IW Creative Network

18/06/2026

🎨 Visual artists, makers, curators and creatives – this one’s for you!

We’re delighted to be welcoming the team from Visual Arts South West (Visual Arts South West) to the Isle of Wight for a special evening of conversation, insight and networking at Quay Arts 🙌

Join VASW Co-Directors Lucy Badrocke and Hannah Rose as they share updates on opportunities, current programmes and plans for the visual arts across the South West, including the Isle of Wight.

As the regional development organisation for the visual arts, VASW plays an important role in advocating for artists, connecting people across the sector and helping creative communities thrive. As a Steering Group member, IW CREATIVE NETWORK is proud to help ensure Island voices are represented within these regional conversations.

The evening will include a presentation, Q&A and plenty of time to connect with fellow artists and creatives.

📅 Wednesday 8 July
⏰ 7.00pm–8.30pm (arrive from 6.30pm to visit free exhibitions)
📍 Quay Arts, Newport
🎟 Free

Arrive early to explore Quay Arts’ current exhibitions: ‘Retrospectrum’ by artist & writer Fran Heath, and the Isle of Wight College’s Creative Industries Department end-of-year showcase, as well as enjoy some informal networking before the event begins.

Whether you’re an established practitioner, emerging artist, freelancer, curator, producer or simply interested in the visual arts, we’d love to see you there.

Book your free place via the link in our bio - select ‘News & Opps’ 👌

11/06/2026

Let’s be honest. Most of us got into creative work because we love making, creating, performing or sharing ideas - not because we wanted to spend our days thinking about business plans, finances or marketing.
But….. if you’re looking to build a more sustainable creative practice, reach new audiences, increase your income, or simply feel more confident about the practical side of what you do, this opportunity might be worth exploring. 🤔

The Solent Growth Partnership’s ‘Start-up Launchpad’ is designed to help people develop strong foundations for their work through a series of three supportive, expert-led sessions covering:
💡 Planning and shaping your ideas�💷 Money, pricing and financial confidence�📣 Marketing, sales and connecting with customers

Whether you’re just starting out, have recently begun earning from your creative practice, or feel like you could benefit from some fresh thinking and support, this programme could offer useful tools, insights and connections.

📍 Building 41, Cowes
🟢 23 June – Plan, Plan, Plan�🔵 1 July – Money, Money, Money�🟣 16 July – Sell, Sell, Sell

Find out more and register via the Solent Growth Partnership website: solentgrowthpartnership.co.uk/services/start-up-launchpad

Solent Growth Partnership Building 41 by Innovation Wight Creative Island Isle of Wight Council

10/06/2026

🎭 CALLING ALL THEATRE MAKERS, WRITERS, COMEDIANS, STORYTELLERS & PERFORMERS 🎭

Got an idea you’ve been meaning to test?

A scene sitting in a notebook?
A half-finished script?
A spoken word piece?
An experimental performance?
A show that’s not quite ready yet?

We’re looking for up to three acts to take part in our Scratch Night at 🎪 on Sunday 26th July.

“Scratch Night” is all about sharing work-in-progress in a relaxed, supportive environment. It doesn’t need to be polished, finished or perfect. In fact, we’d rather it wasn’t.

You’ll have up to 15 minutes to share your work with a live audience and see what resonates before taking it further.

Whether you’re an experienced performer or trying something new for the first time, we’d love to hear from you.

Interest? 👉Simply email a short description of the work you’d like to share to: [email protected]

Please help us spread the word by tagging anyone who might be interested. 🙏

Scratch Night at Ventnor Fringe is delivered in partnership with & .studios.

02/06/2026

22/05/2026

🌿 OPPORTUNITY: SPUD ARTISTS COLLABORATIVE EXHIBITION

Following the success of their 2025 exhibition with Arches Studio, Southampton, .org.uk Artists in Sway are inviting expressions of interest from members for a new collaborative exhibition in February 2027. 🤘

This year’s theme is ‘WOOD’ - a material rich in history, symbolism and possibility. Artists from all disciplines are welcome to respond in their own way, whether through sculpture, installation, performance, or experimental practice. From the tactile and structural to the conceptual and ecological, we encourage diverse interpretations that explore the material’s physical qualities and cultural resonance. 🪵

The exhibition aims to bring together artists across regions, creating space for exchange, dialogue and new connections. By working around a shared material, they hope to spark new ideas, strengthen networks, and foster a spirit of collective creativity. 💫

👉Interested in taking part in this collaborative, cross-Solent opportunity? Email [email protected]
To find out more about SPUD, please visit: https://www.spud.org.uk

📸Images from Spud’s ‘Paper’ this years group exhibition & last years ‘Clay’ exhibition.

18/05/2026

🎭 CALL OUT: SCRATCH NIGHT AT VENTNOR FRINGE 2026

, in partnership with .studios, Southampton, are offering X3 opportunities for creatives to test new work at this year’s Scratch Night during Ventnor Fringe Festival!

📍 Bosco Theatre,
📅 Sunday 26 July 2026
⏰ 7–8.30pm

‘Scratch Night’ is designed to be a relaxed, supportive event where artists can share 15mins of works-in-progress, early-stage ideas or experimental material in front of a live audience.

Whether you work in theatre, spoken word, comedy, live art or performance - we’d love to hear from you!

Interested? Send a brief summary of the work you’d like to present to [email protected]

👉 To book tickets to this years Scratch Night, head to the Ventnor Fringe website. Link in bio. 🤘

14/05/2026

⚡️NEW SERIES OF 1:1 CREATIVE ADVISORY SESSIONS ANNOUNCED!⚡️
In need of some 1:1 support on creative projects, artistic direction or arts funding advice? Well you’re in luck! We’ve just launched a new series of 1:1 advisory sessions, released quarterly to creative individuals with specialist in artist support 👌

Round 1 of applications are open NOW to members of the for sessions to be taken in June/July 2026. More session will be available for creatives to apply for in July to be taken in Aug for Round 2. Then again in Sept for sessions to take place in Nov for Round 3, and finally in Jan 2027 for sessions to take place in Feb 2027 for Round 4.

Alys (.org.uk), provides guidance and advice to creatives to overcome barriers, plan projects and make funding applications. She is a member of the Artist Council: the advisory panel for a-n: the UK’s largest membership organisation for visual artists. 🙌

What others have said after receiving a 1:1 session:
“I was at a crossroads with my work so gave the 121 a go. Alys was a great listener and teased out new directions I’d never imagined – I now feel much more confident going forward. I’ve started to apply what we discussed and really pleased with the results.” James Lord, artist.💫

“Alys and I talked for 2 hours and it flew by. The session was well constructed and her ability to communicate how the session would go was great. I was able to talk about my work and where I wanted it to go. Alys was incredibly skilful in bringing out of me things I’d never verbalised before. It was extremely helpful and it gave me clarity on aspects of my work. Since the session my work flow has improved significantly. I can recommend Alys to anyone who needs some sensitive and thoughtful mentoring.” Babs Gowan, artist.💫

Previously, Alys led the Artist Development programme at ‘a space’ arts, Southampton, drawing on her long-standing networks within the arts sector across the region.🤓

👉 TO APPLY: Head to ‘Programme’ on our website & select ‘Special Opportunities’ to find out more.
⏰ DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR ROUND 1: Sunday 31 May 2026, 11.59pm.

📸 by

09/05/2026

24/02/2026

It is time! Let’s do this!