The 20th Designer Maker West Midlands Forum Meeting

Date: 10 September 2009 4-6pm

 

Venue: Arts Council England West Midlands, 82 Granville Street, Birmingham B1 2LH.

 

Who is the meeting aimed at: Mid-career designer makers based in the West Midlands who are interested in finding out about the mentoring programme Future Forward 2.

 

What is Future Forward 2?

FF2 is the second year of a mentoring programme which supports creative and market development. Three selected mid-career designer makers will have the opportunity to be mentored on a 1 to 1 basis by an arts professional, to develop and showcase new work and access new market opportunities.

 

What is the meeting on the 10 September about?

The first year FF1 has been running for 7 months and is due to finish in January 2010 and the three mentees participating in the scheme will be talking about their experiences at this meeting. The mentees are:

 

Cathy Miles - metalsmith "The mentoring process has opened my eyes to so many new possibilities and potential avenues. Regular contact with a mentor has broadened my thoughts in relation to my practice and has revitalised my creative process, injecting a renewed enthusiasm."

 

Melanie Tomlinson - illustrator and metalsmith “It has allowed me to stand back and look at my practice, research new ideas and develop new ways of working … I have had the chance to present my work to a museum curator - something I haven't done before.”

 

Karina Thompson - textile artist “It has been a great opportunity to think out loud and as a result I realise that some of my thinking is sound and some of it is not.  It’s clear that the day to day process of running a small business, chasing orders and work, making and exhibiting often means that there is no room for thinking and planning strategically.  The process has opened my eyes to this.”

 

This meeting will give mid-career makers thinking of applying for FF2 the opportunity to find out more about the content and nature of the DMWM mentoring programme, direct from current participants.

 

FF2 is planned to run for 1 year from January 2010 to December 2010.  For a copy of the FF2 brief click here. 

 

Booking is essential

Places are limited so to ensure a space please book by emailing Natalie Cole at: info@designermakerwm.co.uk  by the 1 September. An agenda will be sent out to you when we confirm your booking.