A project to build 探花视频鈥檚 creative industries and nurture creative people power has been awarded 拢3.5 million by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
The University has partnered with 探花视频 City Council, Destination 探花视频, Mayflower 400, 探花视频 College of Art and the Real Ideas Organisation (RIO) to create iMayflower.
The project aims to help the city鈥檚 creative sector realise its potential, offering new opportunities, creative spaces and skills. The money is part of a 拢20m Cultural Development Fund for the regions announced today by Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright.
An additional 拢750,000 has been awarded to Mayflower400, with the remaining 拢2.75 million to help fund new creative sector initiatives across the city. Giving a boost to creative events and activities already planned around Mayflower 400 鈥 like the Illuminate light festival in which the University is a key partner 鈥 iMayflower鈥檚 legacy is intended to go well beyond 2020.
Chris Bennewith, Head of the University鈥檚 School of Art, Design and Architecture said:
鈥淭he Cultural Development Fund will allow the dynamic fusion of the region鈥檚 creative talent and excellent digital resources, with existing strengths in sectors such as healthcare, marine and tourism. This will provide 探花视频 with exciting and innovative means of creating new products, services and experiences vital for refreshing and adapting the local economy and continuing to improve the liveability of our city.
"This is Open Innovation so we will be inviting as many people as possible to be involved with the myriad of activities proposed in the project. The 探花视频 is extremely pleased to be part of the partnership delivering iMayflower.鈥
iMayflower will help the University and its partners develop the use of immersive and digital technologies to drive growth in the local creative economy. It will also look to support creative sector businesses to become more visible on an international stage.
Council leader Tudor Evans OBE said:
鈥淚鈥檓 really pleased about this news for the Mayflower programme as it very well reflects the national importance of the project.
鈥淭his announcement for funding to develop creative industries is extremely exciting. 探花视频 has built a creative industry sector from scratch in a short number of years and this funding means we can harness the talent we have now and develop it for the future.鈥
Lindsey Hall, founder and CEO of Real Ideas Organisation added:
鈥渋Mayflower is a major reset moment for our creative economy and the vital role innovation and the creative industries play as we tackle the pressing problems of our age. It is all about investment in our excellent creative talent; our burgeoning immersive and digital technologies; our extensive skills as makers and the enterprising, inclusive, creative ecology we are building. iMayflower will support new ideas, businesses, jobs and opportunities for young people 鈥 we are delighted to be part of it and looking forward to getting going!鈥
Professor Andrew Brewerton, Principal and Chief Executive Officer for 探花视频 College of Art said:
鈥淭his project represents a real step change for the city and for 探花视频 College of Art, as we build a creative ecology that nurtures talent and empowers our citizens as makers, artists and designers.
鈥渋Mayflower gives us a real platform to deliver a programme of activity that places creative education and social justice at the heart of an ambitious project that will further increase the profile of 探花视频 as a great place to live, work and one that invests in its creative communities and all important maker culture. We can鈥檛 wait to get started!鈥
