Beyond Project Funding

What could your work become?
Across higher education and the arts and cultural sector, people are being asked to do more than ever in a tough funding and policy environment. There is growing interest in longer-lasting partnerships, new ways of sharing knowledge and creativity, and ideas that can generate cultural, social and economic value over time - and be economically sustainable. Yet finding space to imagine what those possibilities might look like and where to begin can be difficult.
Beyond Project Funding is a creative, supportive and ideas-focused day for people working across higher education, research, arts and culture.
During this session we will explore how to turn one idea into lots of possibilities, and then how to assess, polish and rate them, in order to choose the ones with the best chances of success for the circumstances you face. There will be opportunities to share your ideas with others and receive and incorporate their feedback. You may leave with a shiny, polished version of the idea you arrived with, or with something completely different... Along the way, you'll make use of simple idea-generation and idea-refining approaches which you can replicate in the future. We are hoping everyone will leave the session with a few next steps to take their idea to the next stage of its development. We can't wait to see what you do next.
Together, we will ask:
- What else could this idea become?
- Who else might contribute to it or benefit from it?
- Could it take a different form, reach a different audience or create a new kind of partnership?
- Which possibilities feel worth pursuing, and what would they need next?
You might explore a new creative offer, collaboration, service, resource, programme, methodology, experience or way of sharing your expertise. There is no expectation that every idea should become a commercial product. The day is about opening up possibilities while staying connected to purpose, values, capacity and the people involved.
You will leave with a richer set of ideas, fresh perspectives from others and two or three realistic next steps. You do not need a polished proposal or business plan, just something you are curious about and willing to explore.
Expect a generous, participatory day with plenty of conversation, experimentation and mutual support.