Added to Creative Stoke, 1st January 2012

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Issue One of the new Staffordshire University creative writing publication Work In Progress is now available online…

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Tunstall Public Library in Stoke-on-Trent is offering a short course in the Windows Movie Maker video-editing software. Starts Wednesday 18th January 2012, 5pm – 6.30pm for six weeks.

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Volunteer post: A Group Facilitator is required for the Stoke-on-Trent Libraries “Get Into Reading” scheme. Shared reading groups meet in libraries and other venues around the city. Stories, poems and extracts from novels are read aloud, and discussed by members of the groups, led by a Shared Reading facilitator. Members find that the weekly sessions are fun, relaxing and enjoyable. This opportunity is currently on offer with a closing date for applications of 31 January 2012. Training takes place on the first three Wednesdays in March 2012. For more information on becoming a Group Facilitator please contact Anne Mackey at:  anne.mackey@stoke.gov.uk

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A new local blog has been started, to collect together just the good news from Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.

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Added to the Directory: Jennifer Collier creates unique one-off pieces with recycled vintage papers.

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Stoke Stone & Stafford Social Media Surgery has a meeting on 9th January 2012 (7pm – 9pm), at The Sun Inn pub in the town of Stafford.

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Staffordshire County Council’s ‘Making Moves’ craft development initiative is offering a two month residency in Solihull (south Birmingham). This will run between 6th February and 30th March 2012, and will work with local elderly residents. Deadline for applications: 6th January 2012. Full information from Aimee Green, Solihull Arts Development Officer, at:  agreen@solihull.gov.uk

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Woodfest is a festival of countryside crafts, set to happen as a fringe part of the major 2012 Staffordshire County Show (6th – 7th June 2011). Woodfest will include: Charcoal Making and Chain Saw Carving; Oak Swill Basket Making with one of only two professional oak swill basket makers in the Country; Country Crafts workshops; and Clog Making with Jeremy Atkinson, Britain’s last remaining clog maker, and more.

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Interested in playing folk music for dancing? Stafford Folk Players now have a variety of workshop dates set for 2012, including their big 2012 Music Day on Sunday 13th May 2012. Details of ticket costs at the website. The website says…

“All of our tutors are very well qualified to both teach and perform at a very high standard. They are well-known and highly respected on the National Folk Circuit, and abroad. Many are teachers of music, or lecturers at colleges of music. The caller is also of national repute and is also a musician.”

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Nearby Stockport Arts has issued its call for participants in its Artists 2012 Open (12th May – 24th June 2012). Deadline: 20th April 2012.

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Redstone Willows has announced its 2012 programme of willow-weaving workshops. The workshops are held at Alsager, and are booking now.

Willow sculpture made at Redstone Willows.

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The Textile Study Group is holding its residential summer school in nearby Shropshire in July 2012.

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The nearby Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival is set to happen in April 2012, and will have a range of workshops and masterclasses on offer. The full programme will be listed online in early 2012.

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The Peak District Artisans‘ Young Artist of the Year competition 2012 is now open, to those aged 16-19 who are resident… “in and around the Peak District”. Young artists are invited to submit work on any subject matter and in any creative discipline, both 2D and 3D. The PDA are especially seeking work that… “demonstrates a unique insight and creative vision as well as skill with materials”. There is a £200 cash prize, and the opportunity to take part in the annual PDA exhibition. Deadline for entries: 8th June 2012. Full details can be found here.

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The UK Heritage Lottery Fund has recently agreed an increased budget for new awards in 2012-13 of £375m, an increase of £120m on the previous year. They currently expect the increase funds to filter into programmes with community arts potential, such as: the Parks for People budget (£24m across the UK); the Townscape Heritage Initiative budget (£14m, with an additional application round in 2012 for decision in March 2013); and the Young Roots programme (provides grants of between £3,000 and £25,000 for heritage projects which engage 13-25 year olds).

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The Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts has a ‘Start’ scheme, for children to begin to develop a lasting relationship with a specific arts venue and art form. ‘Start’ is now actively seeking passionate and committed partner organisations to work with it to develop and deliver ‘Start’ for pupils from primary and secondary schools in their local area. It is looking to recruit six to ten new partners for the 2012/13 academic year. Application guidelines are online here (PDF link). Application deadline: 1st February 2012.

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The UK’s Nominet Trust is currently inviting applications for funded projects working with older people (65+) to design new and better ways for older people to access and use the Internet. Deadline: 1st February 2012.

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