Artist Jolomo Helps Young Scots Set up in Business

Region : All

Friday 14th March 08 - A new awards scheme aimed at encouraging more young people in North West Scotland and the Highlands and Islands to set up businesses in the arts, craft and creative industries sector is being launched today.

The Jolomo PSYBT Awards is the result of a unique partnership between the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) and John Lowrie Morrison - Jolomo - one of Scotland’s best loved contemporary artists.

 

Born in Glasgow, Jolomo is a leading Scottish painter renowned for his dramatic and colourful contemporary landscapes. Now living and working in Tayvallich, Argyll, Jolomo has spent much of his life painting the landscapes of the West Coast of Scotland and he is hoping through these awards to encourage more young people from the region he loves, to make a successful business whether its

from arts, crafts and creative industries.

 

Throughout 2008 and 2009, with the help of a generous donation of £10,000 from John Lowrie Morrison, the awards will support approximately 8 young entrepreneurs in the arts and creative industries through PSYBT start-up grants of up to £1000 as well as loans of up to £5000. Eligible candidates will include everything from fine arts such as sculpting to handicrafts like quilting, through to decorative arts including wood crafting and glass blowing, and applied arts such as graphic design and film making. In addition every two years, the award scheme will recognise the special achievements of three young businesses under themes including distance travelled/personal development, commercial awareness/business skills and innovation/creativity. Winners will be selected jointly by PSYBT and Jolomo and will receive prizes of £500 as well as special promotional opportunities and inclusion on Jolomo’s website.

 

Commenting at the launch of the awards in Oban, PSYBT Chief Executive, Mark Strudwick said, “Our aim is to recognise the value that arts and creative industries bring to rural North and Western Scotland and to encourage more young people to work in the sector. The regions we are talking about have all been affected by depopulation in the 18-30 age group mainly as they move away to study, but our aim is to help encourage these young people to come back to the area afterwards and set up their own businesses.

 

“There is no doubt that we have an abundance of talent in rural Scotland but talent is not enough on its own to make a business a success, you also need commercial acumen which is where we hope to provide support and funding so that more young people can return to the areas that they have grown up in and take their first important steps into self employment."

 

Jolomo added, “This is a wonderful initiative and I’m truly excited to be involved. The awards will not only help us showcase the talent and creativity of Scotland’s young people but will also help to boost the local economies and communities of rural Scotland whilst also encouraging a renewed passion for Scottish arts and crafts.”

 

More information on the awards which will take place in October this year and qualifying criteria can be found on the website, www.psybt.org.uk or by contacting Rebecca Logan on 0141 243 5363.

 

Ends

                                                                                                           

Issued on behalf of PSYBT by Jen Nash, Panache Communications tel. 07971 466 220 Email jen@panachecommunications.co.uk. For more information please contact Margaret Gibson or Louise Moore on Tel no. 0141 248 4999 or visit the PSYBT website at www.psybt.org.uk.

 

 

 

 

Contact: Jen Nash
Phone: 07971 466 220
Email: jen@panachecommunications.co.uk

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