A Bristol arts and technology centre has secured £10,000 of funding to help it offer local creative people, businesses and residents to develop new skills.
Based at Filwood Green Business Park and run by the arts charity Knowle West Media Centre, The Factory offers creative workshop and design space to individuals and companies to test new products and prototypes.
The facility offers laser and CNC cutting, as well as product design and prototyping services, and support through a team of technicians.
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The Factory also runs a programme of memberships, creative training courses and volunteer opportunities, providing support and advice for creative people starting their own business or during their career.
The social enterprise has previously collaborated on projects with Bristol science museum We The Curious and YMCA Bristol.
The Factory will use the grant from the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) to develop an online learning portal which will allow people using machines at the facility to access a virtual induction to all the equipment.
The co-founder of Knowle West Media Centre and director of The Factory, Penny Evans, said this funding would make “a huge difference” and allow the local creative community the opportunity to “make their ideas real.”
West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris was shown The Factory’s state-of-the-art laser cutters and spoke to local people about using the space to develop skills and test new products.
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Mr Norris said: “Covid has been tough for everyone but I’ve heard how successful the centre’s online events have been during the period - especially the tutorial on how to make your own facemask.
“It is so important that we learn some of the positive lessons from the last 18 months about what we can do in the digital space.
“It is great to meet a friendly community of creative people who have exciting ideas and are learning the skills they need to get their projects off the ground.”
According to its website, the The Factory is currently undergoing a major renovation, adding “more kit, more space and more opportunities”, with plans to fully re-open in autumn 2021.
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