Ashley Foundation Application - Clwb Fideo
On behalf of the Clwb Fideo, comprising of more than 25 individuals based in Mid Wales, Stiwdio Dyfi has submitted a funding application to the Ashley Foundation. We share all of our applications for transparency. Here is what we talked about! For mre info on Clwb Fideo, follow this link
Ashley Foundation: Please describe your grant activity as briefly as possible:
Clwb Fideo: Providing accessible, high level digital skills opportunities through video making in Mid Wales. Clwb Fideo is a voluntary run video collective that is open to all ages and abilities. The collective is run as a membership club and pools together material and labour resources to make independent films with communities in Mid Wales.
AF: Tell us what the money will be spent on in one paragraph
CF: Equipment that members can borrow via an online booking system. The nearest camera equipment rental house is in Cardiff (an 8 hour round trip from Machynlleth). We’ll also spend it on masterclasses, project management and co-ordination.
Our proposal seeks funding to harness the transformative power of collaborative filmmaking, enhancing the well-being of individuals in Mid Wales. By prioritising the improvement of our members' lives whilst also enabling high-level film production, we aim to establish an inclusive and accessible club with the capability for quality output. Here, participants can acquire new skills, cultivate technical and social confidence, and bolster their physical and mental health through collaborative filmmaking. This project is crucial as Mid Wales lacks opportunities for advanced digital skills outside Aberystwyth University. Clwb Fideo serves as an exciting and accessible pathway into filmmaking.
AF: Project aims, outcomes and delivery:
CF: The project's aim is to enable people with an interest in filmmaking, a way of developing that interest collaboratively. We're inspired by the successes of the Nottingham and London Film Cooperatives with leading UK film figures such as Shane Meadows (This is England) emerging from a project similar to Clwb Fideo in the West Midlands. Overcoming the typical challenges associated with filmmaking is a vital aspect to Clwb Fideo—such as the need for skilled labour and expensive equipment—Clwb Fideo offers affordable equipment access through a booking system. It also establishes a community of like-minded individuals in Mid Wales, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing. High-level skill development is facilitated through masterclasses. Clwb Fideo yields tangible outcomes in the films produced, the transferable skills developed, the development of a mid Wales film culture and vibrant arts scene, while contributing to the enhanced well-being of its participants.
Monthly members and friends meetings showcase work through screenings held across Mid Wales. Village halls are transformed into underground screening venues using Stiwdio Dyfi's (Lottery funded) portable projection equipment.
Stiwdio Dyfi steers our project to young adults18-30 years as we are an organisation led by young adults. A recent survey of over 50 young adults in Mid Wales highlighted a demand for advanced transferable skills training for potential employment in the arts. Socially, young adults expressed a need for activities that bring them together, addressing feelings of isolation. Clwb Fideo is an initiative to address these needs. The results of the latest survey are available at https://www.stiwdiodyfi.org/news/6553e10a69931100013d736a.
Stiwdio Dyfi's three directors are professional filmmakers, and the Advisory Board includes 10 more professionals based in Mid Wales. The current Clwb Fideo membership comprises 25 individuals with varying skill levels. Laura Ashley funding will enhance the project for existing members and support aims to surpass 100 members by the end of 2025.
The project has informally operated for over a year, we are in the process of formalisation of our membership and structuring whilst working to secure grant funding to support regular, ongoing activity. This is in response to demand, building on the achievements to date and the interest uncovered. In the past 18 months, the group has organised over 30 workshops, including a film school programme for 18-30 year olds and weekly sessions with Ysgol Bro Hyddgen’s LGBTQI+ lunchtime group. Funding form the Ashley Foundation will further improve Clwb Fideo services, expanding workshops and access to a community of like minded individuals and equipment to be creative with.
Clwb Fideo will enable people with an interest in filmmaking, a way of developing that interest collaboratively. We're inspired by the successes of the Nottingham and London Film Cooperatives.
An important part of filmmaking is screening, using our portable cinema set up we will screen works by Clwb Fideo regularly creating as regular, meet up and networking space for our members. We will also run curated non member screening events open to local communities to attend. Sos Coch Sinema has been our primary way of reach new audiences.
Stiwdio Dyfi will be monitoring the impact of the grant through regular surveys and evaluation processes. An official steering committee will be formed from our membership.
What other project funding do you have in place or intend to apply for? Please state if secured, pending or planned? (50 words or less): Clwb Fideo originated from the Lottery Community Awards for All project, Digidol Dyfi Digital (https://www.stiwdiodyfi.org/digidoldyfidigital). We have applied for additional funding from the Lottery. Recently, we secured a £3,000 grant from Powys Association for Voluntary Organisations to purchase some entry level equipment.
If this project is ongoing, how do you plan to fund the project after any grant from AFF comes to an end? (50 words or less): We expect the project to continue well after the project funding runs out. We will source new funding to purchase any additional equipment and pay for more masterclasses. Once funding has run out we will also introduce a monthly membership fee so that our core overheads such as insurance and storage are covered.
AF: Who will be the beneficiaries?:
CF: The beneficiaries will mainly be young adults 18-30 as Stiwdio Dyfi aims it's activities towards this age group as there is a gap in provision in mid Wales for this demographic. Within this demographic, the project is most attractive to creatives and those interested in digital technology.
AF: Where will the beneficiaries be?: Wales-Wide
CF: Number of beneficiaries?: We expect to reach well over 100 members by the end of the two years. However we expect a great more people to benefit than just our members through screenings in the community and other activity.