteer matching, a Philanthropy programme linking donors with arts organisations, the World Craft City initiative, and major community events such as The People's Parade.
Product overview
Stoke Creates is the Cultural Compact for Stoke-on-Trent, operating as a charitable organization (CIO, Charity Number 1213381) that fosters collaboration across sectors to support and grow the region's arts and cultural ecosystem. The organization manages several interconnected programs: CASCADE, a three-year arts transformation initiative; Exchange Forum, an anti-exclusionary networking space for creatives; Culture Volunteer North Staffordshire, connecting volunteers with arts opportunities; Philanthropy, linking donors with arts organisations; and the World Craft City Initiative celebrating ceramics heritage. These programs work together to position culture prominently in local agendas, maximize external arts funding, and build a wider base of support for North Staffordshire's creative sector.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CASCADE: A three-year aspirational co-created project funded by Arts Council England and Shared Prosperity Fund, aiming to transform Stoke-on-Trent's arts ecology through four Cultural Action Zones (CAZs) across high streets and communities.
- Exchange Forum
- Culture Volunteer North Staffordshire
Products and services
- CASCADE A three-year co-created project funded by Arts Council England and the Shared Prosperity Fund, designed to transform Stoke-on-Trent's arts ecology by nurturing a skilled, connected, and sustainable arts sector that reaches underrepresented communities across four Cultural Action Zones.
- Exchange Forum An anti-exclusionary gathering space for freelance artists and cultural stakeholders in Stoke-on-Trent to plan, network, share resources, bid for funding, and collaborate on projects. Central element of the CASCADE initiative with 14 events and 372+ participants in its first year.
- Culture Volunteer North Staffordshire A volunteer matching project that acts as a bridge between volunteers and arts organisations across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire, offering micro-volunteering opportunities in the arts and culture sector with flexible hours and personal support. Matched 347 volunteering opportunities in 2025 across 10+ partner organisations.
- Philanthropy Programme A programme connecting philanthropists with local arts organisations, offering opportunities for financial donations, expertise sharing, board involvement, and strategic advisory roles to support the North Staffordshire arts sector. Includes the Stoke 100 Club securing £8,400 annually.
- World Craft City Initiative An initiative celebrating Stoke-on-Trent's designation as a World Craft City, recognising the city's 600-year ceramics heritage, promoting its global reputation, and supporting craft innovation and tourism. Stoke-on-Trent joined 61 craft cities worldwide including Farnham, Outer Hebrides, Kilkenny, and Bornholm.
- The People's Parade A large-scale community celebration event delivered in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and supported by Arts Council England, featuring around 1,000 performers and an anticipated audience of ~50,000 to celebrate the city's centenary.
Quantifiable outcome
- £126,000 raised for 7 charities through funding facilitation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Stoke Creates
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Stoke Creates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Stoke Creates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AppetitecoreArts organization delivering CASCADE community arts pilots, specifically leading the City Centre CAZ with the REMIX program aimed at young people and families. Also delivers The Big Feast, a free two-day arts festival in Hanley featuring dance, theatre, circus, and more.
- B ArtscoreCombined and participatory arts organization leading the Stoke Town CAZ with 'The Secret Library: Tales from a Town' project. Delivers Scratch Nights showcasing local talent, market residencies, and lantern-making workshops.
- Urban Wilderness CICcoreArts organization spearheading Longton Centre CAZ with environmental engagement through storytelling, sculpture, photography, and carnival pageantry. Organizes events including Pig Walk Parade and Winter Gathering.
- Partners in Creative LearningcoreEducation-focused arts partner contributing to CASCADE project delivery and represented on the Stoke Creates board.
- Keele UniversitycoreAcademic partner represented on Stoke Creates board by Prof. David Amigoni. Hosts Chapters Café exhibitions, partners on Exchange Forum events, and collaborates on initiatives like the Potteries Lunar Society and Honey Box Live.
