When you join the Network you’ll get the opportunity to come along to regular Networking events and meet-ups at diverse, creative and cultural spaces around the Island. Aimed to be relaxed and informal, with some guided chit-chat on what we can do collectively as a creative community, to help foster more exciting cultural opportunities for all.
This year, we’ve arranged Away Days in Gosport and Southampton, researching and visiting other galleries, artist studios, creative spaces and hear about other development programmes taking place across the region. Please note, spaces for these events fill up fast – so make sure to book your place!
All networking events and away days must be booked via the Eventbrite links which will come available in the News & Opps section of the website. All members will be notified when these become available via the monthly e-newsletter. Make sure to double check your Spam/Junk folder for this e-newsletter to book your place.
Networking Events & Away Days in 2024…
AWAY DAY TO GOSPORT: Friday 13 September 2024, 8.55am-6.45pm
As part of the Heritage Open Days, we’re organising an away day to visit some of Gosport’s most inspiring creative and cultural spaces. This is a fantastic opportunity to network, explore new ideas, and be inspired by the rich artistic community across the Solent. Including a visit to:
- The Imagination Refinery: Discover a dynamic space where craftspeople, designers, and engineers innovate and collaborate (an initiative lead by The Makers Guild based in Portsmouth Guildhall, who we visited in 2022.)
- Gosport Museum & Art Gallery: Immerse yourself in local history and art.
- Slaughterhouse: Visit the Sustainable Conservation Trust’s exhibition Spatial Fragments, featuring artist installations in a historic space.
- Powder Monkey Brewery: End the day with a beverage and a chance to relax with fellow creatives.
At the Slaughterhouse, we’ll explore the Alleyways of Gosport exhibition, showcasing works from a year-long residency by two artists and an architect. Enjoy live screen-printing demos and Danish paper cord weaving workshops by local artists.
Come along and connect with fellow members of the IW Creative Network and gain fresh perspectives and ideas to fuel your own creative practice!
To find out more and register your place, click here.
PHOTOGRAPHY NETWORKING EVENT: Thursday 19 September 2024, 6-8pm at Dimbola Museum & Galleries, Freshwater
Come and meet in the historic Dimbola Museum & Galleries – the home of pioneering Victorian female Photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron for our second Photographers Networking event! For 15 years between 1860 to 1875, Dimbola was Julia’s home and workplace. It is now preserved by the Julia Margaret Cameron Trust and open to the public with gallery spaces, museum, gift shop, and tea room.
Local Island Photographer @mattrawlingsphotography will join us to talk about his journey into a creative photography career and the different sectors encompassed in his work. Matt is a multi-faceted photographer specialising in portraits, events and candid photography. Matt’s creative roots stem from an entertainment background, first exploring photography amongst performers, events and fellow creatives. His recent professional work has seen him capture the eclectic talents of performers fringe festivals and architectural photos for Stella Developments.
To find out more about Dimbola Museum & Galleries, please click here. Visual artists & videographers also very much welcome, as well as non IW Creative Network members.
Click here to find out more & book your place.
IW CREATIVE INDUSTRIES CONFERENCE: ‘The Art of Creative Collaboration, Innovation and Enterprise‘ Thursday 3 October 2024, 9.30am-5pm at Building 41, Cowes
A creative conference and networking event, for freelance creative professionals and organisations, to explore the place and role of the creative industries on the Isle of Wight.
A day of provocations identifying the benefits and ways of diversifying income streams, extending your networks, building new collaborative relationships and being enterprising. Through expert-led keynotes, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, this event offers a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded creatives, expand your horizons, and gain practical insights that can transform your career or business.
Curated and organised by IW Creative Network, with support from Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy. IW Creative Network members receive priority booking, so secure your spot ASAP! Early bird tickets are FREE, but spaces are limited.
Click here to find out more & book your place.
FUTURE WORKS: Thursday 7 November 2024, 7-11pm at Strings Bar, Newport
For 16-30 year olds on the IW to meet new people, make connections, and start collaborating. Each event will feature exciting guests from all areas of the creative industries, brought to you by Brave Island, Platform One and IW Creative Network!
We’re always asked by young creatives how to get your foot in the door, get feedback on a piece of work, or just where to go to meet some new people on the Island. So we’ve come together to create an exciting FREE event for young aspiring creatives. At each event we’ll be joined by exciting guests from all areas of the creative industries, to discuss different topics around starting your creative career.
November Guest Speakers:
Joining us will be Screen Writer & Actor Joe Bone, Creative Projects Manager at Ventnor Exchange Megan Stisted, and Creative Director from Wonderfell Theatre Company Vicky Wells.
