Added to Creative Stoke, 24th March 2010

^{New! 24.03.10}    
Volunteers are required for a children’s arts festival at Barnswood, near Leek, in Staffordshire. Set for 18th to 24th August 2010, the Just So Festival is a weekend-long festival of creativity set in a beautiful woodland landscape. Volunteers are needed for a huge variety of tasks from checking tickets and managing car parking to keeping the site clean. There will be opportunities for each volunteer…

“to spend some time working alongside experienced practitioners, bestselling authors, innovative theatre groups, award-winning illustrators and internationally renowned companies.”

You will be given training in advance of the festival. If you would like further information and an application form, please email:  sarah@justsofestival.org.uk

^{New! 24.03.10}    
Job:  Cheshire Dance needs cover for a maternity leave. They requires a Dance Development Artist for Cheshire West and Chester, at a minimum of four days per week. You’ll deliver and manage a programme of regular classes and projects. Application deadline: 19th April 2010. For an application form, please contact Lesley-Ann Parry at: lesleyann@cheshiredance.org

^{New! 24.03.10}    
Libraries across Stoke-on-Trent are holding a new competition, “My city, my story”. It calls on the people of the city to tell their tale — based in the past, present or future, in or around the city. The competition is open to those over age 16, and no entry can longer than 2,500 words. The first prize is a netbook PC, the second is £100 of Waterstones vouchers, and third is £50 of Waterstones vouchers. All submissions need to be typed, with a cover sheet giving personal information including name, address, telephone number and word-count. Only one entry per person is allowed. You can enter the competition by handing in their entry in at any Stoke-on-Trent library. Deadline: 26th June 2010.

^{New! 24.03.10}    
The Lottery-funded National Heritage Memorial Fund has stepped in to match public donations, and has saved the Staffordshire Hoard for Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham. The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery will celebrate by putting on two showings of a new National Geographic Channel film on Friday 26th March 2010. The 50-minute documentary, produced to the highest standards by Fulcrum Television, tells the story of how the hoard was discovered. The makers of the documentary will be on hand to introduce the screenings and talk about the film. Screenings are at 3pm and 6pm, and are open to anyone to attend. Tickets cost £10 for the afternoon showing and £15 for the evening screening, which will include a behind-closed-doors viewing of the hoard. To book your ticket for either of the screenings, please email museums@stoke.gov.uk

^{New! 24.03.10}    
Job:  Stoke on Trent Theatres have a vacancy for a full-time Creative Learning Officer. You’ll provide comprehensive administrative support for a wide range of creative activities, working closely with the CL Manager, freelance artists and venue staff to ensure the potential of the department is realised. You’ll be able to keep good records, and deal with project budgets, databases and monitoring. For an application form and full job description please contact: Patricia Crowther on 01782 211222 or email:  patriciacrowther@theambassadors.com.  Application deadline: 14th April 2010, with interviews on 23rd April 2010.

Added to Creative Stoke, 22nd March 2010

^{New! 22.03.10}    
People Dancing: West Midlands has £100,000 of financial assistance available to not-for-profit organisations running projects that get more people to take up dance in the West Midlands. Application deadline: 9th April 2010.

^{New! 22.03.10}    
AirSpace Gallery, located adjacent to the city museum in Stoke-on-Trent, is inviting proposals from artists interested in a £1,500 residential commission. The successful artist will work with an empty shop space in the city-centre, as part of the Conjunction arts festival in summer 2010, to produce new work. This new work will explore…

“the organisational structures and strategies, both within the Conjunction Biennial and the regional regeneration environment.”

Full details and brief from:  airspaceinfo@btinternet.com

This coming weekend AirSpace will host a free Saturday lunchtime panel-discussion. On 27th March 2010 (1pm), David Schischka Thomas (Senior Curator at the New Art Exchange, Nottingham) will talk with Chinmoyi Patel and Kashif Nadim Chaudry.

