GPF – Ocean Studios, Plymouth

The renovation of a Grade 1 listed factory to provide artist studios and workshops, exhibition space and retail units.

Ocean Studios is a Community Interest Company whose aim is to provide affordable studios for over 100 artists within the Royal William Yard, Plymouth.

By creating specialist provision in the form of a unique managed workspace, Ocean Studios will boost creative enterprise in the city and engage local people with the arts.

In addition to individual studios, shared spaces, and well-equipped workshops, Ocean Studios will also have two education spaces. Here there will be workshops, seminars, and conferences hosted, in addition to an exhibition/retail space providing our resident artists the opportunity to sell their work.

The vibrant creative community built around Ocean Studios will act as a catalyst, revitalising Plymouth as a cultural destination and re-engaging the city with the national arts dialogue.

Outputs:

Refurbished Buildings: 1900sqm
Jobs 104

More information at: www.oceanstudios.org.uk

Growing Places Loan Funding £0.8m

Total Funding: £4.1m

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    David Ralph

    Chief Executive

    David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

    Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

    David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.