The PAD Scheme was a programme managed by the Chinese Arts Centre, supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
The aim of the scheme was to provide emerging UK based artist of Chinese heritage, working across all art forms, with a programme of professional development to strengthen their artistic practice and career. The scheme offered artists career advice, artist surgeries, portfolio sessions, mentoring, advice on writing fundraising applications, putting together proposals, marketing and selling artwork, and exhibiting national and internationally. The scheme also funded the Centre's Whisper residencies and its First Step exhibitions from mid 2006. The artists on the scheme were also heavily involved in facilitating workshops at the Centre during this period.
To recruit the artists, the Centre using traditional marketing and Talent Scouts, established artists and curators who were recruited to find suitable artist for the scheme. The artist were recruited in 3 round: the first in Feb 2006, second in Jun 2006, and the third round in June 2007.
The PAD scheme was a national version of the Centre's north west focused project Creative Diversity: Greater Manchester, (2003-2006). The project was also carried out simultaneously with the Centre other artists development project: East Asian Strategic Training (EAST) scheme .