New “What’s New?” items

Latest additions. See the What’s New page on the Creative Stoke website [ http://www.creativestoke.org.uk/whatsnew.html ] for full links and any images…

New! 18.05.09 A third issue of the local creative writing magazine Keele Writing is due to be launched on Thursday. Previous issues are available online at the Keele Writing website.

New! 18.05.09 Keele University is holding a one-day ‘Shoestring Festival’ writing challenge event on Thursday 21st May 09, including a workshop on the challenges to overcome when writing, and a talk about the M.A. Creative Writing degree at Keele. The event starts at 2pm at the Keele Postgraduate Association Clubhouse.

New! 18.05.09 County Show Radio will broadcast live from the Staffordshire County Showground on May 27/28 (Wed/Thu) on 87.7FM (just down the dial from BBC Radio 2), so you can ‘visit’ the show from your arm chair. We’re not entirely sure if the signal will be strong enough to reach Stoke-on-Trent from Stafford, but see what you can get on 87.7FM on the day. The station will be presented, in part, by local specialist community-licence presenter Shaun Geraghty.

New! 15.05.09 There’s a major comics production training opportunity for the West Midlands. Comix is run by Birmingham’s Hi8us, and tutored by John McCrea and Hunt Emerson — in the company of Laura Howell (The Beano), my former student Asia Alfasi (Native Narratives), and Stoke-on-Trent’s Andi Watson (Breakfast After Noon, Buffy)…

“If you’re 16 plus, with a passion for comic art and live in the West Midlands, then Hi8us Midlands’ latest FREE comic art scheme called COMIX, could be for you. All the lucky winners will also get to work with people on similar schemes across Europe and get a supported trip to a comic art festival in Spain as well as a trip to the Birmingham International Comics Show.”

There are 20 places available, and it’s all happening in Birmingham between June and November 09. The full flyer is here (PDF link).

Latest “What’s New” items

Latest additions. See the What’s New page on the Creative Stoke website [ http://www.creativestoke.org.uk/whatsnew.html ] for full links and any images…

New! 11.05.09 Staffordshire University’s Institute for Environment, Sustainability and Regeneration is set to host a Creative Industries and Creative Communities conference in Stoke-on-Trent, November 2009 (£119 + VAT). The organisers are currently calling for papers on: Promoting the creative industries sector, which policies work? ; Attracting, training, and supporting creative workers; and Fostering cultural creativity within creative communities.

New! 11.05.09 The New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, offers high-quality exhibition space to local artists, and they’re now seeking more artists to consider for future exhibitions. Creative Stoke has heard very positive things from visual artists who have shown at this venue, re: sales. Interested? Contact David Sunnuck, Front of House Manager, at: dsunnuck _at_ newvictheatre.org.uk

New! 11.05.09 The Sector Skills Council’s new Glazed Ceramics Industry Board was launched at the “Made in Staffordshire” event in Stoke-on-Trent, on 11th May 2009. Amid difficult times, the Board aims to: raise the profile of the ceramics industry to make it more appealing to young people; boost skills and investment in the workforce; and help develop new qualifications. More information for employers from Lisa Williams at: lisa _dot_ williamson _at_ proskills.co.uk

New items on Creative Stoke

Latest additions. See the What’s New page on the Creative Stoke website [ http://www.creativestoke.org.uk/whatsnew.html ] for full links and images…

New! 10.05.09 The excellent Stoke Sounds website now has a new social networking sister-site, Stoke Bands Network.

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New! 10.05.09 HeadTalk is a new informal opportunity for local artists to meet up, and to discuss issues in contemporary arts practice. It will happen on the first Tuesday of each month at Fat Cats bar in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent (7pm-9pm). More details from: info@headtalk.org.uk

New! 08.05.09 The new Wedgwood Museum in Barlaston has been shortlisted for the ‘Art Fund Museum of the Year Award’, which means it is down to the final four. They need a public vote now, if they are to win. The museum is dedicated to the people who have made objects of great beauty from the soil of Staffordshire, and celebrates the enterprise and tenacity of the universally-famous Wedgwood name. The building was also designed by local Stoke-on-Trent architects. You can vote via this link.

Most recent “What’s New” items on Creative Stoke

Latest additions. See the What’s New page on the Creative Stoke website [ http://www.creativestoke.org.uk/whatsnew.html ] for full links and images…

New! 06.05.09 Stoke-on-Trent’s AirSpace Gallery is hosting an artists’ talk by Ian Brown and Alex Pearl, as part of the “Trying to Cope with Things that Aren’t Human” exhibition at AirSpace. The talk will be on Saturday 9th May 09, at 2pm at the AirSpace Gallery. AirSpace writes…

“The show has been extended until the 9th of May, after great reviews in national, international and the art press. Notably the review in Art Monthly, just out.”

New! 06.05.09 Rebirth is a series of multi-artform events created to celebrate the transformation of the City General’s Maternity Hospital. A series of light-projection displays will lead up to the July launch at new Maternity Centre — a launch event that sounds like a good networking opportunity, especially for artists interested in health issues. Rebirth launch will also see launch of the documentary film and book, and will showcase artworks by local art students — sculpture, light-projections, paintings and installations for the new maternity centre. Both the book and DVD will be available for sale (any proceeds will go towards new art projects for the maternity centre). Watch for more details on Creative Stoke, nearer to July. More details from Rose Strang: rose.strang _at_ gmail.com.

Celine Siani Djiakoua has images on her weblog, and a description of her work as part of Rebirth.

New! 06.05.09 Arts Council England’s “Artists Taking the Lead” project is seeking artists from Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, who have ideas about how the West Midlands might be linked in to the 2012 London Olympics. 12 arts projects will be selected, one from each of the 12 regions.

New! 06.05.09 Added to the directory: Nicola Jane Hulme is a specialist tile designer/maker working from Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent.

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