UCA offers Tonic for Kent creatives
More than 650 creative entrepreneurs, businesses and individuals in Kent have benefited from short courses offered by the University for the Creative Arts (UCA).
Tonic Creative Business Project, based at UCA Rochester, has offered 30 different courses since 2008 and will launch its new portfolio for the upcoming academic year on 20 September 2012 aboard LV21 at Gillingham Pier.
From October, creative people in Kent will be able to apply for short courses and workshops in Entrepreneurship, Web Design, Photography and other creative subjects, which will take place in the evenings or weekends at UCA's Joiners Shop, located at Chatham Historic Dockyard.
Michael Poraj-Wilczynski, Widening Participation manager at UCA, said: "Tonic has been a great success over the past four years and provides a unique opportunity for people to improve their skills and working lives.
"Our short courses offer so much to so many people: not only do they cater for individuals looking to retrain and enter the creative industries for the first time, but there are also courses for established creative enterprises who want to learn more about business and marketing, while practical workshops, such as Photography, are perfect for those who simply want to learn more about their creative passion.
"We want the local community to thrive and to help enhance the skillset of creative enterprises in Kent while also promoting the opportunities available for progression to degree level qualifications."
Rochester businesswoman Julie Stevens attended several of Tonic's creative courses to help advance her Interior Design consultancy, Younique Designs Ltd.
Julie said: "I have benefited from Tonic since its inception and I am looking forward to expanding my creative skills again during this year's programme.
"Initially, I needed to learn how to manage my own small business and Tonic gave me the necessary knowledge I required, plus practical skills that could immediately be implemented into my business strategy.
"Four years on, and I still find that there is always something new to learn and try out and Tonic offers the perfect combination of creative ideas and practical enterprise skills."
Tonic courses are offered at times to suit those in work or engaged in freelance study.
The Tonic launch event starts at 6pm on 20 September at LV21, Gillingham Pier. To apply for a free ticket, e-mail: jbrazier@ucreative.ac.uk or telephone 01634 888791.
Visit: www.tonic-project.co.uk.
For more information contact:
David Reilly, Press Officer, UCA
T: 01252 892939
E: dreilly@ucreative.ac.uk
