Aspire2Create at the Open Studios
25 trainers, managers and advisers from Italy, Croatia,
Slovakia, Estonia and the UK came together recently over three days
of meetings and workshops for aspire2create. The
aspire2create project is transferring and
testing Euro-Aspire, a Competency Framework
and Toolkit for trainers working in the non-formal learning sector
in the creative industries and arts sectors.
The event was organised to coincide with Collage Arts' annual Open Studios, which this year attracted over
12,000 visitors and provided the transnational partners with
an opportunity to see the Chocolate Factory artists 'in action' -
as the companies and artists in residence at the Chocolate Factory in
Haringey all open their doors once a year to invited
visitors and to the public. It also offered an opportunity to
showcase the project to visiting stakeholders and to members of the
public.
The meeting and workshops took place between the 12th and
14th November, during which partners explored a number of issues
concerned with the use and adaptation of the Euro-Aspire
Framework, including the recognition of non-formal learning in the
creative industries and questions of terminology, assessment and
validation. They also reviewed the use of an on-line Learning
Management System which is being tested by the pilot
group.
Pictured Left: Julie Parish of Rinova working with the
aspire2create participants at the transnational 'Masterclass'.
Pictured at the top of the page above: Some of the Masterclass
participants at the introductory session.
Earlier in the project, the partners conducted a research
study concerned with the role of 'Artistic and Creative
Enterprise Advisers' - those who work to support artists and
creative practitioners to start-up
and develop enterprises, or the business-side of artistic
practices. It found relatively little provision in the
partner countries, in terms of business support
services specifically for the sector, although there were some
examples of good practice which could
be transferred. The research also found that
critical to the effective performance of the role is the ability
to combine a degree of commercial acumen and business know-how
with skills, knowledge and experience of the creative sector and to
have access to relevant networks in the Creative and Cultural
Industries to benefit clients.
As a result of this research and following a recent
internal evaluation of the project, aspire2create
is now adapting the Euro-Aspire Framework to take
into account its findings, as well as some of the emerging needs of
the trainers taking part in the project.
Regular updates about the project can be found on the 'blog'
section of the aspire2create website and also on the
project's Facebook site and its twitter
feed.
This project has been funded with support from the
European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of
the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any
use which may be made of the information contained
therein.
View all News items