News
What’s been happening at Iridescence over the last while? Hopefully, this will give you a flavour…
Some recent projects:
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association, one of the UK's more proactive rural arts agencies engaged Iridescence to undertake an in-depth review of their activity and assist the team in formulating a plan for growth. The consultancy project involved wide consultation with the agency's staff, customers and stakeholders, followed by a highly collaborative business planning process. The resulting plan has recently been submitted to the Scottish Arts Council to support a £200k 'Advancement' funding application.
Dundee City Council
Iridescence, in conjunction with Amaranth Consultancy, was commissioned to conduct a Music Audit for Dundee to assist Dundee City Council and its partners in identifying potential initiatives to support the industry. This involved carrying out an audit amongst local music industry operators and then reviewing the results of the audit with the client group to identify the best areas for public sector support. Iridescence identified a number of creative and fundable initiatives which the Council hopes to implement.
Tourism UK
Tourism UK commissioned Iridescence to co-develop the marketing elements of a £25m Lottery application for the redevelopment of Irwell City Park in Manchester. Key objectives for this project included inspiring an exemplary level of community ownership and support of the animation and events programme, providing a showcase for the best of Manchester and developing a benchmark for creative community-championed riverside development. Our solutions included a site animation strategy encompassing festival activity, commercial events and community activity, all backed up with an imaginative communications plan.
National Trust of Scotland
Iridescence worked with the National Trust of Scotland on a feasibility study for the future development of Haddo House in Aberdeenshire. Our role was to develop ideas for a rural arts centre at the venue, consulting with all sorts of community and professional arts users in the process. We also prepared detailed financial projections for the full project in association with the Aberdeen Business School.
Assembly Rooms Edinburgh
We have just completed a business plan for Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms. As per the brief, the plan provides 'a robust blueprint for the management and development of the Assembly Rooms as an accessible, prestigious venue essential to the city's cultural life'. The plan, prepared with associate, Sally Doran of Amaranth Consultancy, creates a strong platform for future capital funding applications as well as giving the architects a clear brief on the future requirements of the building. Some exciting proposals were developed to create a 'mixed economy' of arts and high quality commercial uses within the building, all currently being considered by the City of Edinburgh Council.
Tourism UK
A brand new £15m canalside gallery housing an internationally significant collection of the work of prominent UK sculptor Barbara Hepworth will open in Wakefield, Yorkshire in 2008. Tourism UK, a leading Durham-based consultancy, commissioned Iridescence to assist in conducting a market analysis for the project to support a Heritage Lottery funding application. Extensive teleresearch amongst a wide range of arts and venue hire users produced the 'evidence of demand' funders will be keen to see.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Glasgow
Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum reopened to the public last year following a staggering £29m redevelopment. Making the gallery spaces available for private and corporate hires will be an important source of future revenue. Iridescence completed an in-depth competitor analysis for this element of the business, again supported by associate, Sally Doran of Amaranth Consultancy. Value-adding ideas from other major arts centres, including The Lowry in Manchester and The Tate Modern and Southbank Centre in London were provided.
Perth Festival of the Arts
Iridescence completed an evaluation study for the Perth Festival of the Arts on behalf of Scottish Enterprise Tayside and Perth and Kinross Council. Surveys targeting visitors to the festival, local residents and the business community were co-ordinated by Gem Research, Iridescence's associate research company. The results assisted the festival in future planning as well as giving funders some feedback on the value of their support.
Scottish Arts Council
Iridescence co-ordinated the final submission of the £1.6m+ funding application to the Scottish Arts Council for the Kirkintilloch Arts and Cultural Centre. This was the result of two years' work, gathering evidence of demand and putting together a comprehensive business plan. Iridescence also worked on additional sources of funding for the project, including approaches to charitable trusts and foundations and potential corporate sponsors.
Tourism UK
Iridescence assisted Tourism UK prepare a 3 year tourism marketing strategy for the North East of England. With new destination marketing organisations continuing to appear across the UK, the market is becoming increasingly competitive. Helping the North East differentiate the region from its competitors is therefore vital. Iridescence's role in this major assignment focused primarily on destination branding.
Wickerman Festival
Iridescence was approached by Rerrick Events to prepare a business plan for the Wickerman Festival (billed as 'Scotland's Alternative Music, Dance and Arts Festival') in Dumfries and Galloway. The job, funded by a grant from Event Scotland, allowed the festival team to hone their business planning skills and explore new revenue streams.
Scottish Enterprise Glasgow
Scottish Enterprise Glasgow appointed Iridescence to conduct a feasibility study for a 'Visitor Attraction Passport Scheme' - a promotional loyalty scheme to increase revenue by offering visitors a 'Passport' which is stamped at participating attractions. This project involved on-site interviews amongst tourists at the Glasgow Science Centre and the Scottish Seabird Centre to test the concept.
