Flourish is working in collaboration with Inch Arts to develop the Altrincham-based maker space into a creative social enterprise hub with training opportunities kicking off in Jan 2023.
What is happening at Inch Arts in Altrincham?
Flourish Together is collaborating with Inch Arts to to breathe new life into the Maker Space in Altrincham. We’ll be launching learning and training opportunities for local artists, designers, makers and change makers from January 2023.
How has this come about?
Late last year Flourish submitted a proposal to Inch Arts, to explore how we could revive and evolve the maker space in collaboration with local social and community organisations, designers and creatives.
This is one of three spaces and venues Flourish is looking to redevelop as creative social enterprise hubs across three boroughs of Greater Manchester. Thanks to backing from the Postcode Neighbourhood Trust we’ve carried out business planning, collaborative feasibility testing and pilot activities (more about our wider Action Stations projects in Stockport and Tameside here).
Following feasibility work, research and focus groups involving over 35 people and 15 social and creative enterprises, we’re now planning some Trafford-based learning activities aimed at local designers, makers and social change makers.
Nickala, Founding Director of Flourish, explains “Thanks to backing from a small Trafford Neighbourhood Grant last year we were able to engage over 140 change makers in Trafford to explore needs and opportunities to boost the social economy. We identified several opportunity areas for growth including unlocking the potential and diversity in the creative and cultural sector by harnessing the potential of community- and socially-motivated artists and makers.”
“We are now excited to be working in partnership with Inch Arts explore support for social and creative entrepreneurs in Trafford. There’s great potential in bringing together the creative, digital, community manufacturing and social enterprise worlds to unlock innovation, income generation and new ways to produce and promote goods and services. We’re looking forward to how things develop in 2023!”
Interested in getting involved?
In January we’re kicking things off with 3D Printing and CAD training for ten local artists, makers and community/social organisations – who we will seek to collaborate with in future – thanks to ESF funded Training provided by 3D360.
If you’d like to find out more, hear about upcoming opportunities in the space or get involved drop us a line: info@flourishtogether.org.uk
