How to thrive as a creative business in York and North Yorkshire (Scarborough)

Join XR Stories for a half day workshop of inspiring talks and collaborative learning designed for practitioners, freelancers, and small businesses working in – or looking to move into – the Creative Industries in York and North Yorkshire.

Discover how to build a resilient creative business in the region, learn from the journeys of three successful practitioners, and develop practical communication and networking skills to help you launch, strengthen, or scale your creative practice.

This event is structured to encourage collaboration and is bookended by dedicated networking sessions to help you connect with peers and potential collaborators. A complimentary lunch will be provided at the start of the event.

This workshop is part of the Extending XR programme, funded by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and is open to adult residents in York and North Yorkshire.

Talk one – Sita Brand: ‘From artist to business: The shift that changes everything’

You know what you do. The harder question is whether the people who need it know why it matters to them.

Sita Brand, founder of Settle Stories, opens with a keynote drawn from her own experience building a thriving arts organisation from scratch. She will show you why brilliant creative practitioners so often struggle to reach the audiences who need them most, and the single shift in thinking that changes that.

Then you will do the work. In a hands-on activity, you will find the one sentence that captures what you actually make possible, and identify the specific person outside your immediate world who needs it. You will leave with something real you can use the same week.

For creative practitioners who are ready to be as deliberate about their business as they are about their craft.

Talk two – Poppy Collier: ‘From overwhelmed to organised: A smarter approach to social media’

Social media is one of the most accessible marketing tools available, but knowing what to post, when to post it and how to stay consistent can quickly become overwhelming.

Social media Manager, Poppy Collier from Make it Poppy, will talk about her experience in social media strategy, letting us in on how you can use social media as an asset to build a community and spread the word about your products and services while delivering a consistent message.

You will then get to put strategy into practice to work on a simple planning framework that eases the overwhelm, engages your target audience, and makes social media work for you – not the other way around.

Talk three – Joanne Coates: ‘If you want to put your creative practice on the map – start with your roots’

Visual artist and photographer Joanne Coates will explore the immense power of regionality, sharing how she has established North Yorkshire as a thriving hub for her creative practice. Moving past the assumption that success requires proximity to London, Joanne will reveal how creative practitioners can build a standout reputation from anywhere, while sharing practical strategies on how to actively recruit and cultivate your own supportive network.

Then it’s time to hear from you in an interactive activity where you will work through the essential steps of pitching your creative business. Instead of viewing a location outside the capital as a hurdle, you will take away exactly how to highlight your regionality as a powerful business asset.

What you will learn

• How to use storytelling to promote your business and connect with existing and potential clients
• Practical strategies to help you use social media more effectively, alongside a simple content planning framework .
• Actionable tips on leveraging your position in region and building your own network in less centralised locations

Who is this for?

This workshop is for creative practitioners aiming to build a business from their practice. It is also for existing small business owners and freelancers looking to grow their business or practice. The workshop is open to anyone working (or wanting to work) in the creative sector.

Accessibility

Woodend Gallery is wheelchair accessible with step-free access and an accessible bathroom on the ground floor, where the workshop will take place. Please provide information about any specific access requirements during sign up.

Travel expenses

Eligible participants (i.e. those who live in York and North Yorkshire) can claim back the cost of travel to and from the workshop. Please read the Extending XR travel expenses policy for more information about how to make a claim.

Image by Tim Hill 

Booking info

Cost: Free

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