Supported Projects
iMayflower
<p dir="ltr"><strong>2019-2022</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">iMayflower was designed to enrich Plymouth’s Creative industries and empower creative people in the city. Launched in 2019 and delivered in partnership with <a href="https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/">Plymouth City Council</a>, University of Plymouth, <a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/">Destination Plymouth</a>, and <a href="https://realideas.org/">Real Ideas</a>, the project was granted £3.5 million from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Cultural Development Fund and administered by Arts Council England. The aim of CDF is to support localities to develop transformative culture-led economic growth and productivity strategies by investing in our local digital creative industries. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth’s iMayflower activity included Placemaking and Skills and Training. We performed strongly and exceeded our targets in almost all areas.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Some of Arts University Plymouth’s key achievements include:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Support to 64 SMEs</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">7.2 FTE jobs created</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">1656 digital badges awarded through our training programmes</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Engagement with 1055 people at community events</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Audience of 651,000 people for our Place Making activities.</p></li></ul><p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth’s skills and training activity was delivered through our Smart Citizen Programme (SCP) and Sustainable Design Initiative (SDI); you can find out more about these activities <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/research/supported-projects/smart-citizens-programme-scp">here</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth’s collaborative Place Making activities were primarily delivered via collaborative initiatives <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/research/supported-projects/imayflower">IGNITE Festival of Creativity</a> and Illuminate Festival.<br /></p>
Postgraduate students with work on display at Barclays City Centre branch as a result of links forged during the Ignite Festival.
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Ignite Futures and Festival of Creativity</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.ignitefutures.co.uk/">Ignite Festival of Creativity </a>ran between 2019 and 2022 as a collaborative initiative between Arts University Plymouth and the University of Plymouth; its aim was to benefit graduating students from both Universities through showcasing talent, creating connections with industry and supporting the move into professional practice.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Through our Ignite partnership we transformed the city centre into a multi-venue exhibition space utilising sites such as digital screens, shops, galleries, and public spaces. The work of Arts University Plymouth graduates from over 30 degree programmes were exhibited to an audience of 576,000 people.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In July 2022, as part of Ignite Festival of Creativity, Arts University Plymouth designed and hosted an intensive Business Course to support graduates and to provide bespoke training and mentorship.<br /></p>
Image of Illuminate, courtesy of Real Ideas
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Illuminate</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">As a founding partner of <a href="https://realideas.org/about-us/our-work/illuminate/">Illuminate Festival</a>, Arts University Plymouth’s specialist staff contributed to the artistic and curatorial direction of the festival, including supporting students to develop original artworks that were exhibited alongside regional, national, and international artists. The two iterations of ILLUMINATE had a total combined footfall of 75,000 people.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Illuminate 2019 was a 4 day event of interactive artworks, projections and light-art installations across the Royal William Yard, the Barbican and Mount Edgcumbe</p>
<p dir="ltr">Due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the format for Illuminate 2021 was revised to be a venue based ticketed event. Arts University Plymouth continued to commission work and support opportunities for students and young people to participate in Illuminate including:</p>
<p dir="ltr">Artist Tom Milnes was <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/plymouth-college-of-art-at-illuminate-2021">commissioned by Arts University Plymouth</a> to create an iteration of his interactive artwork Invisible Cities.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Art University Plymouth’s <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/young-arts">Young Arts Club</a> participants (aged 9-16), collaborated to create <em>Colours of the Future</em>, a stained glass effect art work from scrap plastics. The work highlighted their feelings and response to the climate crisis and the environmental problems that will be inherited by the next generation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Nine students from across Arts University Plymouth’s undergraduate and postgraduate course exhibited at Illuminate 2021; they were selected by Real Ideas via a competitive open submission process.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><strong>More information about the overall iMayflower project <a href="https://vimeo.com/758034806/71a561c332" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">can be viewed in this video.</a></strong></p>