As part of the Build Your Business programme, enterprise coach Imran Hussain is developing a series of case studies highlighting the entrepreneurial journeys of a number of startup founders and how the programme is helping them along those journeys. Imran’s been coaching Kayle McCoy of United Art Project in recent months and recently checked in with her to see how she’s progressed through the programme.
Tell us your story Kayle, what’s a day in the life of your work at United Art Project?
The United Art Project idea was formed in the comfort of Kayle’s living room back in March 2020 when Britain went into its first covid Lockdown. It was only meant to be a ‘little’ project to pass the time, to keep Kayle’s motivation up as she lost her freelance Dramatherapy work due to the UK closures. The Bradford council were advertising a small grant funding project called #response1 and Kayle wanted to use her Dramatherapy expertise to structure what was to become project 1. She used the power of unity through uncertainty to propel the project and to get the Bradford community applying to be a part of this collaborative and creatively expressive project that united households and provided some much-needed stability and excitement in what became a scary and isolating experience. On the 26thMay 2020, one hundred and twenty ‘Picasso’ members ranging from 5-93years old were given a 24-hour window to paint a canvas masterpiece in the confines of their home. Fast forward a few years to September 2022, and with the continued support of The Bradford Council; The United Art Project successfully exhibited all the canvas masterpieces in three community led locations, popping up and down over the course of just one weekend. It was a fantastic achievement to see the members of project 1 meet for the first time, TWO years later – talk about uniting people!
Yes, two years on and The United Art Project has had five projects funded by the Bradford council and their partners. The partners include Art Council England, The LEAP, and the European Regional development Fund (ERDF).
The United Art Project is made up of Kayle, a freelance Dramatherapist and Sarah a freelance fine artist and photographer. We (The United Art Project) have worked with lots of fabulous organisations and services across Bradford district – these include Sarahfearnephotography, OutLOUD, The Sutton Centre, Trapezium Art Gallery, Bradford Cathedral, Wibsey Community Garden, TFD-Holmewood and Bradford housing associations. We have designed and spraypainted shutters, Painted in the woods, in car parks and parks, in community halls and schools. We have also been commissioned to work in summer holiday camps and with children displaced by war.
The United Art Project is founded upon 4 pillars of operation, its purpose is to facilitate unique and bespoke experiences that offer: ‘Art for Free’, ‘Art to Unite’, ‘Art to Heal’, and ‘Art to Aspire’.
The aim is to provide free and easy access to art, painting and creative expression to members who are willing to engage with our services and projects. We will continue to manifest the belief that access to art and the art process should be made available for all to experience and partake in regardless of social economic status, age, or level of ability. Our art experiences do not and will not exclude any form of free-thinking, exploration, or representation within our society!
Your journey as an entrepreneur – the biggest opportunities and challenges; advice could you share with others starting out
I would advise anyone starting out to remain as solution focused as possible! Be a problem solver because you will then inadvertently become a problem preventer!
The biggest challenge was to learn the ropes of how to operate as a fully functional organisation. A business model; with all its complexities and necessity for clarity; is a mighty fete. I had to take the rejection, the ghosting, the setbacks, the mounds of paperwork: the logistical nightmares, the hours of online learning, and website reading; and run with them, headfirst, into the wind!
You are literally all departments – the marketing, promotion, facilitator, administrator and finances person: on top of the constitution, policy, procedure and successful bid writing person. You set up your bank account and appoint committee members, gain traction in the locality and build an online presence and prove yourself in the field! There is so much more to setting up a business than having a creative idea and a passion to see your ideas materialise, you must always be thinking several steps ahead!
The Initial zoom calls with CABAD in 2021, along with the (eventual-post-lockdown) face to face meetings with Imran at Impact hub in 2022 gave Kayle the motivation, direction and understanding needed to grow from a Community Association into a Community Interest Company. It was an interesting experience with Imran at impact hub as he too was on a journey of learning about the operations of different legal business structures and so, this part of the journey felt like a mutual sharing of findings. Bookkeeping tips and structures have been shared and demonstrated alongside business and entrepreneurial websites that look at funding, and at your company’s performance and its longevity.
The other relevant organisations that can support The UAP continue to be shared by Imran, and Kayle feels very welcome at the Impact hub as they offer an invitingly warm and welcoming multi functioning space. “I am forever grateful I saw an Instagram ‘story’ from the Impact hub that invited businesses to meet Kamran and learn more about social enterprise”.
How has Build Your Business helped develop your thinking and practice?
Initial zoom calls with CABAD in 2021, along with the (eventual-post-lockdown) face to face meetings with Imran Hussain at Impact Hub Bradford in 2022 gave me the motivation, direction and understanding needed to grow from a Community Association into a Community Interest Company. It was an interesting experience with Imran, as he too was on a journey of learning about the operations of different legal business structures and so, this part of the journey felt like a mutual sharing of findings. The other relevant organisations that can further support the UAP have been and continue to be shared by Imran, and we very welcome at the Hub as they offer an invitingly warm and welcoming multi-functional space.
I am forever grateful I saw an Instagram ‘story’ from the Hub that invited businesses to book on and to go meet CEO Kamran Rashid and learn more about social enterprise”. That meeting really boosted my confidence in the project, realising that The United Art Project can and will become a reputable organisation that will make my hometown and its people Picasso proud.
Bookkeeping tips and structures have been shared and demonstrated alongside business and entrepreneurial websites that look at funding, our company’s performance and it’s longevity.
What are your hopes and how you see your business developing?
The UAP aims to remain sustainable within the future landscape of current day UK, with all its ongoing funding cuts, austerity, and Prime Minister changes.
We want to build on the fantastic projects we have worked so hard on as a small CIC. We want to gain funding that enables us to work with, and alongside all ages and abilities. We want to be led by the communities we serve. We want to encourage more non-painters to paint and express, and we want to support and nurture the new Picassos of our time. Ultimately, we want every individual who picks up our paint brushes and strikes the provided canvas with colour; to believe in their abilities as a fully fledged Picasso artist.
We will be using the specific benefits of each pillar of operation (mentioned above) to write future bids and advertise and advocate the power of art and expression as a healing and transforming creative intervention. Kayle is a Dramatherapist after all and wants to apply her skillset in new areas of operation within the North.
Your entrepreneurial influences – whom do you look up to and admire?
I have a lot of self-employed influences in my locality, Flite Coaching, my brother, my dad is a freelance engineer. My friends such as Kirsty Taylor for her poetry and ‘bull by the horns’ approach to her work. My work partners Lauren Batty Sarah Fearnephotography. Northern Arts Factory. We are all Yorkshire folk with whom I can connect and resonate with. I have watched their journeys, I have learnt from their mistakes 😊 and I can now add my own mistake making into the mix and that is why The United Art Project as functionally robust as it is!
Ultimately, I am inspired by passion, unique ideas and vision, personal drive, integrity and self-motivation. However, I will always smile to myself when I read of investors making lots of profit from renting ATM machines …
