When you become a member of the IW Creative Network, you get access to all these recorded Creative Zoom Sessions! (Don’t worry if you can’t attend the live Creative Zoom Sessions, they will all be recorded and uploaded to the Resources section of the website which only members can view when logged in.)
All invitations to book on the Creative Zoom Sessions will be sent via Eventbrite – so make sure to double check your Spam/Junk folder for this email to book your place and access the Zoom sessions.
‘Social Media – What you need to know about gaining sales, rather than just brand attention’ with Becky Lodge
Thu 7th April 2022, 1-3pm
Becky will provide a creative training session via Zoom. With over 11.2k followers on Twitter, Becky is able to offer sound advice on how to sell yourself utilizing social media platforms from Twitter to Tik Tok. This session will be packed with case studies and practical advice on how to reach your targets and closing sales.
Founder and Director of Little Kanga Ltd (2015) Becky later founded the creative digital online business school ‘StartUp Disruptors’; a coaching community that helps early- stage start-ups and aspiring business owners to fund and scale their projects and businesses and look after their mental health on the journey. Started in a pub in Portsmouth in 2016, the membership community via social media has grown from 150 members in year one and now has over 50,000 social media and online followers and 2,000 members on Facebook.
Becky is one of Sky News 100 Women in business, 2017. She is considered to be the ‘go to’ expert in the early- stage entrepreneurship space in the Solent region and the wider UK; and she is a passionate future thinker, innovator and social media influencer in B2B in the UK with over 15,000 connections and followers on LinkedIn (top 3% presence) and 10,000 followers on Twitter alone.
‘Capturing Creativity – How to photograph your art’ with Holly Cade
Wed 27th Apr 2022, 1-3pm
Are you feeling stumped about taking great photos of the amazing artwork that you’ve put so much time love and care into? Professional photographer Holly Cade is here to help!
Holly will take you through step-by-step how she would tackle photographing 2D and 3D art in her own home, using whatever is to hand in a very normal home setting, but still getting great results.
Holly has been in love with photography since 2008. In 2013 she was made redundant from her job working in a camera shop very suddenly, and decided to take the plunge and pursue her dream of becoming a professional photographer. She is mainly based on the Isle of Wight, and spends most of her time photographing weddings, families, and also runs a successful photography workshop for beginners called ‘Get Me Off Auto’, for those who want to get more out of their camera than just sticking it on automatic.
‘Aligned Business Planning – clarity session on where you want to take your creative business and how to get there’ with Anabel Morte Rodenas
Wed 4th May 2022, 1-3pm
This interactive and dynamic session will give you clarity on where you want to take your creative business and the steps needed to get there. You’ll leave the session with a roadmap and ready to take action. Think big – what’s your dream for your creative business? Why? What does success look like for you? Bring pens and paper to this session, as you will start to draw out your goals, intentions and desires; as well as obstacles and fears, and then action plan with Anabel’s Reverse Engineer process to take your creative business to the next level.
Anabel is a fully accredited mindset and empowerment coach who helps entrepreneurs thrive in their lives and business. Before becoming a mum of two boys and starting her coaching business, she was awarded a PhD in Chemistry and worked as a manager in a cutting-edge scientific research laboratory for over a decade.
Her diverse background gives her a different perspective and a wide range of tools both of which are very valuable for her clients.
‘Arts Funding – Panel discussion on arts fundraising’
Thu 12th May 2022, 1-3pm
Join us for this informative panel discussion via Zoom on arts funding with Relationship Manager (South West Combined Arts) for Arts Council England, Nick Green, ACE Developing Your Creative Practice recipient Gemma Gore & representatives of IW-based funding Mike Howley Trust.
Nick Green will introduce the work of Arts Council England, current funding priorities and talk through the new format of National Lottery Project Grants.
Southampton based visual artist & writer, Gemma Gore will discuss her recent ACE Developing Your Creative Practice grant.
