Creative Boom IRL finds the perfect partner in James Cropper

Creative Boom IRL is all about what happens when we step away from our screens and meet face-to-face. Think relaxed conversations over coffee or beer, spontaneous collaborations, and the kind of encouragement you only find in a room full of like-minded people. Even better, every event is completely free and run by volunteer hosts across the UK.

As Creative Boom IRL has grown, we’ve always wanted these gatherings to remain open and welcoming. But there’s only so much we can do alone. We needed a partner who shares our values and understands that community comes first. Enter James Cropper. With a proud history of supporting creatives, as well as leading in design and innovation, they really felt like the perfect match to help us keep IRL thriving, while staying true to its grassroots spirit.

This partnership is built on a genuine connection. Over the past few months, we’ve been getting to know the team at James Cropper. When we told them how IRL events are organised (by volunteers, for creatives), they jumped at the chance to support the next series of gatherings. Their belief in what we’re building means the world to us.

IRL itself began in The Studio, Creative Boom’s private community for creatives, which was born from a shared frustration with the changing algorithms of social media and the impact of AI. Our members put their hands up and asked if they could have “in real life” events and volunteered to make it happen. On the format, they were very clear on what they didn’t want: more talks. They just wanted the chance to be together again. And so back in April we began with Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, and Durham. In future, we have IRL events planned for Belfast, Bristol, and London. I have a feeling we’re only just getting started.

Just eight months later, The Studio itself is home to nearly 6,000 members, and IRL events are popping up across the country thanks to the energy of local hosts who give their time to bring people together.

Take IRL Sheffield, co-hosted by independent designer Kirsty Grafton of Graft Creative and brand and content strategist Emily O’Brien of Folly. Or IRL Leeds where Vicky Zaremba of Northwords, Brett Kellett of Studio Brett and Kate Campbell of Wonderlust are creating something special.

In Birmingham, Louise O’Kane, creative director and founder of LULACREATES, is bringing local creatives together. And in Manchester, advertising photographer Pip Rustage is holding the fort. Last but not least, Durham is hosted by Clare Lavelle who’s the creative force behind Aniseed Creative.

These brilliant people volunteer their time because they believe, like we do, that creativity thrives when we come together.

Sixteen years on from launching Creative Boom, it’s heartening to see the same spirit that inspired the site in 2009 still alive and kicking. Back then, I felt the creative world could be cliquey, elite and too London-centric. I wanted to build something different – a platform with community and inclusivity at its heart. Maybe a little Northern charm and warmth. Yes, we take our craft seriously. But we don’t have to take ourselves too seriously. That belief has resonated with millions of readers, not just across the UK but worldwide.

Today, it’s wonderful to see brands we admire recognising that hard-fought value. James Cropper’s support isn’t just sponsorship. It’s a sign that community-led creativity matters. Amazingly, it allows us to keep IRL free, inclusive and run by the people who care most…and that’s the creatives themselves.

Here’s to more conversations, collaborations, and friendships made “in real life”. And to the brilliant volunteers and our new partner James Cropper who make it all possible, thank you so much. See you at the next event? Details over in The Studio.