^{New! 22.03.10}    
The Birmingham-based Rhubarb-Rhubarb is offering new ‘Hungry’ Bursary Awards to photographers in the West Midlands. Applicants should already be making work which explores…

“where documentary, commercial and fine art practices merge or cross over”

There is a £20 submission fee. For full details please see the PDF brief.

^{New! 22.03.10}    
Job:  Staffordshire County Council Arts & Museum Service (SAMS) requires someone to undertake a research project as part of moves toward creating a new Staffordshire Youth Arts Network. Research will include: i) conducting an audit of existing Staffordshire youth arts activity and organisations; ii) looking at existing models of youth arts networks in other areas to identify best practice and identify additional development needs; iii) consultation, leading to the development of a model for a Staffordshire Youth Arts Network, including recommendations about its practical operation, management and sustainability. The inclusive fee will be £6,000. Application deadline: 12th April 2010. Full brief can be found here.

^{New! 22.03.10}    
Job:  The National Trust in the East Midlands requires a part-time Contemporary Art Development Officer (job ref: NT10/04973). You’ll be an arts professional who can build and engage new audiences through contemporary visual art, and will work for 22.5 hours per week from Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire. Application deadline: 26th March 2010

^{New! 22.03.10}    
Job:  The Lichfield-based National Dance Teachers Association requires a Director. The job entails working three days each week. Application deadline: 31st March 2010.

^{New! 21.03.10}    
Job:  The Poetry School is seeking to appoint a Regional Programme Co-ordinator for Manchester and the North-West. Application deadline: 22nd March 2010.

^{New! 21.03.10}    
Derby, easily-accessible on the train from Stoke-on-Trent, has announced a Professional Practice Summer School for photographers, as part of the 2010 Format International Photography Festival. Led by photographer Simon Norfolk, The Format Summer School will take place on 14th – 18th June (inclusive), offering an intensive five-day research-oriented workshop that seeks to support personal photographic growth. Just eight places are available, for serious participants only. The deadline for applications is 26th April 2010.

^{New! 21.03.10}    
Cheshire East Borough Council requires a contracting partner for the provision of a new creative services partner agency. Application deadline: 26th March 2010.

Added to Creative Stoke, 17th March 2010

^{New! 17.03.10}    
Job:  Derbyshire County Council requires a Professional Storyteller to work with library staff and musicians as part of the “Derbyshire Story, Rhythm and Rhyme” arts project. Quotation documents are available from: Carolyn O’Neill, Books for Babies Assistant, Cultural & Community Services, at: carolyn.o’neill@derbyshire.gov.uk  Applications by email, no later than 23rd April 2010. Please quote reference number: Q/AE/SW/01/2010

^{New! 17.03.10}    
Job:  Robert Marsden of Stoke-on-Trent’s Reveal Theatre Company is seeking freelance Theatre Practitioners for their “Game On” programme, following a recent expansion. Please see the Reveal Theatre Website for further details, or read the flyer (PDF link).

^{New! 17.03.10}    
Ceramic artist Alex Shimwell is running workshops for pottery beginners across Stoke-on-Trent, funded by Staffordshire University. Contact Alex for more details.

Added to Creative Stoke, 12th March 2010

^{New! 12.03.10}    
Those interested in the cultural implications of affordable rural broadband might like to know about the one-day conference Connecting Rural Communities in the Digital Age (PDF link) happening on 16th March 2010 at the Staffordshire County Showground.

^{New! 12.03.10}    
Job:  the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, are seeking an Outreach Technical & Project Manager to join the outreach department ‘New Vic Borderlines’. £19,500 per year, 40 hours per week. Application deadline: 6th April 2010. For an application pack email:  admin@newvictheatre.org.uk

^{New! 12.03.10}    
Ahead of the General Election and possible heavy funding cuts to the arts, The Crafts Council has just launched a new website called Crafts Matter. It seems rather late now to affect decisions that have probably already been made — but the website aims to demonstrate what craft activities mean in people’s lives, and to provide a visual representation of the “Crafts Matter” pledge signatories.

