Through the Creative Business Works project the Creative Coathanger team with MacArts’ Chris Wemyss provided an opportunity for a Scottish Borders-based emerging creative practitioner to build their skills, experience and networks to further their practice as Technical Venue Assistant.

We recruited Hawick-based Joe Somerville who actively sought to build his photography and film practice whilst working full time, and take it to the next step: ‘The approach that Creative Coathanger took to recruitment was refreshing because they searched for emerging artists to work with them. They wanted to get somebody new for this role, somebody trying to get into the field, as they wanted to generate employment locally.’

Joe’s role was critical for the Festival and for MacArts, as Chris was able to train Joe with the venue’s equipment expanding their roster of freelancers for future events and activity. Joe took hybrid delivery of the Festival in his stride: 'For Creative Business Works Festival, I set up the cameras to capture both the conference and ‘chat show’ aspects of the event. Additionally, B-cameras were in use to provide alternative perspectives and maintain interest. On the day I had control of all that, and then Creative Coathanger was running the Zoom but I had the computer that was taking the feed from our cameras so they were seeing what I was recording. There was a fair bit going on!'

As a creative freelancer in the Scottish Borders navigating living and working in the region, Joe reflected: 'I do think it is so important to be able to offer a hybrid event like this. In the Scottish Borders we've got such a rich expertise in different artforms and such a hugely diverse population of creatives as well. However, a big problem we have is our transport system which is limited to put it gently. I also know there are lots of people like me who have other jobs and would not be able to attend every event, so this is a way of letting them watch it later.'