Release date: 1 August 2011
The Design Council has announced a new package of support for projects that support the use of design for economic growth.
The support comes in the form of grants from the Design Council’s newly-established ‘Design Fund for Growth, which will help regional and national groups stage a series of five initiatives between October 2011 and March 2011.
The aim is to create or strengthen programmes run by intermediary organisation such as professional bodies and networks that improve understanding between design, business and technology and leave behind lasting legacies.
Each successful partner organisation will receive up to £20,000 in funding to plan, promote and run their proposed activity and also to build on its success thereafter. They will also receive press and media support, specialist event advice, a full branded set of event and promotional materials and some design support time for adjusting the collateral to their needs.
The new programme follows the success of last year’s grants scheme, which allocated a total of £100,000 across 18 organisations, each of which received between £1,000 and £10,000. This year the Design Fund will be focusing on supporting a smaller number of initiatives with larger grants enabling them to achieve even wider reach, greater impact and longer lasting legacy.
“Through this Fund we are reinforcing our commitment to the design sector infrastructure and supporting closer collaborations between business, technology and design.” said David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council. “This follows our recent Design for Growth summit, and our ongoing work with the government to ensure design is at the heart of its forthcoming Innovation Strategy.’
Proposals are particularly being encouraged from not-for-profit organisations such as design support networks, business representative organisations, technology groups, universities, with the aim of strengthening the relationship between design, business and technology.
Proposals will be judged by a panel of specialists, chaired by economic regeneration expert Pam Alexander, a Trustee of the Design Council. Commenting on what the panel will be looking for, Pam Alexander said:
“We are not just looking for projects that inspire innovation, we are looking for innovative projects. We want to see some new collaborations and exciting ideas that bring industry and design together. We are looking for the spur for tomorrow’s business success stories”
The call for proposals opens on 1st August 2011 and proposal template is available by visiting www.designcouncil.org.uk/designfund. The deadline for organisations to apply is 5pm on Friday 2nd September.
For further information on the Design Fund, contact:
Weronika Rochacka, Design Networks Manager at the Design Council on 0207 420 5203
Weronika.rochacka@designcouncil.org.uk
Or visit www.designcouncil.org.uk/designfund.
For media enquiries, contact:
Nigel Campbell, Head of Communications, Design Council on 0207 420 5282 / 07825 442339
nigel.campbell@designcouncil.org.uk