Cultivator
A 6-year project to drive growth across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s creative industries (2016-22)
Established in 2016, Cultivator was a business development programme that supported the creative industries in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Drawing on the expertise of business development and knowledge exchange experts, academics and professional creatives, Cultivator offered tailored business support, including access to expertise and cutting-edge resources and facilities at the University of Plymouth.
With a focus on building and nurturing relationships, and listening to the needs of users, Cultivator supported creative and cultural businesses, artists, and students, to undertake activity that they may not previously have been able to, gaining vital new knowledge and connections.
Professor Chris Bennewith
Cultivator University of Plymouth Principal Investigator
Phase one
The first phase of Cultivator ran between September 2016 and September 2019 and worked with over 600 creative businesses and organisations. The University supported creative practitioners through a Professional Peer Support Network (PPSN) an annual conference and Showcasing opportunities - which involved giving these practitioners access to key regional or national events such as London Design Fair, The Great Escape, Port Eliot Festival, Celtic Media Festival and British Museum Conference.
Phase two
Cohorts of creative practitioners and students were funded to attend key regional or national events to showcase their practice and extend their professional networks. This included coaching and mentoring, to enable them to maximise the benefits of their experience and to ensure that it positively impacted on their productivity and competitiveness.
Cohorts of creative and cultural practitioners were funded to attend a year-long programme of workshops, peer-led activity, coaching and mentoring.
The programme aimed to encourage collaborative working, empower the cohorts to recognise themselves as leaders and realise their potential, and to increase recognition of the opportunity to build creative careers in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and the value and opportunity of the creative sector for the economy.
The knowledge exchange programme provided dedicated support to strengthen connectivity between university staff, students, and businesses in order to encourage collaborative Research and Development. Working across key sub-sectors of the creative industries: visual arts and crafts, performing arts, digital and design and museums and galleries.
Who was involved?
With thanks to the University of Plymouth project team for their work on this project.
Elizabeth Hemming, Alison Valerio, Emma Dyason, Kirsten Whiting and Rupert Lorraine.
Funders and Partners
The project was led by Creative Kernow, and delivered with the University of Plymouth alongside Real Ideas and the Cornwall Development Company. The project was supported with funding from the European Structural and Investment Funds, Arts Council England, and Cornwall Council.
European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF)
The University of Plymouth was proud to be supported by the European Structural and Investment Funds. The ESIF Growth Programme 2014 - 2020 provided funding for investment in areas to stimulate local growth and jobs, including innovation, research, businesses, sustainability, skills and employment. The ESIF was made up of five different Funds which included the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), jointly managed by the European Commission and the EU countries.
