iMayflower

iMayflower is designed to build Plymouth’s Creative Industries and nurture creative people power across the city.
Illuminate 2019 - edit
Launched in 2019, iMayflower (Cultural Development Fund) was designed to build Plymouth’s creative industries and nurture creative people power across the city. Leveraging the Mayflower 400 Culture and Heritage Programme as a platform to launch a sustainable step change in Plymouth's creative economy, it aimed to make Plymouth a more attractive place to live, work and visit.

The iMayflower project has supported collaboration with the Creative Industries across key economic pillars in Plymouth, enabling participants to test and embrace new emerging technologies, particularly in the realm of immersive tech. Moreover, it has been instrumental in connecting individuals and businesses across the city, creating a vibrant ecosystem that continues to thrive. It has been a pleasure to witness the evolution and success of our participants as they navigate through the various elements of the program. Whether that be our students, graduates or creative and cultural leaders in the region.

Professor Chris Bennewith
Executive Dean for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business

Key investment areas included:
  • Place shaping – delivering large-scale cultural and creative events to inspire and enrich lives, e.g., the Illuminate light festival, in which the University was a key partner.
  • Creative sector business support – growing our cultural and creative sector businesses, with a particular focus on immersive media and digital fabrication.
  • Skills and learning programme – increasing the creative and business skills of our young people, communities, graduates and professionals.
  • Access to innovative finance – providing accessible startup and scale-up funding for businesses in the creative economy from Creative England, Crowdfunder and others.
Illuminate Light Festival 2017
iMayflower workshop - square
Illuminate 2019
iMayflower gallery

Projects

Plymouth Startup Weekend
Plymouth Startup Weekend
IGNITE - Olivia compbell
IGNITE Festival of Creativity
'Rainbow in the Dark' by Mandala Lighting Ltd at Illuminate 2018, image courtesy of One Plymouth
Illuminate
Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash
iLEAD
Woman explaining the plan to office team
Innovative Placements Scheme

iMayflower (Cultural Development Fund)

Funders and Partners

Delivered by a consortium comprising the University of Plymouth, Plymouth City Council, Destination Plymouth, Mayflower 400, Plymouth College of Art and Real Ideas, the project was funded by a £3.5 million grant from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Cultural Development Fund (CDF), which invests in creative, cultural and heritage initiatives that lead economic growth and productivity.