<p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth is now looking for the next wave of graduates who have already embarked on their entrepreneurial journeys and who are ready to accelerate their business ventures by tapping into Workroom benefits that include:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">A programme of monthly talks, seminar discussions and continued access to advice and support from Arts University Plymouth’s Enterprise team.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Bookable access to the university’s cutting-edge resources and equipment through the Arts University Plymouth Creative Associates scheme.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">24/7 access to Light Studios (including a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu7MEPMtKaf/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">roof terrace</a> social space), with access by arrangement to other Eat Work Art creative spaces in Plymouth and London.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">opportunities to learn alongside graduates from different disciplines as part of an entrepreneurial community.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Mentoring with industry and enterprise specialists, including business support and guidance on income generation and digital innovation.</p></li></ul> <p dir="ltr">Creative graduates are invited to join a supportive yet competitive application process of pitching their business ideas to academics and creative industry professionals from Arts University Plymouth. The most exceptional proposal will win a funded space within Workroom until April 2024, with other successful applicants being offered a highly-subsidised rate to move into the workspace and join a community of creative entrepreneurs. The current monthly cost for a space is £100 per resident, with Arts University Plymouth covering the remaining two-thirds of the cost. The first deadline for submitting applications is on midday Monday 15 January 2024, with any remaining spaces offered to applicants on a rolling basis afterwards.<br /></p> <p dir="ltr">In addition to the other benefits and scheduled activities, residents of Workroom will be invited to an additional series of events and initiatives in 2024, designed to further their entrepreneurial and creative development. These will include a bespoke communications workshop led by experienced public relations and social media specialists, skills and insight sessions led by Arts University Plymouth's Research and Innovation team, invited access to industry-relevant sessions in the university’s Visiting Lecture programme, plus opportunities to participate in the university’s scheduled ‘Your Creative Future' sessions in February.</p> <p dir="ltr">Current residents in Arts University Plymouth’s Workroom include:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate <a href="https://molmor.xyz/"><strong>Molly Erin McCarthy</strong></a> (aka molmor), an artist and streamer who works across sculpture, installation and interactive mediums. Balancing a successful artistic practice with roles supporting a range of galleries, exhibitions and regional development projects, Molly is using Workroom to extend the synergies between her personal and professional practices. </p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate <a href="https://hannahcade.co.uk/"><strong>Hannah Cade</strong></a>, whose personal practice focuses on the camera lens, analogue photography and film negatives. Hannah is using Workroom to expand her services by offering photography and videography in a professional capacity for galleries, exhibitions and events, artist interviews and commercial content creation.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">BA (Hons) Interior Design &amp; Styling graduate <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rickard.design/"><strong>Nicola Rickard</strong></a> is developing ‘The Hotel Aesthetic’, a blog and lifestyle platform that considers the role of digital imagery in the concept development of hotel design and how that then impacts design trends. This work has so far seen her travel to Ibiza, Dubai, New York, and Paris, with both hotel groups and consumers sharing an interest in her research.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">BA (Hons) Fashion Design graduate <a href="https://www.instagram.com/megg.elizabeth_fashion/"><strong>Megan Elizabeth</strong> <strong>Trapnell</strong></a> is a designer with a passion for natural and sustainable materials, promoting zero waste design concepts and regenerative farming practices. Her recent fashion collection features materials such as Silks, Leather, Suede and dead-stock fabrics. Megan is using Workroom to further develop her existing fashion collections and grow her fashion business.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">BA (Hons) Illustration graduate <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.harvey_art/"><strong>Hannah Harvey</strong></a> is an illustrator, with specialisms in children’s and educational illustration. Hannah’s work is strongly influenced by nature, fairy tales, fantasy and history.</p></li></ul> <p>BA (Hons) Illustration graduate <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blueillustrates/?hl=en-gb"><strong>Blue Skye</strong></a>, an illustrator and communicator with experience live-scribing events for a range of organisations across the South West, was among the first cohort of graduates to move into Workroom.</p>

<p dir="ltr"></p> <p dir="ltr">Blue graduated in the summer of 2023 and moved into Workroom with plans to widen her commercial services and establish the professional networks needed to ensure that her skills are more widely visible to potential clients During her time in Workroom Blue worked closely with industry and enterprise specialists Micronomy, and networked with organisations including Devon &amp; Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. This has resulted in a number of commissions and briefs, enabling Blue to develop ways to make business messages more accessible and easy to understand, as well as finding a new focus on using her skills to give a voice to people who’ve faced challenges communicating their stories. <br /></p> <p dir="ltr">Blue said: “I’m so grateful for the opportunities that were offered to me during my time in Workroom. Within three months I was able to leave my retail job and make the transition to become a full-time illustrator. Things have moved much faster than I expected.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Also in residency at Workroom are Arts University Plymouth’s two StudioLab for Embodied Media Research Affiliates, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nat.alialombardi/"><strong>Natalia Lombardi</strong></a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/grotz.art/"><strong>Sam Grotzke</strong></a>. Natalia Lombardi is a 2023 MA Textile Design graduate specialising in sustainable textiles and biomaterials. Sam Grotzke is a BA (Hons) Animation &amp; Games graduate and current MA Illustration student who specialises in AR and XR technologies, particularly within game design. Working as part of the StudioLab at Workroom, Natalia and Sam work under Associate Professor Stephanie Owens, Dean of Art, Design and Media, who is leading experimental research into wearable technologies using adaptive biomaterials at Arts University Plymouth.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you are an Arts University Plymouth graduate with a new creative business idea or a creative business that you are ready to take to the next level, <a href="https://forms.gle/JDBLSFK7hJmERBrn9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">click here</a> to apply for a place in Workroom.</p> <p dir="ltr"></p> <p dir="ltr">Workroom is an Arts University Plymouth Knowledge Exchange activity designed to help graduates create, grow and innovate their business ideas, supported by Research England’s Knowledge Exchange Funding for Smaller Providers. The first round of submissions closes at midday on Monday 15 January 2024, with plans to offer any remaining spaces on a rolling basis afterwards. A funded space will be awarded to the best applicant in the first wave, provided that the judges are convinced that the business idea is viable.<br /></p>