A brief history of IdeasTap: the creative network
The last four years have flown by.
Since we first launched IdeasTap from a small riverside office in Bermondsey, south London, a lot has changed. From those exciting early days we've since awarded hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding directly to our members. We've provided either an opportunity, funding or professional mentoring to more than 40,000 young people. And we've packed our members off on creative assignments around the UK and the world - including trips to New York, Shanghai, Dubai, Tokyo, Siberia and Dhaka.
Meanwhile we've been growing. In March 2013 our 90,000th member signed up. We've moved to bigger offices, with IdeasTap, National Student Drama Festival and an army of IdeasTap members – as part of our Creative Space programme – all under one roof. We're lucky enough to be partnered with more fantastic arts organisations than ever – and we're always looking to build new relationships that will bring our members fresh opportunities.
The history below is far from exhaustive - but it gives you an idea of some of what we've been up to over the last four years. Trust us - there's a lot more to come...
For more information download the 2011/12 IdeasTap annual review.
2013
April - We join forces with Mother London for 10 x 10 x Mother – a series of creative challenges aimed at uncovering some of IdeasTap's most talented members. Ikon Gallery, The Lowry, Lyric Hammersmith, Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival, Spread the Word and Norwich Writers' Centre all sign as partners.
March - The winners of the first IdeasTap Underbelly Award are announded. Rose Bruford College and Mardibooks come on board as our latest partners.
February - Metroprint and New Diorama Theatre join IdeasTap as partners.
January - We launch the Uni Fee Fund, offering to wipe £9,000 off the student debt of one IdeasTap member, and The Pay Debate kicks off – a series of articles exploring the issue of pay in the arts.
2012
December - The National Theatre joins our partner programme and launches the Young Studio brief for actors. Ideas Fund Edinburgh relaunches, this year in partnership with Underbelly.
November - The Bush Theatre, Brighton Fringe and One KX all sign up as partners.
October - Our 75,000th member signs up.
August - The Roundhouse and Sky Arts become the latest additions to our partner programme.
June - IdeasTap and Old Vic New Voices launch a new creative partnership to offer more opportunities than ever to IdeasTap members.
May - Creative Space launches at IdeasTap HQ, offering resources and project support, computers, phones, internet (etc) for our members – in return, they lend some of their time and expertise to IdeasTap.
March - We sign up with the Midlands Arts Centre to offer IdeasTap members in Birmingham and the surrounding areas more opportunities. Our new arts funding microsite launches, offering details of a huge array of external funding opportunities - plus details of our own funding, naturally.
January - New Voices Edinburgh launches in conjunction with Underbelly, offering members financial support, mentoring and the chance for their show to appear as part of Old Vic New Voices' debut season at the 2012 Fringe.
2011
December - The British Film Institute and HighTide become the latest high-profile arts organisations to sign up as partners.
October - Our 50,000th member signs up to IdeasTap.
September - National Skills Academy Creative & Cultural signs up as our latest partner organistion.
August - We set up a hub at the Edinburgh Fringe - at Underbelly - where members come to meet the IdeasTap team, get advice from Fringe veterans and recharge their batteries with breakfast (and drinks). Ideas Fund Edinburgh winners RashDash win a Fringe First for their show Scary Gorgeous.
June - Mobilise brief is launched exclusively for 16-19-year-olds, rewarding the best photography and film content produced on mobile phones. Our 40,000th member signs-up.
May - IdeasTap and Sky Arts launch the Sky Arts Ignition Futures Fund, a £150,000 bursary to support five artists and their work for a year.
April - Magnum Photos and IdeasTap commit to three-year partnership with an annual Photographic Award and subsidised Mangum Professional Practice workshops around UK.
March - 230 IdeasTap dancers win the chance to perform at the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium. £10,000 Top Up Fund solely devised and judged by our members is launched.
February - Our members creatively direct arts festival Coming Up in collaboration with OVNV.
2010
November - 21 lucky IdeasTap members win the chance to meet and be directed by Kevin Spacey, Artistic Director of The Old Vic Theatre, in The Class.
October - The National Student Drama Festival becomes our latest partner.
September - Mentoring from BBC Writersroom is offered through IdeasTap.
August - Ideas Fund Edinburgh award winners HighTide win a Fringe First with their production Lidless. Over 700 members perform in NYT’s S’warm and first £40k Ideas Fund Green launches.
June - NYT and IdeasTap move in together and our members travel to China with NYT to perform at the Shanghai World Expo.
May - IdeasTap website re-launches with a new look, new layout and a whole load of new features. Photographic Award in association with Magnum Photos launches.
April - We launch the world’s first youth-led online drama, Casino 52.
January - The Columnist brief launches, offering a six-month paid column for an IdeasTap member. We've run this opportunity every six months since.
2009
December - IdeasTap winners travel to Dubai with NYT to perform at the FIFA Club World Cup opening and closing ceremonies.
October – The first Ideas Fund winners are announced, including young playwright and Skins writer Atiha Sen Gupta. With the pilot successfully completed, an annual £150,000 Ideas Fund is launched.
September - IdeasTap members travel to New York as part of OVNV US/UK Exchange and we offer CV clinics with the RSC to our members.
June - Ideas Fund pilot launches offering a total of £50k split in awards from £500 to £5k for young people and their creative projects and received 365 entries.
May – OVNV launch The 24 Hour Plays on IdeasTap.com for the first time.
April – We award our first cash funding with £500 for Edinburgh marketing budgets.
February – Members of IdeasTap join our editorial board.
January - OVNV form a unique partnership with Theatre503 and IdeasTap to offer a young artist or company full production funding worth £35,000.
2008
December – Arts philanthropist Peter De Haan launches IdeasTap with founding partners Old Vic New Voices, National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and Polka Theatre.