Added to Creative Stoke, 1st June 2010

^{New! 01.06.10}    
Script is running a series of one-day playwriting workshops in Summer 2010. North Staffordshire will have a workshop at the New Vic Theatre on 19th June 2010: “Writing Site-Specific Theatre”, but there are also several others dotted around Birmingham and the West Midlands. The price per workshop is £50 (£40 concessions). For more information see the brochure or email: info@scriptonline.net

^{New! 01.06.10}    
At the other end of the West Midlands, Hereford Photography Festival’s Open Exhibition is now inviting submissions. Deadline: 31st May 2010. Entry Fee: £15.

^{New! 01.06.10}    
Women in Rural Enterprise are to hold a three-day Start Your Business event (8th, 15th, 22nd July 2010) at Rudyard Lake in North Staffordshire. The event is free to women in the West Midlands who are either i) just starting a business or ii) have been in business for less than 12 months. See the website for full details.

^{New! 01.06.10}    
The Animation Forum West Midlands website is planning a makeover, and they are asking interested parties for suggestions on what should be done with it, and which new feature would be useful to local animators. Please add your ideas to the Facebook discussion thread.

^{New! 01.06.10}    
Alison Wood, at New Ford Primary School in Stoke-on-Trent, is seeking artists with ideas on how to help the school to celebrate the centenary of Stoke-on-Trent. There is only a very minimal budget, unless artists can bring some in-hand funding or business sponsorship with them. Full details from Alison at: awood@sgfl.org.uk

^{New! 01.06.10}    
Clare has a new set of Flickr photos documenting the Burslem Arts Trail. Over sixty venues will take part in the Burslem Arts Trail (4th-6th June 2010), mixing together a great range of exhibitions, themed walks, restaurants, cafes, pubs, fun family workshops, shops, music and open studios. An annotated map will be available for the event.

^{New! 01.06.10}    
Stoke town (Stoke-upon-Trent) is to see an empty town-centre shop transformed into a temporary arts venue. The organisers are now seeking studio artists for short-term lets during June – Oct 2010. Cost is £20 per week. More details at the website.

^{New! 01.06.10}    
The Six Towns One City Carnival 2010 is now in the planning stages and the organisers are seeking those interesting in hiring carnival stalls…

“We are currently offering: space for your company logos and banners that will form coverage across the site, stall spaces to sell your product or promote your company, as well as companies who have their own means of running their business at the carnival. All business types will be considered.”

^{New! 01.06.10}    
Leek’s Summer Jam music/arts festival (Leek Hockey Club, 14th August 2010) is seeking people to present taster workshops…

“from painting to sculpture, performance, making — anything you can think of that would enrich the experience of the festival goers and increase your profile. You could do workshops with kids or adults or simply turn up and do your thing. Pitches are free. If you need to charge, that’s OK”.

^{New! 01.06.10}    
Job:  Staffordshire University require a 0.2 Lecturer in 3D Design (Wood & Plastics) (Ref: AMD09/16). You’ll be based at the Stoke-on-Trent Campus. Application deadline: 9th June 2010. Full details from the university website.

^{New! 01.06.10}    
Job:   Staffordshire University require a Senior Researcher (Ref: AMD09/15), as part of the Creative Thinking Applied Research Centre. You’ll identify opportunities to link research with the needs of public, private and third sector organisations. Deadline: 9th June 2010. Full details from the university website.

^{New! 01.06.10}    
Job:  Stafford Borough Council requires someone to handle the marketing and communications for Stafford Gatehouse Theatre. Application deadline: 18th June 2010. Full details from:  humanresources@staffordbc.gov.uk

^{New! 28.05.10}    
West Midlands Graduate Advantage are seeking entrants for the WeForest Games design competition. Games artists and animators, programmers, developers and audio graduates will design a social-media serious-game called WeForest, about the need for re-forestation. Applications must be made through Graduate Advantage.

Added to Creative Stoke, 25th May 2010

^{New! 25.05.10}    
The UK’s Skillset Creative Media Workforce Survey 2010 is now open for online completion…

“Whether you are an employer, an employee or a freelancer, what you tell us about your skills needs, experience of training and recruitment, future plans and working patterns will help us produce the most comprehensive profile of working life in the UK’s creative media industries. The results of the surveys will directly and quickly shape all our work, including future training support, pin-pointing skills gaps and what more we can do to make sure our industries maintain their world-class position.”

