About Medwayish
Medwayish is a Community Interest Company working with a talented community of local artists, makers, and creatives to design and sell products that tell the stories of our towns and people. We aim to inspire pride in Medway by celebrating what makes us unique.
In a world where UK shoppers spent over £12 billion on Amazon alone in 2024, we believe it’s more important than ever to create opportunities to support independent creatives and the local economy.
Our collaborative approach to working with creatives means we support them through the process of product design and creation, sharing practical skills and knowledge that add value to their creative business.
If you’re looking for thoughtful gifts for Medway friends, something unique for your home, or fancy supporting independent creatives while shopping locally, we’d love your support.
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Medwayish CIC Community Interest Statement
Beneficiaries
Artists, writers, designers, performers, musicians and creatives living in an area of deprivation. Medwayish Community Interest Company will support and mentor them to develop their creative practice, produce original material and commemorate the Medway Towns.
Whilst this will predominantly focus on works by Medway creatives inspired by the Medway Towns, we will also consider works about Medway by creatives outside of Medway, and work by Medway creatives that are not about Medway, where suitable.
Businesses in the Medway Towns, by supporting the development, production, launching and showcasing of original merchandise and creative works.
Residents of the Medway Towns, looking to support pride in place by enabling and purchasing original merchandise and creative works.
Activities & Related Benefit
Activity: Medwayish Community Interest Company will proactively work within a variety of creative fields, working with new and established Medway talent to produce original works. Providing a programme of mentoring from initial concept, supporting them financially and challenging them creatively through the development process, and demonstrating mutual responsibility for the final product.
Benefit: The community will benefit by bringing together a talented community of professional artists and businesses, celebrating the rich diversity of cultural activities and artistic expression in Medway.
The community will benefit by providing a professional platform for artists at all levels of experience and career.
Activity: Medwayish Community Interest Company will produce original merchandise, these products will be brought to market both online and through real world opportunities. Where suitable products by Medway creatives already exist, wholesale agreements will be reached to support the sale of those items.
Wherever possible local businesses will be engaged in the development, production, launch, exhibition and sale of these products. Including fairs, festivals and other suitable local events,
Benefit: The community will benefit by creating opportunities for the public to connect with local artists and learn about different art practices.
The community will benefit by improving knowledge of the potential market in hyperlocal merchandise.
The community will benefit by providing exposure to commercial market practices.
Activity: Medwayish Community Interest Company will support development, pre-production and production of items where possible through the use of crowdfunding tools and techniques, to ensure that the creatives are meaningfully paid, and high-quality work is produced.
The company and its products will be developed in a sustainable and environmental fashion. Working towards ensuring Net Zero and that Medwayish continues beyond the involvement of its initial directors.
Activity: Medwayish Community Interest Company will support the development of Pride in Place, through producing original merchandise based around the stories and people of the Medway Towns.
These niche products will be made to the best possible specifications suitable for the item, to ensure a high-quality result.
Through events, products and community engagement, this will aim to help to enable residents of the Medway Towns to feel a positive emotion towards their community, developing attachments, and supporting young people to better understand their lived environment.
Benefit: The community will benefit by supporting collaborations between artists and the neighbourhoods that they work in.
The community will benefit by promoting the vibrant community and cultural network of Medway.
The community will benefit by creating opportunities for the public to connect with local artists and learn about different art practices.
The community will benefit by having high quality products, they would be proud to own and buy as gifts for family and friends
If the company makes any surplus, it will be used for:
- Subsidising events to launch products and promote Medwayish Community Interest Company activities.
- Supporting Medway festivals and events through advertising and participation.
- Increasing funding towards the development of new projects and products
- Promotion of the existing catalogue of products
- Investment in equipment and spaces to promote and showcase events and products
- Community workshops and engagement around the development of new products and the promotion of existing merchandising.
- The training and development of the Medway Community Interest Company team
- Becoming a Living Wage Employer