Fri, 29/11/2024 - 08:23
One of our newest tenants, Jim Cork, owner of Explore Studio, has recently been awarded the full sum of Arts Council Funding. Jim helps brands and businesses to bring their ideas to life through the spirit of collaboration, exploration and creative expertise. Jim works across multiple disciplines, including web design, graphic design and illustration.
Jim decided to apply for the DYCP (Developing Your Creative Practice) fund after hearing Lucinda White, our Entrepeneur in Residence (EiR) who was hired as an Expert in Residence through the Create Growth D2 Hub funded project, discuss the DYCP funding and how to make a successful application. Lucinda, owner of Pure Awards, is an expert awards nomination writer and supports charities and social enterprises (mainly) to access small pots of funding through a 'check and send service.'
We spoke to Jim about how the funding and how he found the application process.
“I’ve recently been successful in receiving a ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ grant through Arts Council England, which I’m absolutely over the moon about.
My project plan is titled ‘Evolving Graphic Design Through Printmaking’, and consists of a year-long plan to fully immerse myself in all manner of different printmaking techniques such as screenprinting, riso, letterpress, linocut, offset lithography, photo etching and a whole range of other exciting methods. I applied for this grant so that I could put some dedicated time aside to work towards some professional goals of mine that have been floating around in my head for a long time.
Much of my design work is created digitally and I try to bring real world texture and simulate aspects of analog printing methods in the final works. This project will give me the knowledge and skills to use the analog printing techniques themselves to bring a new dimension to my practice, whilst also pushing me closer to my overall goal of one day having my own print studio.
The process of applying was quite involved but I feel like it was definitely a good thing to go through for my personal development, even if I’d ultimately not been successful. It was a good way of really zooming in on my goals and figuring out what it would actually take in practice to get there. In a bid to keep myself grounded I had told myself that it was highly unlikely that my application would be successful so it was an amazing surprise when the notification from the Arts Council landed in my inbox.
I was supported by Lucinda White from Pure Awards (Lucinda was hired as an Expert in Residence through the Create Growth D2 Hub funded project). throughout the application process. Her initial webinar about the process really got my brain into gear and she was kind enough to review my submission and give me some pointers before I finally submitted it.
I’d highly encourage anyone who wants to apply for their own DYCP project to go for it. There are lots of excellent resources online and I’d be happy to chat with anyone about my experience if that would be at all helpful.”
Congratulations Jim! We can’t wait to see what you produce from this fantastic opportunity.
If you'd like to find out more about the Create Growth programme and the different funding and support it can offer visit; https://www.derby.ac.uk/business-services/funding/create-growth-d2-hub/
