Great news for local creative and digital businesses across the county – further funding and support is available via the South East Creatives programme until June next year.

Grant funding

The programme’s top-up grant scheme, which offers non-repayable grants of up to 35% towards growth projects costing up to £4,000, has received further investment part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

The grants can be used in many ways from buying new business equipment (from kilns to computers, and everything in between) to website development and specialist support, giving creative businesses the best chance to grow and diversify.

Other support

South East Creatives also funds workshops and events, which are still taking place virtually during the pandemic, a Digital and Data expertise programme and an Intern Support programme which matches the needs of businesses while providing an opportunity for a student or graduate.

Who’s been helped?

Ryan Murphy, a practitioner in Circus Theatre and Creative Devising from Eastbourne, has been supported by the scheme.

Ryan said: “With support from South East Creatives I was able to remain productive over lockdown by building a new website.

“As an artist and independent freelancer, my work has taken a huge setback over the course of Covid-19. As such, being able to remain productive, promote my products, and lay the groundwork for future growth has been of tremendous value.

“The team has been excellent, kind and extremely helpful throughout the project, easily adjusting to text-based communication to accommodate for my deafness whenever necessary.

“For small independent businesses or emerging work, South East Creatives support can make a real difference in the launching a new initiative, or to give a nearly-realised idea that critical extra push.”

Hastings based 18 Hours Events received a grant of almost £2,000 towards the cost of a Peugeot Partner van, enabling them to streamline delivery trips saving on costs and lowering their carbon footprint.

Grant funding also helped Alastair Fairley, Director of Fairley Archive of Space Exploration in Hastings, purchase new equipment to scan and restore the amazing archive of original NASA space photography and artefacts he inherited from his father, Peter Fairley, who covered all the moonshots for ITN.

Interested?

To find out more about the support on offer or to apply for grant funding visit the South East Creatives website.