Philip and Marcus: helping glass blowers in Victoria
01 June 2003
Phil and Marcus in their studio.
With the opening of their studio Freeformed, Philip Stokes and Marcus Dillon are responding to the needs of glass blowers in Victoria.
Business partners, Philip and Marcus realised there was a shortage of glass blowing facilities in Melbourne after completing their respective degrees in glass blowing and finding there was no proper facility to utilise their skills.
With a business idea to open a studio, they enrolled in a NEIS program through Kangan Batman TAFE. They found the NEIS program helped them in starting up their business.
“The NEIS program helped us in planning our business and with basic business systems. The program helped us with basic bookwork and how to manage the legal side of things. The NEIS program basically taught us everything we needed to know about starting our small business, making sure we had everything sorted out before we undertook anything,” says Philip.
“Visits to our business by our mentor was the best part of the NEIS program. We had four visits over 12 months, this gave us an opportunity to sit down and talk about marketing possibilities or any other problems we were facing.”
Freeformed in Fitzroy, offers a unique city ‘hotshop’ access in Melbourne, delivering support to the needs of students, emerging artists and professional glass blowers, whilst offering a centre for cultural exchange, education and artistic dialogue.
“The aim of our business is to provide a place for ourselves and others in our industry where we can practice our craft with the best of equipment and environment. Our studio also provides workshops of international standard in contemporary glass practices for school groups and adults.”
“Through acting as an incubator for emerging and established artists, and as an education centre Freeformed looks at delivering affordable and accessible facilities to increase our own productivity and to nurture Melbourne’s glass talent. Individuals from all areas of Melbourne and rural Victoria use our facilities. Glass artists demand good quality glass in the furnace, a ventilated work environment and a structured timetable, which we are able to provide,” says Philip.
The NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) provided through Kangan Batman TAFE, is a commonwealth government program to help eligible social security recipients gain self-employment. This program includes training in small business management, a business plan, one year of income support and mentor support. Kangan Batman TAFE’s Business Enterprise Centre services inner Melbourne, western and northwestern suburbs.
