Evolve MentorDave Charlesworth

Over the past decade, Dave Charlesworth has developed a distinctive and practitioner‑centred approach to supporting creative professionals—one that bridges the shortcomings of traditional arts‑funding models with the practical ambition of building new, more resilient forms of cultural infrastructure.  As the founder of South Kiosk gallery, he programmed more than 80 exhibitions while actively mentoring emerging artists across all aspects of professional practice, including exhibition development and sustainable career planning. His co‑founding of Woodmill artist studios—supporting more than 150 artists—expanded his mentorship from individual guidance into systemic problem‑solving, focused on building the infrastructure needed to address structural failures in arts funding rather than helping artists merely navigate them.  In his current roles at KitMapper and KitMapper Ventures Studios, Dave has evolved this philosophy into what he describes as infrastructure mentorship: a model that provides artists not only with advice but with meaningful economic opportunity, investment pathways, and alternative funding mechanisms. His work with artists such as Al Hopwood—where securing £60k SEIS investment helped unlock an £850k project opportunity—exemplifies his commitment to mentorship as an active partnership rather than passive support.  With fifteen years of experience shaping alternative models across galleries, studios, and production companies, Dave consistently prioritises artist agency, transparent economics, and long‑term sustainability.