Calling all West Midlands freelancers and micro-businesses working in creative technology to join this forum.

What is the CreaTech Freelancer Forum?

This is part of a series of four free industry gatherings for freelancers and micro-businesses working in creative technology across the West Midlands. Run through the CreaTech Frontiers programme and delivered by University of Warwick and sector lead Amy Dalton-Hardy, it exists to do something straightforward: bring the sector together.

This is not a skills programme, a funding workshop, or an application clinic. It’s a space for creative tech freelancers to meet, think, and make connections - across the whole region, not just the city centres - and to shape what that looks like together.

Who is it for?

If you work as a freelancer or micro-business at the intersection of creative practice and technology - wherever that sits for you - this is for you.

That might mean you work in games, immersive tech, digital arts, creative AI, tech-enabled live performance, motion capture, spatial design, or somewhere in between. The common thread is that you’re doing it independently, in the West Midlands, and you’d benefit from knowing more people who are doing it too.

CreaTech Frontiers cohort members are warmly welcome. So is everyone else.

The Events: 2026 Regional Tour

Four events, four locations, four different formats - designed to fit into your working life and reach freelancers across the whole region, not just the big cities.

All events are free to attend. More details to follow on all events. Please note: venues have been chosen to showcase co-working spaces across the region where freelancers can base themselves, work between meetings, and build the kind of proximity that leads to collaboration.

These events are supported by Ode Creatives, a Coventry-based agency creating culturally relevant campaigns, content and experiences that connect brands with diverse audiences and support underrepresented creatives. These events will be caputured, please email the team if you do not wish to be photographed or filmed.

Access and Inclusion

We want everyone who needs to be in the room to be able to get there. A discretionary Access Fund is available to help remove financial barriers to attendance, including:

Childcare costs during the event

Travel costs where distance or transport access makes attendance difficult

The fund is limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To apply, complete the short access request when you register. Costs are reimbursed on receipt/invoice after the event.

If you have access requirements relating to the venue, format, or communication - including sensory, mobility, neurodivergence, or anything else - please let us know when you register.

To register please fill in this Google Form.

We’ll do our best to make it work, and we’ll keep improving our approach across the series.

Description supplied by the event organiser.