New scheme to get ideas to market unveiled.
10/02/2005
A new scheme launched today, 10 February 2005, is set to help Scotland’s young entrepreneurs to get their ideas to market. A unique collaboration between the key Creative Industries agencies in Scotland, Ideasmart is an entrepreneurial scheme designed to plug a gap in the market between the creative process and business success. It will support emerging talent and new ideas through early stage investment, helping to bring the ideas towards market readiness. Grants of up to £15,000 and general business advice will be available for companies with creative ideas, that have commercial potential, in the areas of architecture, crafts, visual arts, design, fashion, film and video, computer games, music, the performing arts, publishing, television and radio.
Ideasmart was initiated by the Scottish Arts Council and developed in conjunction with NESTA (the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts). It also has the support of The Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise National, Scottish Screen, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The scheme was launched at The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Creative Industries hub. Stuart Cosgrove, Director Nations & Regions for Channel 4, who was recently appointed a NESTA Trustee, has long been one of the UK’s leading advocates for investment in young creative talent. He said:
“Scotland has a long tradition of innovation, but often fails to capitalise on its creativity. Ideasmart recognises that it is the gap between idea and market, which is so often impossible to bridge. By offering both financial and business support this scheme can ensure that we harness the creative talent of young Scotland both to the benefit of individual companies and the nation as a whole.”
Graham Berry, Director the Scottish Arts Council said:
“The Scottish Arts Council’s support for emerging creative talent in areas such as music recording, crafts, publishing, screenwriting and the visual arts led us to develop the Ideasmart concept, and we are delighted to be working in partnership to take this forward. This exciting new initiative will support people and their ideas, investing in the talent and skills development so vital for a dynamic creative industries sector in Scotland.”
Stuart Cosgrove added:
“NESTA is committed to working to improve the climate for creativity in the UK. As part of this we are undertaking a programme of research into investment in the Creative Industries. The sector currently contributes around £5 billion per year to the Scottish economy, but has the potential to grow significantly. Initiatives like Ideasmart are vital if we are to maximise this potential.”
Ideasmart is currently set to run for 2 years, with 10 awards per year of between £2,000 and £15,000 being allocated in three rounds (April 2005, October 2005 and April 2006). The scheme will be run from The Lighthouse, Scotland’s national architecture and design centre, and Creative Industries hub.
Notes to editors• The Scottish Arts Council (www.scottisharts.org.uk) champions and sustains the arts for Scotland, investing over £60 million from Scottish Executive and National Lottery funding to support and develop artistic excellence and creativity throughout Scotland. Ideasmart is supported through the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund
• NESTA is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) investing in innovators and working to improve the climate for creativity in the UK. NESTA’s Invention and Innovation programme, which is the largest source of seed funding in the UK, has invested in 240 projects totally £15.6m since December 1999. For more information go to www.nesta.org.uk.
• Stuart Cosgrove will be exploring the Creative Industries further in a lecture presented by the Scottish Arts Council on ‘Risk and Innovation’ which is being given as part of the prestigious Edinburgh Lectures series. The Lecture will take place on Tuesday 22 February at 6.30pm at the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh. Admission is free.
• Ideasmart is just one of the Scottish Arts Council initiatives to support the Creative Industries, other initiatives include - the Writers Factory -a screenwriting programme, Own Art – a credit free facility for buying art and www.craftscotland.org – a web portal to promote the crafts industry in Scotland.
Contact email(s)
media.office@scottisharts.org.uk
Issued by: Scottish Arts Council
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