Gemma’s practice pursues collaborative forms as a method of un/learning. Using lens based media, drawing and coding, Gemma makes sensuous interactive art works. A member of artist collective Stair/Slide/Space and People and Place artist network based in the New Forest, in the past year she has been developing From Doggerland, a shared practice with Jo Willoughby, who is based in the Netherlands. Together they explore remote connection and presence throughout the metaphysical submerged site of Doggerland.
This is also an opportunity to learn about IW-based funding, the Mike Howley Trust, a funding stream for the specific benefit of aspiring young actors, musicians, dancers and writers, aged between 18-30 living on the IW.
Chloe Russell-Thompson applied for Mike Howley Trust funding with their band, Bluest Boy, with the aim of recording and releasing their debut album in 2017. The funding also allowed the band to host an album launch night, which was very successful. Chloe is a Music Technology graduate who grew up on the Isle of Wight and now lives in Brighton. They currently work in a bar and venue which is also a queer safe space, doing live sound for the weekly open mic nights.
‘Creative Collaboration in the Biosphere – Shaping Better Places for People & Wildlife’ with Artecology
Thu 16th June 2022, 1-3pm
Artecology co-founders Ian Boyd and Nigel George will provide a creative talk via Zoom on the Island’s recent UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status and discussion on their collaborative and community arts with UK based carnival company, Shademakers. Artecology is the ecoengineering R&D department of Arc Biodiversity & Climate an innovative UK ‘environmental impact’ company based on the IW. They work with industry and research partners to create bioreceptive construction and landscape designs for marine, freshwater and land based development. Artecology shapes green life-cycle solutions from new build, to retrofit and repair, from city to sea.
They are a world-class cross-discipline collaboration of ecologists, artists, scientists, engineers and architects developing constructed wildlife habitats within the built environment. In addition to their R&D work they have product sales, work on commissioned projects, give unparalleled ecological consultative advice and deliver training and talks.
‘How to earn from your mistakes’ with Mick Smith
Wed 22nd June 2022, 1-3pm
An informal interactive session on surviving your inevitable errors and using what you’ve learnt to succeed. This is a creative business planning session for all those who dare to fail (brought to you by an accomplished expert in the field). A safe space to share insights and inspiration gained from incompetence and idiocy and tools to help manage the mayhem.
You will leave the session knowing:
- How to turn your mistakes into a nutritious meal that will feed a family of four
- How to make a business plan that doesn’t bore, intimidate or overwhelm you
- The 9 key mistakes of great leaders (clue: it’s actually 10)
- What makes bitter experience taste so sweet
Topics will include:
- Failing fabulously with finance and funding
- Super bloopers – How to make better quality mistakes
- Face Plants – Reckless risk management for gutsy gardeners
- Learning from lucky mistakes and happy accidents (and I don’t only mean other people’s)
Mick Smith is the Creative Business Mentor for the IW Creative Network development programme. He has built up a portfolio of management and organisational development achievements during his career. Currently the Director of Bridport Art Centre, Mick previously ran Quay Arts as Centre Director between 2006 – 2010 and helped support the significant growth and development of ‘a space’ arts in Southampton for 15 years (including 9 years as Chair of Trustees). A lifelong musician, Mick also has a long and varied track record in professional performance and composition.
This has not been achieved without the benefit of a glorious panoply of mistakes, including his own, other people’s and those of the many organisations he has worked for. In addition, Mick is easily bored and learnt long ago from delivering training, that to create a robust plan, it’s often worth spending some quality time considering what not to do. Designing the worst version of what you have in mind can be energising and hilarious. Mistakes are inevitable in any business. Come along and explore how to survive them and what they can teach you.
‘Developing Workshops – how to utilise your practice for community benefit’ with Trudie Wilson
Thu 21st July 2022, 1-3pm
Trudie will provide a creative training session via Zoom on how to utilise your practice in developing workshops for CYP and community arts projects – the essential things you need to know.
