An award-winning Costa Rican artist with a background in graphic design and mixed media Image Entrepreneur case study Juli Bolaños-Durman Studied MFA Glass Edinburgh College of Art The idea An award-winning Costa Rican artist with a background in graphic design and mixed media, Juli repurposes found objects and transforms them into artwork to tell a story. “I love the challenge to appropriate objects using fun glass and reinterpreting them. Giving them an extra life, a second opportunity. I love the possibilities that you can fix the material. And from them on using the different cold working processes the piece becomes completely new. As a maker my business focuses on the concept of preciousness and how I develop ideas through intuitive play” Support from Edinburgh Innovations “I went to Edinburgh Innovations and they helped me to develop my business plan. It was great support and with their help I was able to present to sponsorship panels and get the Graduate Entrepreneur Visa. After that I got to apply for the Talent Visa, awarded by the Arts Council UK. That led me to five more years of being in the UK and pursuing more artistic business as an artist designer maker and focusing on mixed media.” Advice for budding entrepreneurs “I would recommend, especially to those in the creative businesses, don’t be overwhelmed by the road you need to travel. There is so much support, we were very lucky being part of the University of Edinburgh which prides itself in fostering new businesses.” I think the support at Edinburgh Innovations was fundamental, because I had never seen a business plan in my life The future “One of my main aims in the long term is that I want to establish my practice as a designer artist internationally.” Juli has won multiple awards for her work, as well as a contract with a leading international art dealer. She has been appointed Artist in Residence at Edinburgh College of Art twice, first in Jewellery and then in Glass. Feeling inspired? We have recently launched a new set of Enterprise Foundation Programmes to help those in niche areas startup. Find out more about creative businesses This article was published on 2024-07-01
