Tori Sillman (Digital Content Officer)
For me, May kicked off by looking ahead and planning some exciting things for the future with the Creative Cardiff team. I had a good laugh during volunteering with Anthem. Music Fund Wales at a concert in Utilita Arena alongside John; also, I’m currently contributing to a community fundraising run for those keen to take on the Cardiff Half Marathon to fundraise for better access to music for young people in Wales. It’s shaping up to be a lovely mission for creative supporters who love a challenge!
Additionally, it was great to see so many people attend the latest Creative Cuppa, led by Dr Jess Hoare from Media Cymru and Hilary Farr from the Arts Council of Wales. This session sparked connections and important conversations within the creative community. Money can be difficult to discuss, especially in the arts... so this transparency and opportunity for real conversations is super important.
Scroll down to hear from John and Carys, and to meet our newest team members!
John Evans (Events and Projects Officer)
This month reminded me that funding isn’t just about opening doors but making sure everyone can actually get through them. Whether it’s a local fundraising push or an internationally backed showcase, good work often needs more than just passion – it needs people (and funding!) behind it.
I had the pleasure of volunteering with Anthem, a music development charity, alongside my colleague Tori. Helping to raise funds for an organisation dedicated to young people and music in Wales. And at this month’s DIVERGE (our monthly co-working day for neurodivergent creatives), we heard a brilliant lunchtime talk from Karn John, a West Wales-based artist currently developing new work supported by Creative Steps funding from Arts Council of Wales. You can read more about Karn’s work here. It was great to hear from someone navigating the funding landscape in real time, especially with such integrity and imagination.
Finally, I was fortunate to attend a preview of Sir John Akomfrah’s new exhibition Listening All Night to the Rainat Amgueddfa Cymru, the first UK stop for the show following its debut at the 2024 Venice Biennale. Presented by Amgueddfa Cymru, British Council, and (very fitting for our theme…) Art Fund, the exhibition is powerful, reflective, and a reminder of why backing bold, ambitious art matters. Dangoswch yr arian i mi!
Carys Bradley-Roberts (Creative Cardiff Manager)
We all know how vital funding is in our sector - ideas can only be pursued if we have the resources to enable them. But what’s often less clear is how to find it and, once it’s found, how to get it! Deadlines, lengthy applications, detailed criteria - acquiring funding can sometimes be a mystifying and lengthy process, or the reserve of those ‘in the know’.
For May, team Creative Cardiff made it our mission to support creatives who are looking for funding by sharing hints, tips, and current opportunities. This included a talk by freelance producer Tom Bevan at our annual Creative Writing Industry Day, delivered in collaboration with Cardiff University’s MA in Creative Writing. Tom talked about how to find the right opportunity, how to write a compelling application and how to develop a detailed budget (Arts Council of Wales has a useful template to get you started). My biggest takeaways from Tom: check you’re eligible (and then check again!), reach out to the funders so they know about you and your idea (if it’s not right for this fund, you might unlock another) and get an honest proofreader- preferably someone who knows very little about the project and can cast a critical eye!
As Tom Bevan said himself:
It was a real pleasure to talk to a (very fancy) room full of writers and creative people. I drew on some of my experiences of applying for funding for theatre productions and other creative projects and really enjoyed the input and questions from the group too. My biggest piece of advice is once you check you are eligible for a grant, try to have a conversation with someone who works for the funding body/organisation - it can really help to demystify the process and it’s a chance for you to practice telling someone new about your brilliant ideas. - Tom Bevan
When you manage to secure funding, it can be transformative. I’m writing this from a windy tent at Hay Festival, listening to a public reading by fantastic emerging writers from Wales. None of this would be possible without funding, and that started with an idea and a will to resource it.
Sophie (Communications Placement)
May, for me, was the start of my work placement with Creative Cardiff and it's been nothing but amazing and so insightful! The past few weeks have been full of a wide range of events and meeting some brilliant creatives that are broadening my understanding of the arts sector. I can't wait to work closely with Tori on starting my own campaign with Creative Cardiff and seeing where the next few months take me and my career!
Eleanor (Project Management Placement)
This month marks my first few weeks working with Creative Cardiff, and what a month it's been! As a newcomer to the network, I’ve spent the past few weeks attending events which sparked deep conversations on the current landscape of the creative sector, meeting and chatting with passionate creatives, and understanding the behind the scenes of events and planning. I can’t wait to see what the next few months bring, and the people I will get to interact with.
