Be United launches its Creative Partnerships Conference 2026 programme
This year, Be United is expanding the Creative Partnerships Conference (CPC) 2026 programme by introducing four dedicated Micro CPC events in the lead-up to the main conference in October. Designed to build momentum and deepen engagement ahead of the flagship gathering, these smaller-scale events will spotlight key themes, foster collaboration, and create additional opportunities for connection across the sector.
The first Micro CPC event, Be United x Fresh Fruit: Create Something Beautiful, successfully launched in February, setting the tone for the expanded programme. The second Micro event launched registration in March, continuing to build excitement as the community looks ahead to the full conference in October.
The Creative Partnerships Conference is Scotland’s flagship conference, centring Black creatives and celebrating artists from other underrepresented backgrounds and their allies. This Be United programme delivers a series of vibrant, high-impact national events where art, industry and inclusion meet.
Here is the first look at the series of the Creative Partnerships Conference 2026 events that are still to come.
March
We live in a world of rising AI use within the cultural sector, and learning how to navigate it is essential. Therefore, for the second and upcoming Micro CPC event, Be United is hosting for the first time a fully online session that brings together industry experts for a critical discussion on Responsible AI & Environmental Sustainability in Creative Practice, as we continuously ask whether AI should be an addition to your creative practice.
This shift to a fully digital format is a direct result of Trustee Olubukola Popoola’s long-standing commitment to leading Be United toward more environmentally friendly practices, as Olubukola believes sustainability must be intentional and lived. Olubukola has been a Trustee at Be United for many years and is Be United’s lead advisor on environmental practice. She has always believed that real change doesn’t just happen in boardrooms, it happens in our neighbourhoods. As an accomplished environmental professional, she has guided Be United’s journey by developing its environmental policy and management plan, helping to embed sustainability across its work. She brings that same commitment to this Micro CPC, which explores the evolving relationship between art, artificial intelligence, and the planet.
Therefore, this session is not about prescribing whether creatives should use AI, but about ensuring they remain in control, keeping their voice, ideas, and vision firmly in the driver’s seat.
Thus, through her wider work, including partnerships with Heart of Africa and Climate Actions Hub to deliver hands-on climate solutions for minority communities, Olubukola continues to champion action over conversation, amplifying local voices and proving that when communities move together, meaningful change is possible.
Therefore, this is not a technical discussion;
it is a creative, reflective response to the changing sector.
Delivered in a conversational, podcast-style format, where we will proactively explore:
– AI’s environmental footprint
– Practical ethical checkpoints
– Sustainability tools
– Community-informed insights
The session is FREE to attend.
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS
April
April will feature our third Micro event called Making it WHERE You are.
At Be United, we believe Scotland is not a stepping stone: you can build and grow your creative career while staying local.
Be United’s Micro CPC is coming to Aberdeen on 24 April at The Lime Reserve, bringing together artists, creatives and industry professionals for an evening focused on collaboration, career sustainability and local growth. Running from 5PM–8PM, the event will feature a practical skills and networking workshop, a panel on building sustainable creative careers within Scotland, and a live showcase spotlighting local emerging talent.
May
On the 21st of May, Be United will hold its fourth Micro CPC, a two-hour online music business conversation. This session will focus on music contracts, memberships that matter, and how to leverage creative unions to strengthen and monetise your career in 2026.
This event will run from 2PM-4PM, and it is intended for creatives looking to monetise their work and build long-term careers, understanding contracts, collective representation, and industry memberships is essential to protecting your value and negotiating fair opportunities.
October: Creative Partnerships Conference
Two-Day Event!
In October 2026, Be United’s main event and Scotland’s premier networking and professional development platform for Black creatives, the Creative Partnerships Conference, will be returning!
Following the powerful conversations sparked through our February through May Micro CPC series, covering marketing, networking, responsible AI, sustainability in the arts, creative agency, and the business structures that support creative careers; the October Creative Partnerships Conference will bring the sector together for a two-day flagship event focused on opportunity, collaboration, and employment pathways.
Alongside panels and industry insights, the conference will include interviews for jobs and paid creative opportunities, connecting emerging and established creatives directly with organisations shaping the future of the industry. We also have a 24-hour collaboration contest, a creative hack-a-thon.
This year, Be United’s team has returned with a programme that has a broader reach, connecting with new cities and featuring an expansive event programme. Stay up to date with our events and opportunities, ensure you follow us on our social media pages and sign up for our newsletter! We look forward to seeing you at our events.
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