Trudie Wilson is an interdisciplinary Fine Artist specialising in sculpture and drawing. She works as a freelance artist and creative practitioner where she creates her own work alongside undertaking commissions, teaching drawing and supporting people’s wellbeing through art workshops.
Trudie was previously awarded a grant from the ACE’s Emergency Grant in 2020 to continue her arts practice during the pandemic. During this time she also designed and co-authored the book Dinosaur Isle in 101 fossils which contained her illustrations and drawings and was published in 2021. Trudie is also the Creative Hub project assistant and practitioner for Independent Arts, a charity that supports wellbeing through the arts for residents on the Isle of Wight.
‘Artist Networks & DIY practices – Creating/Curating/Collaborating’ with Vickie Fear
Thu 18th Aug 2022, 1-3pm
Vickie will provide a creative training session via Zoom on ‘artist networks and DIY practices’. Vickie will talk from her experience as co-director of Counter, CAMP and Hand in Glove and discuss how artists in the regions are navigating a challenging landscape of little or no pay by building peer networks and self-initiating opportunities.
Vickie Fear has been Curator/ Programme Manager at Aspex since 2019. During the last two years she has managed the programme of exhibitions, offsite activities and digital commissioning, including the recent launch of I stand for language. I speak for history. I shout for truth. with Heather Peak and Ivan Morison. Before moving to Portsmouth Vickie was based in Plymouth where she curated exhibitions at Plymouth Arts Centre and The Arts Institute at Plymouth University, co-ran Counter, the Plymouth art book fair with artists Maddy Hearn and Paul Hearn, and was one of the driving forces behind the Plymouth Art Weekender. She also worked on Ambition for Excellence funded projects in Plymouth and Cornwall, and was one of the founding directors of CAMP (Contemporary Art Membership Plymouth). Alongside her role at Aspex Vickie works freelance as a curator and producer, most recently Vickie worked with OSR Projects on the Od Arts Festival: Alone with Everybody.
Photo credit: by Daniel Boss Courtesy Aspex Portsmouth
‘How to get started with applying for funding, approaching galleries and presenting your work’ with Alys Scott Hawkins
NEW DATE: Wed 31st Aug 2022, 1-3pm
Join Arts Advisor Alys Scott Hawkins as she discusses common pitfalls when writing arts funding applications, how to avoid them and handy tips and tricks to create an engaging bid. She will also impart her knowledge on approaching venues, non-visual arts organisations, as well as galleries, and how best to present your work.
Alys is one of our mentors for the IW Creative Network Development Programme and is a specialist in Artist Support, providing guidance and advice to overcome barriers, plan projects and make funding applications. Previously she led the Artist Development programme at ‘a space’ arts, Southampton, drawing on her long-standing networks within the arts sector across the region.
Alys is also an artist who works with drawing and animation. Her work has been exhibited internationally and won several awards. She has worked as a freelancer, and run her own creative business making films for clients including broadcast TV. She has taught at universities in London and the South West. Alys draws together all these experiences to provide one-to-one support for creative practitioners working across the visual & performing arts.
‘Know your worth – building confidence when approaching galleries and buyers’ with Laura Payne-Stanley
Thu 22nd Sept 2022, 1-3pm
Laura will provide a creative training session via Zoom on ‘know your worth & building confidence when approaching galleries & buyers’. She will address the value of talent, how best to utilise your skills to make money and how to turn a profit to make a sustainable business. Participants will learn how and what they should be charging for, and if required the confidence to ask and negotiate for more.
Laura is a serial entrepreneur, founding an award-winning online platform, and a master Business and Success Consultant, combining a focus on your mindset to embrace growth with the ninja-like tools to implement practical change.
Laura’s energy, passion and powerful expertise enable her clients to unlock the power within and rise to legendary success. Laura addresses limiting beliefs and upper limit problems with swift action and techniques as a Master Coach.
