Road Trip – Creative Business Day at The Water Tower
Earlier this month 18 artists, makers and creative business owners travelled via train, taxi and sat nav to Northamptonshire to take part in a Creative Business Day run by my company – The Refectory Table.
This was the first time we’d taken The Refectory Table ‘on the road’. The tickets sold out a week before the event and people travelled from across the country – including Liverpool, Worcestershire, London, Camarthenshire and Leicestershire for the day.
Our delegates were delighted and surprised by the venue – a converted Water Tower with fabulous contemporary art and architectural features. The Water Tower is the home of Rosalind Stoddart and is perfectly compatible with the ethos and approach we take to our workshop days at The Refectory Table – relaxed, friendly, welcoming and creative.
During the day the group explored four key topics – the creative business mindset – the factors that are common to the most successful creative businesses; a lively session to help think about new products and customers; Internet marketing, and tell your story – a session on how to write and talk about your work. Everyone went home with a personal action plan having made a commitment to work on new developments they had identified during the day.
The sun shone so we were all able to have lunch outside; our participants also welcomed the mid-afternoon cake break before they went into their final session.
At the end of the event people left tired, but full of energy and ideas for their creative businesses and practice.
Here’s some of the great feedback from the day, thank you everyone, it was a pleasure meeting you –
The course was very inspiring & motivating. A lovely relaxed feel. Enjoyable. Katy McDonald, Printmaker
A very worthwhile event – definitely worth the travel & expense. By mid-morning the journey from Liverpool was already worth it. Thank you. Elaine Jenkins, Jeweller
Lovely open venue, friendly people and lovely lunch and especially cake thanks! Karen Slade, Historical Crafts
Challenging, stimulating, stretching. Jo Roberts, Visual artist
Worthwhile, informative, friendly, inspiring. Lovely hosts, delicious lunch, great venue. Josephine Gomersall, Designer Maker
Excellent – inspiring environment, light airy spaces, beautiful outdoor access, great food. Patricia Taylor, Textiles
Beautiful venue, very scenic. Friendly and accommodating. Food was fresh and yummy! Vicki Collins, Designer Maker
A great value day of exploring what your creative business is/can be. GO ON IT! Lizzie Holt, Maker
Welcoming, friendly & very tasty! Melanie Johns, Silversmith
Great for business development. Kate Chell, Jeweller
If you’d like to opt into our mailing list to be the first to hear about our events just click here.
Read more about the Water Tower here.
sounds like an incredible day covering skills that don’t always come easily to designer makers, wish i could have attended!
Thanks! It was a great day and one we certainly hope to repeat. We run courses every month for smaller groups in Loughborough – some people travel similar distances to come to those too : ) and we always have cake… http://www.therefectorytable.com