Early notice of Hoy Residential Weekend  - Orkney Arts Development Service and The Pier Arts Centre are working in partnership to deliver the first Orkney Artist Support and Mentoring Programme.

Aimed at artists and crafts makers based in Orkney at an early stage in their career, this programme will offer advice, seminars and practical sessions on a number of aspects of professional development within an Orkney context. The programme will be delivered by a range of professionals within the framework of a residential weekend.

The residential programme has all the advantages of an intensive, focussed event, within an enjoyable social environment - and aims to develop a network of individual artists and crafts makers able to offer each other peer support, as well as offering professional support on issues such as:

• Preparing project proposals and funding applications 
• Designing and delivering workshops 
• Small artist and craft business set-up, finance, book keeping and self-employed registration 
• The practicalities of putting together an exhibition and marketing 
• The practicalities of marketing your craft business and attending trade fairs

The programme will take place over the weekend of Friday 6th October, until Sunday 8th October in the new Hoy Centre. We have exclusive use of the Hoy Centre, from 4.30pm on Friday until 4pm on Sunday 8th.

The Hoy Centre is a brand new facility, offering en suite accommodation in 8 rooms (4 beds per room), a lounge, kitchen facilities and the community hall, which we will use for seminars and workshops. So, in the spirit of mucking in and getting to know each other, the weekend will involve taking part in the cooking and washing up rota - and sharing rooms.

There will be a maximum of 20 places available, on a first come first served basis, and the total inclusive cost - including ferry travel, accommodation, all meals and refreshments, workshops, entertainment, and any materials for practical sessions will be £50. We are able to offer the programme at this heavily subsidised rate because of the financial support from Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Enterprise and Leader +.

The development of this programme has come from needs expressed by people attending the Creative Business Seminar as part of the Tullimentan Orkney Arts Showcase event in 2005.

The programme is tailor-made for people who are thinking about, or just starting, a crafts business or work as an artist in Orkney. If you would like any further information about the programme, the Hoy Centre, or would like to make a provisional - or firm - booking, please contact:

Clare Gee
Arts Development Officer
Orkney Islands Council
Council Offices
School Place
Kirkwall
Orkney KW15 1NY

Tel. 01856 873535 extension 2814
Email. clare.gee@orkney.gov.uk

(This prgramme is supported by Orkney Enterprise, Leader +, Orkney Islands Council and The Pier Arts Centre)