Hi, I’m Ade.

I've made my life in Norwich UK, and I’m raising funds to support my son in kick-starting his business – and because I’m frustrated at the lack of tangible support out there for young, creative people who don’t head down the university route.

Otto is 20, and for the last three years, he’s been teaching himself the craft of luthiership (guitar building). He’s very a talented player but prefers to be out of the limelight, building rather than performing. He has a passion and feel for musical instruments that has impressed everyone who has seen (and played) his work and, whilst I have faith in his talent and skill, I have little to offer by way of financial help.

After teaching himself by building guitars in the backyard (freezing in the East Anglian winters!), he’s been working with a small specialist guitar company as a freelancer for the last year, giving him the chance to earn a peppercorn income, while honing his skills. Crucially, it’s also given him access to a workshop space and the equipment needed to allow him to start building his own instruments from scratch.

In September, he’ll no longer have access to this workshop space and will have to go it alone.

At just 20, no bank is going to offer him a loan to rent a space and help him get started, and the main product he wants to develop (a hand-built semi-acoustic archtop) needs time and space to bring to life. He knows his markets and has the determination needed to succeed.

His mother loves him (that’s me) but all I can offer by way of support is a dilapidated brick shed in dire need of renovation. It has power that needs upgrading, it needs to be made structurally sound again, and it has to be dry.

But it would be a solid start.

It would be a workshop.

If Otto has a space in which to work, he can produce the guitars he knows he can sell (see above) whilst giving him time to develop the guitar that might just make his name down the line. He’s not out to make a fortune but to develop his craft and create beautiful instruments for others to enjoy.

If I reach my target, it will give me the finance I need to make the shed secure, warm and dry, and help towards some of the more specialist tools that he needs but will lose access to in September.

If you love beautiful instruments, value hand-built objects and the skill required to create them, or simply want to encourage a talented 20-year-old to fulfil his ambitions, then I’d appreciate your support.

Thanks,

Ade