Baltic states its case with new board and creative manager
Baltic Creative, the Community Interest Company, established by Liverpool Vision, has appointed a board and centre manager to drive the vision of a vibrant creative business hub for Liverpool.
Erika Rushton who is enterprise director at Plus Dane Group will lead the nine-strong Baltic Creative board which will work closely with newly-appointed manager, Mark Lawler.
The appointments follow the allocation of £5.2m funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) (£3m) and Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (£2.2m) which allowed Baltic Creative to acquire property in the Baltic Triangle area.
The investment is building on the developing cluster of creative activity already in the area, which includes visual arts, gallery space and live music and recording venues.
The Board will now manage these property assets, and promote them as the centre for the creative sector in the city, managed by the Baltic Creative manager. Each property is being converted on a phased basis to provide offices and studio spaces suitable for creative and digital businesses.
Erika Rushton said: “We have gathered together an excellent group of board members. We were looking for passionate and committed people to help realise the strategy to make the creative sector in this city an even bigger driver of Liverpool’s economy.
“I am convinced that we have eight outstanding representatives from the creative and business communities, all of whom care about Liverpool.
“They are smart, qualified and committed with successful track records and they are already firm advocates for Liverpool, demonstrating that they mean business.
“I am delighted that they have agreed to join at the start of an exciting new chapter for the Baltic area and we will work closely with another outstanding individual in Mark Lawler to carry forward the vision of a dynamic successful creative hub in the heart of the city.”
The Baltic Creative centre aims to support more than 60 businesses, create 2,790 sq m of improved floorspace and once at full capacity, is expected to contribute £1 million per annum to the Liverpool economy.
Kevin McManus, director of Liverpool Vision’s creative support body Merseyside ACME, which led on establishing Baltic Creative, said: “There is already so much energy and enthusiasm in the creative sector in Liverpool which is already making a significant contribution to both the city’s economy and its offer and this project will create another asset for the city’s business reputation, creating new jobs and levering in new investment.
“The vision is to support and increase the vibrancy by attracting new companies, new ideas and new connections for the sustainable future prosperity of the area.”
For further information and for interviews contact Jonathan Caswell at Liverpool Vision on 0151 600 2946 or via email jcaswell@liverpoolvision.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
Chair:
• Erika Rushton is the enterprise director at housing association, Plus Dane Group, which provides homes, neighbourhood management and enterprise activity throughout the North West. After gaining a First Class Honours Degree in Fine Art, Erika first earned her living undertaking sculpture and painting residencies in regeneration settings, designing theatre shows and sets, and training others to earn their living from creative work.
At Centre for Arts Development in Liverpool Erika successfully supported more than 150 people into creative employment or small business activity and placed creative people into business environments resulting in economic growth and innovation. She won a National Training Award for her work. In 1994 Erika moved to the economic development at Liverpool City Council where she co-ordinated bids and land deals that included a £62million Cultural Quarter in Liverpool’s City Centre and the multi-million pound ‘Liverpool Digital’ technology industries campus.
Board members:
• Fiona Armstrong Gibbs has more than 15 years experience in the fashion industry and has lived in London and Shanghai. She has held management positions in companies, such as Jimmy Choo, Hugo Boss and Oliver Sweeney. She is also an associate lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University teaching International Fashion Marketing and consults to several US investment banks and UK based fashion and footwear companies.
• Jayne Casey was a principal mover for Liverpool’s culture bid and was one of the artistic directors for both the People’s Opening show outside St George’s Hall and the opening in the ECHO Arena. Jayne was also a leading player in establishing 'The Independents District' in 2008, part of the Baltic area of the city with a view to securing/developing independent culture in the future. The former lead singer in 70s punk band has also headed the PR for superclub Cream and been programme director for the Bluecoat arts centre.
• James France is a paintings conservator and museums consultant. He was the first Keeper of Conservation to be appointed at the National Museums Liverpool where he was responsible for the creation of the National Conservation Centre. He subsequently became Director of Collections at the Tate in London, a period which saw the creation of Tate Modern and major expansions at Tate Britain and Tate Liverpool.
• Anna Heyes started Active Profile marketing and PR agency in 2004 after graduating from Liverpool University Management School with a 1st class honours degree and winning the University business plan competition. Anna has twice been awarded ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the North West Women in Business Awards in 2008 and 2010.
• Bill Maynard specialises in the delivery of heritage projects in the public, private and voluntary sectors, including the Match Factory and St Peters Church in Liverpool. As Managing Director of Urban Splash Liverpool he was responsible for leading the delivery of a broad range of award winning projects. His also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Trustee of Merseyside Building Preservation Trust.
• Paul Rice took up the post of Chief Executive of Liverpool Commercial District Partnership from its inception in April 2006, having previously held the post of Chief Executive of the Manchester City Centre Management Company since 2004. He was formerly the Liverpool City Centre Neighbourhood Manager.
• Lynne Robertson works on a freelance basis in the city and is currently involved in the delivery of Liverpool John Moores University’s acclaimed Student Enterprise programme. The programme provides business start-up and development support to both students and graduates and works with every faculty to promote enterprise and entrepreneurship. An experienced business adviser, Lynne has worked in the creative industries for several years after moving to Liverpool 14 years ago.
Centre manager:
• Mark Lawler is a director and joint owner (with his wife) of the Animal Store in Bold Street, Liverpool. Formerly he worked at Include Neighbourhood Regeneration and Plus Dane Group as a project manager responsible for project teams, design teams, securing of funding, obtaining local stakeholder support. He has delivered a variety of community projects including the provision of local transport solutions, sports field redevelopment and a variety of multi-agency funded environmental schemes.
• The Baltic Triangle is an historic port area bordered by Rope Walks, the Paradise Street Project and Kings Waterfront. Currently it contains a large number of small businesses, and has benefited from investment in recent years with the opening of two new hotels and the more recent start on site of a number of residential developments. In May 2005, Liverpool City Council, in partnership with Liverpool Vision, appointed consultants to provide an action plan and implementation framework for the area to support the interests of existing businesses while realising potential for new mixed-use residential and commercial investment.
The Creative Industries sector is broad, and can include anything with an arts and cultural background, including the highly sophisticated world of information technology. Companies already established and trading in the area include the Elevator Studios, A Foundation, Liverpool Biennial Arts and Cultural Organisation, Arena Arts Organisation, as well as The Picket music and performance venue. Thought is being given to how the cluster can be helped to consolidate in the area with provision made in particular for more affordable workspace.
The vision for the Baltic Triangle is for a vibrant mixed-use quarter featuring refurbished historic warehouses and striking contemporary architecture, blending the existing business community with new development all within the setting of a significantly enhanced public realm. The area is also an important link between Kings Waterfront and the city centre, which will be developed with a strategy for enhanced public realm.
• Liverpool Vision is the city’s Economic Development Company leading on economic and physical development and business and enterprise support in Liverpool, designed to accelerate the city’s growth and build a sustainable economy.
Contact name: Jonathan Caswell
Contact email: jcaswell@liverpoolvision.co.uk
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