Scottish Creative Network

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About Scottish Creative Network

CONNECTING CREATIVES ACROSS SCOTLAND

The prime aim of the Scottish Creative Network is to connect creative people who work in photographic imagery across Scotland. The Network aims to connect complete beginners or hobbyists as well as professionals working full-time in the industry.

The Scottish Creative Network started with monthly meetings held in Glasgow, aimed at connecting the local photographic community. Through online social networks (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and other platforms (including existing UK-wide or worldwide photo-networking sites) – we have been forming connections across Scotland. Social media is key to getting the word out to the community across Scotland.

A monthly newsletter goes out to the attendees as well as regular updates on the above sites. The monthly newsletter includes “featured members” showing work of members, and the imagery they have created since connecting with other creatives at the monthly meetings. This blog will also feature more details of our monthly Featured Members.

A full-page feature in professional photography magazine PhotoPro brought the networking meetings to the attention of the UK professional community, and there is also significant interest from Scottish members of the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers.

A plan for the future when funding has been sourced is to distribute materials to Scottish colleges and university departments who run courses in photographic art, and related disciplines (such as make-up artistry), inviting students to join the network to help them build up more experienced contacts as they study – an invaluable way of helping students get more real-world experience.

Monthly meetings will continue in Glasgow, and it’s hoped that meetings can be organised across Scotland so that people have an opportunity to connect with local creatives on a personal level – and not just through the Scottish Creative Network website.

An online survey ran recently to get opinions on what creatives would find useful in a networking site for Scotland – and many indicated that “group events” were of significant importance to them. It’s painfully true that most events such as workshops and seminars in photographic practice etc are all held far south of the border – this is something we hope to look at after the launch of the SCN site – to see if more workshops and group events – such as open days at photographic studios, group shoots on location etc. can all be arranged – with the focus on connecting people together so they can collaborate on their own works.

We hope to connect with creative agencies across Scotland who are looking for photographers, models, make-up artists and others to work on commercial projects. A number of people commented that there is no place to go to look for work opportunities in their field that are in Scotland – we will be approaching creative agencies and asking them to post job opportunities or “casting calls” on the SCN – since it is very much designed as a “hub” for all in the creative photography community.

http://scottishcreativenetwork.org/blog/