We developed the concept of a social franchise network to enable us to extend our support and services to designer-makers in regions outside our original East London funding remit.  Development came about  thanks to funding from the Phoenix Fund (DTI - Small Business Service) between April 2004 and March 2006.

 

The aim of the social franchise is to extend Hidden Art's service for designer-makers beyond London. It does this by enabling organisations or individuals who are committed to supporting and growing the designer-maker sector in their area to provide a tailored Hidden Art support model to their local design sector, while accessing international networks and promoting the locality as a whole.

 

The UK's first ever social franchise pilot was subsequently launched on 11 November 2005. Hidden Art Cornwall was set up by University College Falmouth to address the lack of provison and support for the local designer-maker sector and based within the University's Business Incubation Unit.

 

Hidden Art Cornwall has been extremely successful and benefited over 100 designer-makers.  For further information see www.hiddenartcornwall.co.uk .