Studio North Ramps Up CSR Drive for 2011 with Arts & Student Initiatives 

Manchester based Studio North, one of the North West’s leading independent brand design and digital consultancies, has re-focused its CSR programme after getting involved with a variety of new student and community based arts projects over the past couple of months.  The senior team at Studio North recognised that two of the hardest hit areas following the Government’s current programme of cuts are the next generation of creative talent and the region’s local arts scene.

So, the agency is now sponsoring an award at The Open Contemporary Art Exhibition Stockport which is taking place from 25th June to 14th August 2011 at the town’s Art Gallery. The event has been organised by SKarts - a group of enthusiastic local artists, art teachers and art lovers. Their aim was to stage a national open competition and exhibition that invited submissions from across the UK in all genres including; drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, photography, mixed media and digital art. To add extra credibility one of the judges, Louis Smith, has been shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award 2011.The show’s preview & awards evening will be taking place on Friday 24th June with the finale and presentation of the Exhibitors Choice and Visitors Choice being announced on Sunday 14th August. For more information on the exhibition and awards, just visit http://opencontemporaryartexhibition.skarts.org.uk

The second key project was working with students from the University of Salford. 24 students, who are all graduating this summer from the BA Design Futures and BA Design Management for the Creative Industries courses, joined together to showcase their own unique talents to major players and employers from the region’s creative sector. The result was the innovative Issue25.

Issue25 has three main components; a 32-page, professionally printed 5,000 run newspaper - the content of which has been drawn from the 24 different issues they are investigating in their final major projects, an integrated website as well as an industry debate which included an invited audience of key industry professionals who were all asked ‘What Skills and Attributes Do Employers In The Creative Sector Really Want From Graduates.’ Studio North’s involvement with Issue25 was via mentorship, guidance and feedback on what was delivered. More details can be found at http://issue25.com

The third programme was with City College. Members Studio North’s creative department invited design students into the agency who were then briefed on a ‘live’ client piece of work and challenged to respond with their own ideas. Over the coming weeks the winner will be unveiled and he or she will be invited back for a work experience placement with the team.