A ‘Creative Futures Festival’, an education-to-work transition programme and services to help creative businesses survive the downturn have been announced by the University of the Arts London (UAL). The institution, which comprises six art and design colleges, including Camberwell College of Arts, the London College of Fashion and the Chelsea College of Art and Design, has been granted £0.5m by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the Higher Education Funding Council of England. UAL and its partners will match this funding to support a programme of help for recent arts graduates from any institution in the country and any arts discipline, and both emerging and established creative businesses. Initiatives being developed include programmes to help businesses take advantage of new market opportunities, a free virtual learning package on intellectual property, skills diagnostics for businesses and creative practitioners, and help for graduates to find employment or set up their own businesses.
