‘Creative Conversations’ promises artistic mentoring

Friday 27 October 2023

Guernsey Arts has launched a new initiative - Creative Conversations – to provide local creatives with expert advice and resources for the island’s sprawling cultural sector.

The aim is to educate and inspire creatives to develop projects in island. The first event was held at St James on 4 October, and focused on delivering a successful festival experience, as well as discussing the impact of arts tourism.

The guest speaker was Hannah Beacom, chair of the Tourism Management Board, and the conversation was attended by 30 industry specialists. Topics included tips on how to write an event grant application, how to create an event package, as well as online promotion of events.

“Guernsey Arts looks to support, promote and inspire across our community, helping transform ideas into art. Events such as these are hugely important to our creative community to allow opportunity for development, which in turn is beneficial for the island”, Jade Kershaw, Community & Public Realm Officer, said. 

The sessions are being sponsored by leading law firm Ogier. Christopher Jones, Practice Manager of its Guernsey office, said: "At Ogier, we are proud to align ourselves with such an important initiative that provides great insight and guidance for those in the creative world.

“Programmes like this help creative people to make the most of their talent and ensures they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to flourish in their industry."

“We are very grateful to Ogier for their support in helping us to promote these sessions, providing invaluable networking experiences for creatives," Louise Le Pelley, Partnerships Development Executive, added. 

There will be an additional four sessions in the series, focusing on topics such as music rights, publishing guidance and online self promotion in 2024.

Pictured (top): The first event at St James with Hannah Beacom. Credit: Guernsey Arts.