Want to start a band but don’t know a drummer? Want to write a play but don’t know any actors? Maybe you want to film a showreel but don’t know a filmmaker? Then make sure to pop along to Future Works!
More information and tickets available soon!
AWAY DAY WORKSHOP FOR WRITERS & PERFORMERS: Friday 29 November 2024, all day at MAST Mayflower, Southampton
Provided in collaboration with MAST Mayflower and Artfulscribe in Southampton, a FREE half day workshop with writers and performers from MAST’s artist network and the IW Creative Network.
More information and tickets available soon!
To register your interest, email [email protected]
PAST 2024 EVENTS….
FUTURE WORKS: Tuesday 23 July 2024, 12-2pm at Ventnor Fringe
A new regular, free event for 16-30 year olds on the IW to meet new people, make connections, and start collaborating.
Each event will feature exciting guests from all areas of the creative industries, brought to you by Brave Island, Platform One and IW Creative Network!
OFF-ISLAND RESEARCH DAY – SOUTHAMPTON: Saturday 8 June 2024, 10.45am-7pm
We’ll be visiting God’s House Tower’s latest exhibition followed by a visit to John Hansard Gallery and then the Arches Open Studios. GHT is managed by ‘a space’ arts, established in 2000, by artists for artists, ‘a space’ arts is a visual arts organisation that leads on a range of artist development projects, including the Arches and Tower House studios, God’s House Tower, and the RIPE programme, along with delivering a bespoke range of Artist Resources.
The Arches Studios will be holding their Open Studios weekend on 8th & 9th June 2024. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet the makers, especially for anyone interested in taking part in IW Open Studios this year. The ferry travel for this away day is very kindly supported by Red Funnel.
COWES FRINGE ARTISTS NETWORKING EVENT: Thursday 23 May 2024, 7-9pm
An opportunity for artists and creatives from all disciplines and experience to come together and network at Moocow in Cowes.
Hosted by Cowes Fringe, MAST Mayflower Studios and IW Creative Network, creatives will have space to meet others, discuss ideas and create plans and potentially form future working partnerships. This is a free event, open to all, with light refreshments provided.
SUPPORTING GRASSROOTS MUSIC – PRESENTATION & NETWORKING: Wednesday 8 May 2024, 2-4.30pm
Join us at Building 41 with Arts Council England Relationship Manager, for Grassroots Music in the Southwest, Rosey Brown for a talk on ACE’s Grassroots Music Sector funding. This fund is targeted to support rehearsal and recording studios, promoters, festivals, and venues to bring live and electronic music to the public, and support the development of talent.
Come along to find out more about this fund and discuss what is needed in your area. Up to 6 bookable 121 slots are also available for organisations and individuals who might have already started preparing ideas.
PHOTOGRAPHERS NETWORKING EVENT: Thursday 25 April 2024, 5-7pm
Come along to our first networking event for creatives working in the field of photography – both traditional and digital processes. Here we will come together in the historic Dimobla Lodge – the home of pioneering Victorian female Photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron.
Recent Artist in Residence George Budden will join us to talk about his sustainable workshop series (Arts Council supported), which took place earlier last year at Dimbola.
THE LONDON GROUP Q&A: Saturday 20 April 2024, 2-4pm
The London Group are the UK’s longest-running and most prestigious artists’ collective. This year they celebrate their 110th anniversary with their new exhibition ‘111 Not Out’ currently on at Quay Arts. Participating artist and curator Tim Craven will talk about the history of The London Group, joined by LG artists to talk about their career pathways and a chance for audiences to ask questions.
A brief networking opportunity will follow in the gallery after the talks.
FUTURE WORKS: Thursday 4 April 2024, 7-11pm
A new regular, free event at Strings Bar & Venue in Newport for 16-30 year olds on the IW to meet new people, make connections, and start collaborating.
Each event will feature exciting guests from all areas of the creative industries, brought to you by Brave Island, Platform One and IW Creative Network!
FUTURE WORKS: Thursday 15 February 2024, 7-11pm
A new regular, free event at Strings Bar & Venue in Newport for 16-30 year olds on the IW to meet new people, make connections, and start collaborating.
Each event will feature exciting guests from all areas of the creative industries, brought to you by Brave Island, Platform One and IW Creative Network!
THEATRE TOUR BOOKING WORKSHOP & NETWORKING: Tuesday 23 January 2024, (half day)
We have arranged an exciting workshop session and networking event for the Island’s theatre network at the Apollo Theatre in Newport.
Mark Makin from ‘makin projects’ will be coming to the IW to run a half day, afternoon workshop on theatre tour booking. Followed by an introduction to Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants and Developing Your Creative Practice fund, by theatre Relationship Manager for Arts Council England South West, Ginny Graham.
