Design Event Becomes an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation

 

Design Event is pleased to announce that they are part of the Arts Council new National portfolio of funded organisations (NPO). 

Since Design Event’s inception in 2005 the organisation has survived on a project funding (Arts Council, Grants for the Arts programme) basis year on year to deliver the festival.  This has been challenging in terms of staff retention and forward planning but through loyal staff, innovative thinking and sheer will to continue providing a strong and innovative platform for design in the North East the organisation has thrived.

Being part of the National Portfolio will strengthen Design Event’s activity in that the organisation can forward plan delivery for the period 2012-2015.  Before submitting the NPO application the Design Event team strategically examined their delivery, the needs of the market in the region, the other provisions available and the overall direction of the organisation. 

The outcome of this activity resulted in the decision to make the Design Event festival a biennial event, taking place this October 2011 and to showcase regional design talent at 100% Design in the alternative years, exposing the best of northern based designers to a national and international audience.

The Arts Council commended Design Event for their proven track record of delivering a high quality regional festival, strong network of regional partners, both commercial and cultural sector, that they work with during the festival and throughout the year and their excellent links with the design industry and key professionals within the sector.

Past activity has brought a range of high profile designers and key design professionals to our region including:

• Talks: Jonathan Barnbrook, Michael Young, Michael C Place, Adrian Shaughnessy, Dominic Wilcox, Timorous Beasties, Marcus Fairs
• Exhibitions: Jonathan Barnbrook, Geoff McFetridge, Marcel Wanders, Anthony Burrill, Daniel Eatock, Simon Heijdens
• Workshops: Abigail Branagan, Catherine Zoll, Grant Baker, Mark McGuinness and Shan Preddy

The 2011 festival will take the theme of Happiness and our plans will be announced at a Festival Partners Meeting on the 7th April at Dance City where other individuals, groups and organisations can come along and find out how they can be involved.