We’re over the moon to have received an impressive 88 applications for our seed fund for working class creatives based in Greater Manchester. Every single application we received was filled with brilliant people, fantastic ideas and imaginative projects that were so difficult to choose from!
After a lot of conversation and review, we’d like to announce that there have been 11 recipients of the seed fund – and they are working in many practices including theatre, visual art, photography, poetry, screen, music, participatory arts and circus. The recipients are people who came to us with ideas that inspired us, impressed us – and where it was clear that the fund could make a real difference.
All of our recipients will receive funding to develop their skills and an idea, alongside mentoring support from Art with Heart and help in signing up to Islington Mill’s free business support programme.
Meet some of our brilliant seed fund recipients below!
Megan Challinor
I am a graduate from the University of Salford looking to expand my repertoire of creative skills.
I had the idea for the Lotus project before I started university and am now using the skills I gained during my education to get the wheels really turning. This project means so much to me!
Instagram: @megchallacting
Alice Christina-Corrigan
My name is Alice Christina-Corrigan and I am a visually impaired actor / theatre maker passionate about breaking the barriers of accessible theatre.
As a writer, I am inspired by human emotions, using theatre as a tool to bring audiences together over shared experiences.
Having worked with companies such as the Everyman Rep Company and Cosomount studios in an array of different work I am keen now, as an emerging artist to embed what I have learnt from working in the industry and begin to make work that bridges the gap between theatre and accessible theatre.
My latest project ‘Past Life’ is a one woman show surrounding the stages of a breakup and self-discovery with its first sharing in association with NSDF Spotlight Festival this March.
Instagram: @aliceccorrigan
Twitter: @alicecorrigan
Credit: David Fawcett
Patrick Farrell
Patrick ‘Cave Man’ Farrell is a poet & MC from Manchester. He is known for introspective, community focused work, curating and hosting Leanin’ and performing with NoSpace collective.
Amongst others, he has supported Ghetts, Children Of Zeus & The Last Poets. Patrick is an undergraduate at the Open University.
Twitter: @CaveManM8
Nathan Frost
Nathan is a Visual Artist and Crafter, who works as a Creative Facilitator with community groups, young people and children.
He has six years experience as a Youth Worker, working in young peoples provision, where he found his love of creative social practice and building connections through conversation.
Instagram: @natejames_art and @natemakes_
Dom Holmes
Dominic Holmes is an Actor and Poet from Bolton. The themes of his work are heavily inspired by growing up queer & working class. He is currently working on writing his debut play with online mentoring from the SOHO Writers Lab.
Theatre includes: Cock (Elliott & Harper); Vincent River (Hope Mill); Henry IV (Waterloo East/ Ivy Arts Centre); Macbeth (Out of Joint).
Television includes: Hullraisers, F U Martin Parker, Industry, War of the Worlds, Two Weeks to Live, Jinx, Coronation Street, Heartbeat.
Instagram: @domhlms
Twitter: @dominicholmes
LeeLaa
Manchester born + bred; upcoming artist and overall creative LeeLaa dishes out a few hard to swallow pills. The truth hurts sometimes, but it will set you free…
Instagram: @itsleelaa
Katherine McDermott
I am a writer, actress and theatre maker based in Greater Manchester who was part of the BFI Northern Voices and will be a contributing writer for CBBC Presents.
Twitter: @kay_mcd12
Agustina (Tina) Ramos Ekongo
Agustina is a Spanish-Equatorial Guinean feminist visual artist and illustrator who lives and works in England. She was born in 1987 in Malabo and grew up in Spain between Madrid and Zaragoza and moved to the UK in 2011.
Her work was influenced by the African traditional murals on health campaigns and the artwork found in African barbershops and hair saloons and the work of Chéri Samba and Frida Khalo.
She uses cardboard as the principal medium to develop her work which serves as a juxtaposition on the undervalue of black women in Western societies and their real value as pillars of their communities and force of change
Instagram: @tinaramosekongoart
Twitter: @tramosekongoart
Joe Smethurst
Hi my name is Joe, a creative originally from Birkenhead and currently living the furloughed life in Levenshulme.
I have a massive passion for the old art of film photography and love getting creative snaps of people and places. Home developing is my next step and can’t wait to get started.
Chantell Walker
Chantell is a theatre director from Sheffield and based in Salford. She studied as a young director at the Everyman & Playhouse theatres in Liverpool.
In 2020 she began a three month placement at The Royal Exchange Theatre as part of the regional young directors scheme. Although the placement was cut short due to the pandemic she was assistant director on the new play by Winsome Pinnock, Rockets and Blue Lights. She has a passion for new writing and inspiring stories.
Her credits include Bottleneck, Liverpool Royal Court & North West Tour, Thorn, Oldham Coliseum Eggs, Tristan Bates Theatre, Dancing out, Hope Mill Theatre.
Assistant director credits are, The Sum, Everyman & Playhouse, To have to shoot Irishmen, Omnibus Theatre and National Tour.
Instagram: @chaaanchannn
Twitter: @chaaanchannn