- Staffordshire UniversitycoreAcademic partner represented by Chair Prof. Carola Boehm. Home to Professor Neil Brownsword, ceramics expert contributing to World Craft City bid and center of excellence advocacy.
- Stoke-on-Trent City CouncilcoreLocal authority partner co-leading World Craft City bid. Partner in People's Parade delivery. Led by Councillor Jane Ashworth, representing the city's commitment to cultural development.
- New Vic TheatrecoreMajor cultural anchor organization represented on Stoke Creates board by Fiona Wallace. Partner in Sensasian festival and other cross-organizational initiatives.
- British Ceramics BiennialcoreFestival organization key to World Craft City status. Artistic Director Clare Wood represents them on Stoke Creates board. BCB is the UK's largest contemporary ceramics event, generating significant cultural and economic impact.
- City Learning TrustminorEducation trust partner contributing to the cultural ecosystem through school partnerships and educational initiatives.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Stoke Creates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Locality: National UK membership body supporting community-led organisations including social enterprises and charities. Comparable in supporting place-based cultural and community organisations with policy advocacy and capacity-building, though operating at a much larger scale.
Regional players
- Battersea Arts Centre: London-based arts venue and creative development organisation focused on community participation and artist development. Comparable in mission around community-driven arts programming and inclusive creative practice, though anchored to a single venue.
- Greater Manchester Cultural Partnership: Cross-sector partnership coordinating cultural strategy across Greater Manchester's local authorities, universities, and arts organisations. Comparable in operating as a regional cultural convening body with cross-sector coalition-building focus.
Direct peers
- Plymouth Culture: Designated Cultural Compact for Plymouth, operating with the same Arts Council England framework and cross-sector convening model that Stoke Creates uses. Directly comparable mandate, funding base, and delivery approach for cultural place-making.
- Hampshire Cultural Trust: An independent cultural development charity responsible for cultural venues, museums, and creative programming across Hampshire. Comparable in operating model as a regionally-focused cultural development organisation in the UK, though with a more venue-heavy asset base.
- A New Direction: London-based non-profit focused on creative opportunities for children and young people, with cross-sector convening and advocacy work. Directly comparable in operating model as an arts-development intermediary focused on access and inclusion.
- Without Walls: UK consortium of outdoor arts organisations and producers, operating as a collaboration and touring network. Comparable as a UK arts-development infrastructure body that convenes and distributes programming across regional partners.
- Curious Minds: UK charity that champions creativity and cultural education, working across the North West and nationally. Comparable as an arts-development and capacity-building organisation with strong funding facilitation and sector convening activities.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Stoke Creates social profiles
Digital presenceStoke Creates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stoke Creates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Stoke Creates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stoke Creates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Stoke Creates
What does Stoke Creates do?
Stoke Creates CIO is the Cultural Compact for Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding area, coordinating and funding arts and culture programmes across the region. It delivers initiatives including the CASCADE three-year arts ecology transformation project, the Exchange Forum for freelance creatives, Culture Volunteer North Staffordshire for volunteer matching, a Philanthropy programme linking donors with arts organisations, the World Craft City initiative, and major community events such as The People's Parade.
Is Stoke Creates a public or private company?
Stoke Creates is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Stoke Creates founded?
Stoke Creates was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Stoke Creates based?
Stoke Creates is headquartered in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Stoke Creates make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Arts Council England Funding is the primary driver. The others are philanthropy and Donations, grant Facilitation and government Shared Prosperity Fund.
Who are Stoke Creates's main competitors?
Locality is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Battersea Arts Centre and Greater Manchester Cultural Partnership. Direct peers are Plymouth Culture, Hampshire Cultural Trust, A New Direction, Without Walls and Curious Minds.
Does Stoke Creates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stoke Creates.
What industry is Stoke Creates in?
Stoke Creates's product category is Cultural Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAO, Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises. Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 7990.