Bristol Creatives

Bristol Creatives was originally set-up and established by a small group of Bristol based artists and makers with pilot funding from the Arts Council England South West and continued ongoing support from BEST (Bristol East Side Traders).

The network was launched in May 2006 and now has over 1,200 members, most of whom are self employed visual and applied artists, designers, photographers, performers, etc. Bristol Creatives' membership also includes freelancers, small partnerships, galleries, studio groups, venues and individuals who are part of larger arts organisations.

We are no longer eligible for ACESW funding and now rely on paid Gold Membership subscriptions in order to provide our core support services, which include:

- Our Creative Thursdays monthly networking events;

- This website where members can promote themselves and their services and activities;

- Our monthly e-bulletins, which are full of opportunities, news and what's on;

- Access to our Digital Resource Centre and to associated training opportunities;

- Access to new markets through our online Creative Directory and through Bristol Creatives Collective exhibitions;

The Team

Sally Reay is an artist and contemporary jewellery designer maker and Bristol Creatives Project Manager.

Sally graduated from Art College with a degree in Graphic Design and went on to work as a Public Relations Officer and Event Coordinator for a London advertising agency before moving to the West Country to relaunch her career as a self-employed artist and jewellery designer maker in 1996.

Sally also freelances as a Project Manager and Event Coordinator, and is currently Project Manager of a Community Arts Project called Phoeinx52, a Director of South West Open Studios, Chair & Volunteer Coordinator of the Easton Arts Trail, a member of the Association For Contemporary Jewellery and a founding member of Mivart Artists.

Sophie Howard is a sculptor who has lived in Bristol since the late '80s. She studied at Winchester School of Art and lived in London before moving to the West Country. For eight years she designed and made sculpture for the garden industry, alongside teaching part time for City of Bristol College and Bristol Adult Learning. In 2003 Sophie trained as a business advisor with BRAVE the enterprise agency, specialising in working with people in the creative industries. She has also worked for Artsmatrix and Bath Spa University.

Now making and exhibiting her own sculpture, Sophie continues to teach sculpture and run seminars on business skills for creatives in the South West. Sophie is glad to have been involved as a founding member of Bristol Creatives, and hopes to support the work the network into the future.