The UK is one of the most regionally imbalanced countries in the industrialised world, and despite the repeated political rhetoric of so-called ‘levelling up’, our regions boast a diverse array of dynamic, revered, creative companies and individuals and creative education institutions, contributing vastly to both the nation’s economy and it’s international reputation for creativity.

Our post-Covid, Tory funded landscape risks leaving people and places behind, and if proper investment and support in areas of the UK outside of London are not encouraged, then inequalities will be exacerbated. The Outside Directory aims to provide a collated resource for people looking to champion the creativity happening all over the UK, not just within London, and to share, celebrate, and encourage the talent in the regions.

Initiated by Alice and Craig Oldham (of the Office Of Craig), the hope is that the Directory provides a starting point, or place to return to, for people exploring creativity in the regions complimenting the myriad of creative businesses operating within them. The initial database was crowd-sourced by over 100 voluntary creative practitioners living and working in and around the UK regions, and can be added to by a contribution form. Alice and Craig also collaborated with Manchester based Michael Ash, who developed and built the Outside Directory website, as well as Rick Banks of F37 Foundry, who generously permitted the Directory to be typeset in F37 Bolton.