^{New! 12.03.10}    
In the face of likely funding cuts to the arts, Arts & Business is undertaking a programme of research and activity into how the use of social media might offer new opportunities for income generation from business sponsors. They are looking for “good practice” examples of arts organisations using social media, and online businesses which are in strong cultural-commercial partnerships. For more information and to get involved, please contact Joanne South at: joanne.south@artsandbusiness.org.uk

^{New! 12.03.10}    
Clowne Junior School in North East Derbyshire is seeking an artist to work with Year 5 on a collaborative Culture Week project in the week beginning 28th June 2010. This will focus on South America. Interested? More details from: info@davidgilbert.org.uk

Added to Creative Stoke, 11th March 2010

^{New! 11.03.10}    
Google’s Street View photo-coverage of the city Stoke-on-Trent is now live. All sorts of creative possibilities arise from this ability to survey the city from the comfort of a PC…

Stoke-on-Trent train station, looking down toward the University.

Added to Creative Stoke, 10th March 2010

^{New! 10.03.10}    
Applications for the 2010 Lord Stafford Awards will be open from 1st April 2010. The Awards are given to outstanding collaborative ventures between businesses and universities. See the website for full details.

^{New! 10.03.10}    
Staffordshire University is launching new three-year degrees for September 2010 entry. New courses include Celebrity Journalism and Textile Surfaces, among others.

^{New! 10.03.10}    
If you’re already considering buying an Apple Mac for specialist business purposes, and don’t want to trek to Birmingham or Manchester to consult an Apple store guru, the leading Apple reseller MCC is hosting… “a free Business Workshop for local businesses” at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, on 31st March 2010 (11.30pm – 5.30pm). To register call: 01925 444499.

^{New! 09.03.10}    
West Bromwich-based Longhouse and artist Anna Francis are seeking four artists. You’ll undertake short investigations of public spaces where you live or work. These West Midlands commissions aim to explore the impact that you can make in one place in one day. Application deadline: 17th March 2010. Fee: £50 to cover expenses. All projects must be complete by the end of the month, and the results of your project will be included in the Talking City e-zine. For full details, please visit the web page.

Added to Creative Stoke, 9th March 2010

^{New! 09.03.10}    
Added to the Directory: The Hindu Cultural Society, Staffordshire. The Society also appears to draw membership from Cheshire.

^{New! 09.03.10}    
Added to the Events list:  Staffordshire University has a free public lecture on cultural masterplans for cities. Architect Dan Dubowitz will give the talk “Cultural masterplanning: the remaking of cities” on 29th April 2010 (7.30pm) at the Ashley Lecture Theatre LT1, on the Stoke-on-Trent campus of Staffordshire University. More information from:  c.j.dover@staffs.ac.uk

^{New! 09.03.10}    
Youth Music’s Open Programme of grants is now open for applications. Grants of between £5,000 and £30,000 are available. Deadlines for the 2010 programme are: 10th May 2010; 10th September 2010; 10th December 2010. Given the likelihood of swift post-election funding cuts to the arts, the 10th May deadline might be the best one to aim for?

^{New! 09.03.10}    
Added to the Events list:   PiCL‘s Enquiry School Programme supports schools who want to explore creative approaches to learning. They are now seeking thirty-one schools across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire to be part of this programme in the 2010/11 school year. A breifing event will be held on 16th March 2010, from 4.30pm – 6.30pm, at PiCL HQ, 14a King Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

^{New! 09.03.10}    
Artist Miriam Burke is offering a number of drop-in participatory workshops in drawing ancient rocks (6th & 7th April 2010, 11am – 4pm) at Newcastle Borough Museum & Art Gallery, to accompany her new exhibition which launches on Saturday 13th March 2010 at 2pm – 4pm. “Know this Place for the First Time” is a sci-art exhibition arising from Miriam’s work with the glacier scientists at Keele University. The show is inspired by the local landscape of North Staffordshire — and its intriguing geological history when under the Ice Age snow, ice and glaciers of 18,000 years ago. There is also an accompanying show, “Inspirational Landscapes”, which considers the ways in which our contemporary landscape has been an inspiration to both artists and scientists.

