Six creative technology start-ups and micro businesses have been awarded grants of up to £5,000 by Bath Spa University’s enterprise and innovation hub, The Studio.
A local sound artist, theatre and arts events company and community organisation are among the first recipients of money from The Studio Recovery Fund, which aims to help projects that support post-pandemic recovery efforts in Bath and North East Somerset.
The awardees will gain access to The Studio on Palace Yard Mews, which offers free co-working desk space for up to 12 months, meeting rooms, breakout spaces and free workshops and events.
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They will also be introduced virtually to other innovators to network and exchange ideas.
The Studio is set to welcome back new and existing residents of its physical premises when it reopens in the spring.
During the national lockdowns the facility, which first opened at the beginning of last year, has been providing a virtual programme to support around 30 creative technology businesses.
The six successful applicants
- Artist Alyson Minkley and creative technologist Dave Webb;
- Larkhall, a pianist, composer and software developer who creates visual with the music he plays;
- Little Lost Robot, a community interest company founded by artists Ruby Jennings and Joseph Wilk whose projects include soft robotics workshops for children;
- Kilter, a theatre group that incorporates technologies into its performances;
- Silvia Carderelli-Gronau, a dance artist and filmmaker;
- and sound artist Ximena Alarcon.
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Kate Pullinger, director of the Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries at Bath Spa University said: “The Studio is the first space in Bath for academics, graduates and businesses across the South West to develop their thinking and progress projects in creativity technology, so we’re thrilled to be able to provide funding at such a challenging time for the industry.”
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Dave Webb, one of the grant recipients who recently completed a master’s degree in Creative Computing at Bath Spa University, said The Studio offered him an opportunity to bridge from studying into working with other micro businesses.
“As soon as you’re in a room with other people, you have conversations, new ideas come, you realise the value of the skills that you’ve got in helping them with their projects," he said.
"But also, you see opportunities for your own work. The connections I've made through The Studio, even virtually, have already been leading to new conversations and possibilities that maybe I wouldn't have had without The Studio.”