^{New! 25.05.10}    
Job: The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery requires a full-time Assistant Collections Officer (Zoology) (ref: 000560). It’s a temporary post until 31st March 2011. A certain amount of creative stagecraft (dramatic lighting, set-dressing, posing of animals, graphic design of interpretation boards, etc) seems inherent in the job, which is why it’s being listing on Creative Stoke.

^{New! 25.05.10}    
“If Wards Could Talk”, is a new Heritage Lottery Fund history project, recording memories of Stoke-on-Trent’s hospital over the last 50 years. It will be launched at the Medical Institute, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent on 27th May 2010 at 12.30pm. The organisers aim to collect stories through oral history interviews and life story “surgeries”. These will be used to create displays, a documentary film, a book, and an exhibition. The launch event offers a chance to learn how the project will work and how to take part.

^{New! 25.05.10}    
Manor High Foundation School – located in Wednesbury in the Black Country – requires a New Media and/or Film Practitioner to work with a group of approximately thirty children (year 7/8) who have… “a mixed record of attending and engaging with school”. The aim is to develop an approach that will re-engage the children with learning. Most of the contact time will be in the autumn term. The project budget is up to £2,500. Deadline 9th June 2010. Full deatails from Iris Bertz, Creative Agent at:  ibertz@gmail.com

^{New! 25.05.10}    
“Pits, Pots in Pics” will be a visual exhibition held in Burslem’s Old Post Office, showing work that documents the local area. The organisers are looking for visual artists who… “have a passion for revealing the beauty that is around us”. The exhibition will run from 18th June until the 18th July 2010. Each artist will be required to pay £20 towards the administration and marketing of the event. The gallery will take 50% commission from any work that is sold. Insurance of the work should be covered by the artist. Artists are responsible for the delivery and collection of all pieces. Deadline: 1st June 2010. Full details from: lindsey_cotterill@live.co.uk

^{New! 25.05.10}    
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has launched this year’s animation competition. They want you to create…

“a pre-roll animation, to play before some of the videos on our site that shows the best of humanity and promotes the positive relationship between people and animals. Animals in your animation must be acting naturally, you shouldn’t dress them in clothes or portray them dancing. Your animation should be in keeping with our values and promote what we do; it should appeal to a broad audience.”

“Pre-roll” seems to be trendy new TV insider-jargon for a TV channel’s animated logo (the one that gets inserted just before a programme starts). It used to be called an “ident”. Deadline: 4th September 2010. There’s no entry fee, and it seems to welcome entrants from around the world.

Added to Creative Stoke, 22nd May 2010

^{New! 22.05.10}    
Are there valuable Victorian or Edwardian buildings in the North Staffordshire area which may be at risk? The Victorian Society is about to launch its annual appeal to find the nation’s most endangered historic buildings (built from 1837 to 1914). Endangered can mean there are firm plans to demolish, or that years of council neglect and vandalism has caused the building to become dangerous, or buildings with a fine interior which are about to be ruined by gutting for new offices. Ten endangered buildings will be chosen for a “flurry of publicity”, possibly leading to preservation or re-use — perhaps even for arts or cultural uses. You can submit your nominations via the Victorian Society’s website, or email directly to:  katie@victoriansociety.co.uk

^{New! 22.05.10}    
Burslem town’s Summer Arts Trail (4th-6th June 2010) is now seeking contributors to make work for both indoor and outdoor locations. Full details from:  artstrail@burslemarts.co.uk

^{New! 22.05.10}    
The Poetry Business is now inviting entries for its 24th Book & Pamphlet Competition — sponsored by NAWE (The National Association for Writers in Education). Prize money is £2,000, and this year’s judge is Simon Armitage. Deadline: 29th November 2010.

