Harnessing Creativity, Capacity Building Workshops

Are you based in Leitrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone or the surrounding region? Working in the creative sector as a business or independently & interested in taking your work into new markets? 

Next Thursday (May 30th) the Harnessing Creativity Project offers two leading edge Marketing & Promotion Workshops for Creative Businesses, taking place in Carrick-on-Shannon & Enniskillen delivered by Ruth Flood (former Head of Research & Evaluation at the Design Council, UK) & Colin McKeown (Chair of Northern Ireland Design Alliance/Industry Advisor to Creative and Cultural Skills).

The Harnessing Creativity Project has received funding of €799,880 through the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). This innovative Cross-border project offers a range of activities to arm, persuade and inspire creative entrepreneurs & businesses throughout Leitrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone and the surrounding region. Harnessing Creativity is about encouraging business collaborations with likeminded people helping  them find more vibrant ways to use their skills. Tailored training workshops, Creative Labs, Master classes, mentoring, regional showcase event & exhibitions will take place up until May 2015 at locations in Leitrim, Fermanagh and Tyrone, a region ideally placed to benefit from and inspire the project through its natural and cultural resources. A hotbed of creative talent!

Harnessing Creativity is being delivered by Leitrim County Enterprise Board in partnership with the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) Leitrim County Council, Fermanagh District Council, Omagh Enterprise Agency, Tyrone Donegal Partnership & The Leitrim Design House.

The Project will be organising a number of FREE Capacity Building Workshops over the next few weeks.  The first round of Workshops will be held on Thursday 30th May 2013 and will focus on Marketing and Promotion.  These sessions will be tailored to creative sector businesses interested in taking their work into new markets, it will help creative businesses develop skills to plan and develop a marketing strategy relevant to their own business, covering both online and traditional marketing techniques.

Focused around how to make the most of your marketing and promotion activities – developing your strategy, learning from other case studies, buying design & marketing services, these workshops will be a one off opportunity for you to engage with Ruth and Colin. Both are expert industry consultants at Madano Partnership, a strategic communications consultancy that applies clear thinking to deliver clear communications to clients.  There will also be an opportunity to network and develop creative collaborations for the future.  Spaces are limited so sign up today.

Workshop 1: 30th May 9.30am – 12.30pm, The Landmark Hotel, Carrick on Shannon (Registration from 9am)

Workshop 2: 30th May 2pm – 5pm, The Clinton Centre, Enniskillen (Registration from 1.30pm)

The second round of workshops will focus on the Application of Creativity and will take place On Thursday 11th June  2013 These workshops are aimed at businesses who are looking to be more creative and innovative, helping clients develop a more creative approach to their products and services. Aimed at sole traders, SMEs and larger organisations, these sessions will help you to develop a culture of innovation within your business, which could create new markets and opportunities.

Three workshops are available on 11th June:

Workshop 1 – 11th June 10am – 1pm, The Landmark Hotel, Carrick on Shannon (Registration from 9.30am)

Workshop 2 – 11th June 2pm – 5pm, The Landmark Hotel, Carrick on Shannon (Registration from 1.30pm)

Workshop 3 – 11th June 6.30pm – 9.30pm Enniskillen Castle Museum, Heritage Centre (Registration from 6pm)

Capacity Building Sessions will be delivered by Ruth Flood and Colin Mc Keown.

Ruth Flood is a Partner at Madano Partnership, a research and strategic communications consultancy with offices in London and Belfast.  Ruth has worked in the area of design and innovation for 10 years and is developing Madano’s consultancy in this area.  She is by background a researcher and holds expert knowledge of creative industries and the issues businesses therein face when seeking to develop and grow.   She has advised on marketing and communications strategy based on detailed research and consultancy projects and has an on-going interest in how innovation approaches and activities can be embedded in organisations large and small.

Colin McKeown  has over 25 years’ experience in the advertising, design and creative industries, Colin has extensive knowledge working in brand development and strategy for organisations in both the public and private sectors. Strong creative thinking, together with an understanding of business has enabled Colin to not only design branding solutions but also implement them across all media. Recently, Colin spoke at the Northern Ireland Economic Conference on the importance of design and the creative industries as a major element in driving business innovation and economic regeneration.

What does the Harnessing Creativity Project have to offer?

  • Technical, promotional and tailored  training  to support to the needs of participants
  • Practical business and marketing training to Identify your business challenges & new and profitable market opportunities
  • Leading edge Master Classes on new and emerging practice
  • Professional development workshops and networking: learn from inspiring thinkers and doers
  • Mentor and Financial support for development of new processes, products or services
  • Networking events to present and sell the results of your creativity with greater success
  • Creative Labs: a platform for exploring ideas, for pooling resources and collaboration with new people
  • Present your work through video profiling and a new collaborative website
  • High Profile Regional Showcase Events  & Touring Exhibition

 

To register for any of our workshops please contact Jill on 028 8224 9494 or jill.stronge@omaghenterprise.co.uk.  Or if you would like more information on the Harnessing Creativity Project or on our up and coming events and activities please visit us on Facebook or www.harnessingcreativity.eu.