Creative Kernow Associates, in partnership with New Creatives Cornwall and funded by Cornwall Council, is offering free mentoring for eight early-career practitioners working in craft and design. The programme will run between September and December 2026. The programme is aimed at new entrants to the creative industries who want to develop their creative practice and explore the business and commercial side of their work.
Deadline: Monday 21st September 2026, 11am
What’s included?
Each selected participant will receive two 1:1 mentoring sessions and one in-person group mentoring session between September and December 2026.
You will have at least one session with the lead mentor (Tara Ashe), who will also lead the group session. If you feel you would benefit from a different perspective for one of your 1:1 sessions, Tara and the Creative Kernow Associates team can help you identify someone with relevant experience for your second 1:1 session.
Mentoring will be tailored to your individual goals. This could include developing your creative practice, building your online presence, pricing and selling your work, finding new markets or income streams, developing your business, or thinking about how to grow and work with others.
The 1:1 sessions can be online or in person. The group session will be in person at Krowji, Redruth, on the afternoon of Tuesday 8th December 2026.
Who is this for?
We’re looking for people who:
- Work in craft or design
- Identify as early career
- Are comfortable appearing in social media content about the programme for New Creatives Cornwall
- Are based in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly
You don’t need to have an established business or a detailed business plan. You might be just starting out as an independent maker, developing your first products and sales, or already running a small creative business and thinking about what’s next.
Selection
We will select 8 participants based on the following criteria:
- The strength and potential of your creative ideas and ambitions
- The impact this programme could have on you and your business
- Ensuring we have a coherent and balanced selection of creative disciplines in the cohort
Applications will be selected by Anna Harris, Creative Kernow Associates Manager, and Tara Ashe, the lead mentor.
Cost
You do not need to be a Creative Kernow Associates member to apply. If selected, you will need to become a member in order to take part. Membership starts at £5/month – find out more, and sign up, here. You can start and stop your membership at any time.
Please note: unfortunately we are not able to cover mentee travel expenses. The group session will be in person at Krowji, Redruth, but 1:1 sessions can be online.
How to apply
To apply, please complete the application form below.
Deadline: Monday 21st September 2026, 11am
If you have any questions, please get in contact with associates@creativekernow.org.uk.
About the Lead Mentor: Tara Ashe
Block Design began in 2000, shortly after Tara graduated. Tara was keen to combine a passion for design with her engineering background, to create a range of functional, beautiful lifestyle products.
The first Block product was a vase, and since then they have added desk accessories, jewellery and more homeware to the collection. Block works with the best independent retailers in the world such as Eataly and Papier Tigre. Their products can be found in design stores and museums internationally including Moma and Tate Modern. Block Design is also a certified B Corporation.
You will have at least one session with Tara and she will lead the group session. If you feel you would benefit from a different perspective for one of your 1:1 sessions, Tara and the Creative Kernow Associates team can help you identify someone with relevant experience for your second 1:1 session.
Image of work by Leach Pottery at London Design Fair 2018, taken by We are Ronin
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