Funding solution far from Lucid

MELBOURNE: Expansion plans for the Lucid Business Network have been put on hold as the organisation struggles to secure funding for the next two years.
Lucid was established in 2002 as a joint initiative of the Cities of Melbourne, Yarra and Stonnington and the Victorian State Government -- through the Victorian Streetlife Program - to support the development of small fashion and textile businesses.
However Lucid co-ordinator Kirsty McBeth said while Streetlife had pledged support for the next financial year to the tune of around $30,000, a minimum of two years financial support amounting to around $50,000 a year was still required.
Plans were afoot to introduce a membership fee for designers - who had confirmed they would be happy to pay - but funding was required over the short term to "take Lucid to the next stage", McBeth said.
"We want to establish training programs and events and to start marketing. Another objective is to establish a proper Lucid headquarters and offer enhanced services to our members, including space to showcase their work and apprenticeship programs established through working with educational institutions in Victoria.:
Lucid had recently met with the Victorian government and had secured the support of Minister Andre Haermeyer, whose portfolio included manufacturing, export and small businesses.
"He's currently assisting us in trying to find alternative funding streams," McBeth said.
The organisation was also trying to source an ausAs the largest regional business network of its kind supporting directional designers across all the major fashion categories - with members including high-profile women's fashion labels Arabella Ramsay, Belinda Fairbanks, Gwendolynne and Jenny Bannister - Lucid played a pivotal role alongside organisations. These included the Melbourne Design and Fashion Incubator - a "first stepping stone" for designers - and the newly-minted Australian Fashion Council, which was "still establishing its role" McBeth said.
Lucid ultimately hoped to extend its reach nationally, but its more urgent objective was to resolve its funding issues before the end of the financial year.
"The next few months are going to be pretty frenetic," she said.