It’s now a week since we hosted our inaugural Common Room event at the unique venue of the Buffini Chao deck of the National Theatre. Being able to host an event that brought together our diverse client base, in the building of a Cabbells client, gave the event added élan.
The venue itself has stunning panoramic views of the Thames, with both the London Eye and The City visible from our top floor eyrie as we enjoyed coffee, pastries and later lunch and drinks on the terrace.
The purpose of The Common Room, organised by the CPL One Group, is to bring together leaders from the arts, heritage and broader non-profit sectors for an exclusive day of insight and networking – exploring how professional collaboration across sectors can address the unique pressures facing cultural institutions at a time of almost constant change.
Common values
As a company, Cabbells believe that shared purpose transcends sector boundaries, and therefore we wanted to provide a room where arts and heritage organisations could find a forum to exchange knowledge and navigate the specific cultural and technological hurdles of modern leadership.
Breaking down barriers is an important part of our strategy and therefore we also had leaders from the membership, charity and sporting arenas who could share their insights and help people to solve similar problems that are apparent across sectors.
Curated content
The launch event featured three curated panel sessions tailored to the evolving needs of the arts and heritage landscape.
The morning opened with ‘Staying human in a polycrisis’, a discussion deeply relevant to audience-facing cultural bodies. Panellists Billy Differ (Delfont Mackintosh Theatres), Helen Kelly (Nautilus International), Nicky Shepard (Abbey People) and Martin Bewick (Cabbells) explored how arts and other organisations can maintain human connection and mission-focus amidst global uncertainty.
Addressing the economic realities of tighter budgets, the second session, ‘Forging diamonds under pressure’, focused on operational resilience. Emma Jhita (The Institute of Conservation), Magali Horbert (FIDI Global Alliance), Philip Newton (Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association) and Sarah Simpson (Cabbells) shared strategies for maximising impact and protecting hweritage assets within tightening budgets.
The final session, ‘After the hype… when AI becomes invisible’, looked at the digital horizon. Ivan Massow (Noah Wire Services), Sajeeda Merali (PPA) and Alice Turner (Phyron AI) debated how AI innovation will transform the future workplace and the ways in which cultural content is created and consumed. This session was followed by a lively audience-backed debate.
Conversations throughout the day revealed common ground in how tech innovation can support the arts, enhancing the value provided to patrons, visitors and members alike.
Forward looking
This inaugural event established a vital touchpoint for the arts and heritage community, and we look forward to continuing these essential conversations via different shaped events in the near future. CPL One Group’s mission to foster belonging has certainly found its physical home in The Common Room.