In Miriam Burke’s Albedo project, wax-casts of visitors’ fingertips were placed around the venue, as if they were tiny ice-flowers.

^{New! 09.03.10}    
An experienced guitarist based in Stoke-on-Trent is seeking…

“any available studio work, anything from demos to full albums. Comfortable with a fair range of styles. No gigging work please as — after 150-odd gigs over 18 years — I’m now looking to gain more studio experience.”

Added to Creative Stoke, 8th March 2010

^{New! 08.03.10}    
Job:  Following some recent criticism, Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Press and Communications Department now needs a new Chief Press Officer.

^{New! 08.03.10}    
The British Library and Chartered Management Institute (CMI) are running a competition for the best management books, after a survey showed just five percent of British managers are using such books when they have work problems or need to plan ahead. The competition offers a £5,000 cash prize, and is open to individual authors, publishers or agents. Full details at the Management Book of the Year website. Readers can also nominate books by emailing: managementbooks@managers.org.uk

^{New! 08.03.10}    
Added to the Directory: Bromley&Stone is a full-service marketing agency based in Stafford.

^{New! 07.03.10}    
Local autism and aspergers campaigner and author Kevin Healey is looking for a film director who might consider his autobiography, Twin Brothers, Worlds Apart, as a potential feature film — from which proceeds would go to Staffordshire Adults Autistic Society. For more information please contact the charity at:  infosaas@ntlworld.com  or phone 01782 617088.

Added to Creative Stoke, 5th March 2010

^{New! 05.03.10}    
Added to the Directory: Simon Manby is a bronze sculptor, based at Wootton in North Staffordshire.

“Girl on The Seawall” by Simon Manby.

^{New! 05.03.10}    
Added to the Directory: Staffordshire Patchworkers and Quilters.

^{New! 05.03.10}    
Derbyshire Open Studios has announced 2010 dates: 29th to 31st May 2010. A free brochure will be… “available in April”, and they’re now inviting people to sign up to receive a copy.

^{New! 05.03.10}    
The UK Film Council has a new fund to support the use of the internet in film marketing. Application deadline: 31st March 2010. Five grants of “up to £30,000” are available to pay for…

“digital promotional and marketing materials such as…. * creating digital assets such as clips, trailers, podcasts, stills, etc; * developing social media elements such as blogs, widgets and social networking profiles; * interactive websites; and * viral marketing.”

Added to Creative Stoke, 4th March 2010

^{New! 04.03.10}    
Shropshire’s Pandora’s Box 2010 is seeking alternative cabaret/vaudevillian acts for their monthly parlour night at the Albert and Pearl. Your act needs to have a shade of the dark / macabre in it, but can be from any discipline. It needs to be less than 15 minutes and use as little props/lighting as possible. They will also be starting a regular Tuesday night at “another exciting venue” in April 2010. Expenses / basic remuneration will be paid – details on application. Next shows are on 1st April and 6th May 2010, starting at 8pm. More details from: mail@kvproduction.com

^{New! 03.03.10}    
Added to the Directory: Choose Industry, based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

^{New! 03.03.10}    
Stoke-on-Trent solicitors Beswicks are kindly sponsoring a competition for wildlife and landscape photographers. Categories include: Lure of the Landscape; Wonders of Wildlife; Environmentally Friendly; and On the Water. Prizes include a four-day photography holiday, and a half day with The Sentinel newspaper’s photographers. Deadline: 1st June 2010. See the website for more details.