Stockport Creative Industries Network in association with Design Initiative invites you to attend the upcoming seminar for designer-makers and creative practitioners

“Marketing to the visitor economy”
Wednesday May 26th 2009, 10am – 4.00pm
Conference Room
Stockport Business Incubator
3rd Floor Broadstone Mill, Broadstone Road
Houldsworth Village
Stockport
SK5 7DL

The visitor economy is a vital and vibrant part of the wider economy both locally and of the UK as a whole. The latest figures for 2006 from the NWDA showed visitors generated £11.6 billion for the North West region alone. The UK as a whole is committed to improving the visitor business and leisure experience whether it is through public sector legacy projects or retail improvement initiatives. So how could designer-makers and visual artists get involved in this multi-billion pound sector?

This specialist workshop will introduce the concept of working with local, regional and UK wide attractions and initiatives to supply to the visiting public. It will cover how to market your work to buyers and work within its market constraints. So if you are a designer-maker or visual artist who has ever wondered just how to get your work into some of the most visited craft and design arenas in the UK, this workshop will show you how.

Those practitioners with the skills to deliver to the demands of an area’s visitors will be in a strong position to take advantage of the opportunities available. The assembled speakers all have strong knowledge and experience of working on or are recruiting for current visitor projects.

Speakers will include:
Helen Palmer, Palmer Squared. A cultural and tourism marketing specialist
Sarah Thirlwell, Designer (www.sarahthirlwell.com)
Marcus Chase, Principle Manager Enterprises & Performance, Manchester Art Gallery. Part of an NWDA funded project to raise the standard of buying for all North West visitor outlets.

This event, funded by Stockport Council, has been organised by Stockport Creative Industries Network in association with Design Initiative and is targeted at designers, makers and visual artists working in all fields. Lunch and refreshments will be provided as well as an opportunity to network after the event.

Booking
This event is free to members of the Stockport Creative Network. Places are limited so advanced booking is essential.

New members are also welcome to attend but must be working or resident in Stockport. Please contact the email address below for more details.

To book your place please email your details to Chris Lethbridge at: stockportcreatives@me.com

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About Stockport Creative Industries Network
Stockport Creative Industries Network was established in 2007 by Stockport Council, and Stockport Economic Alliance. The network was the outcome of research identifying Stockport as home to the second largest concentration of creative professionals/businesses in Greater Manchester and demonstrating demand for local networking opportunities. To date the network has a database of approximately 400 businesses, organisations and individuals professionally involved with the creative sector.

Following on from the its previous networking and seminar programmes, the Network has been successful in securing funding from Arts Council England North West, to provide a unique seminar programme for creatives across Stockport. This programme is about helping creative practitioners to reach new markets, sell more work and market themselves effectively.