^{New! 22.05.10}    
Staffordshire University (Stoke campus) is to hold a Degree Shows “Industry and Stakeholders Evening”, on 16th June 2010 (5.45pm onwards). Meet the staff and view the work of over 300 graduating students from degrees including Graphic Design, Photography, Fine Art, Media Production, Animation and 3D Design. To reserve your place at this event, please RSVP by 9th June 2010, to Deana Bowers:  d.bowers@staffs.ac.uk

The graduation shows will also be open for general visitors, opening on Friday 11th June 2010 and running until Sunday 20th June 2010. The 2010 Catalogue is now online…

^{New! 22.05.10}    
Scottish sculptor David Annand has been chosen to make the major sculpture which will celebrate the 100th year of Stoke-on-Trent’s Federation into a city. David would now like to hear your thoughts about the city and public art via this short online survey.

Added to Creative Stoke, 18th May 2010 – part two

^{New! 18.05.10}    
“Common Ground” will be a weekend arts event in Hanley Park, Stoke-on-Trent, It’s being organised by Hanley’s AirSpace Gallery, which is now inviting contemporary artists to make site-specific interventions. The event will take place on 26th-27th June 2010, and artists are being offered £100 per project (including expenses). Interested? Please send a 200-word proposal stating what you intend to do, how and why. Please also send an artist C.V. and any relevant web links. Application deadline: 19th May 2010. Full information from:  deadromanceboxes@yahoo.co.uk

^{New! 18.05.10}    
Stoke Bands Network website was born 12 months ago, and has seen 290 local bands and artists sign up to the website. Now Stephen, creator of the site, is faced with the tough decision to close the site down. He is reported as saying, “It’s being hosted on the Ning network, which has decided to start charging.” “I’ve decided to close the site down, it’s not worth the hassle any more. I can’t cope with the low enthusiasm to save it, from the people it benefits.” However with the help of Lyndsey Oliver, creator of the local community-site Stoke Gigs, and Creative Boom Stoke, donation buttons are now live and active on both the Stoke Bands Network and the Stoke Gigs websites, and they are asking people to donate just £1 toward saving the site. Direct PayPal link here…

^{New! 18.05.10}    
Job: A Designer is required to fabricate and install a sculptural-seating feature for the main entrance area of the new sixth-form college building in Stoke-on-Trent. The panel are looking for innovative, contemporary proposals. The work will be installed by 9th August 2010. The fee for design, fabrication & installation is £39,000 inclusive of all fees, materials and installation. Application deadline: 9am on 28th May 2010. Full details from: 01782 232077.

^{New! 18.05.10}    
Job:  A Ceramic Tile Designer is required for a commission to design, manufacture and install ceramic cladding for outdoor planters which will surround the new sixth-form college building in Stoke-on-Trent. The selection panel are looking for innovative, contemporary design which allow easy maintenance and which will resist vandalism. The work will be installed by 12th July 2010. The fee for this project is £16,000. Application deadline: 9am on 28th May 2010. More details from: 01782 232077.

^{New! 18.05.10}    
The UK Kids for Kids Film Festival is now seeking submissions of short animated films made by children. The festival team will appoint a professional jury and a children’s jury. Deadline for entries: 31st July 2010. Full details at the Facebook page.

Added to Creative Stoke, 18th May 2010

^{New! 18.05.10}    
The Lichfield Festival Watercolour Challenge (11th July 2010) is seeking expressions of interest from watercolour artists interested in a unique painting competition which will take place during the 2010 Lichfield Festival. Artists will be invited to produce an original painting on Sunday 11th July 2010, in the area around Lichfield Cathedral’s Close. Artists must provide their own easel and painting materials. At the end of the event artists will be bring their work together and a small panel will select a winning artwork. During the event the general public will also be invited to select their favourite artwork. Cash prizes will be awarded to both the winning artwork and the artwork selected by the public. The winning artist will also have an opportunity to have their artwork produced as a limited edition print. Both professional and amateur artists may enter. In the first instance, artists should send a brief outline about their art, along with no more than three clear JPG images of their present work and an artist C.V. in PDF format. Application deadline: 15th June 2010. Selected artists will be notified the week after and invited to the event on the 11th June. Please forward applications to:  info@52weeksofart.com

^{New! 18.05.10}    
Shire Hall Gallery, in Stafford town centre, has a new opportunity for artists & designer/makers. They are now seeking people for their pre-Christmas “Handmade” event, a contemporary art & craft fair set to be held on 5th – 6th November 2010. Application deadline: 30th June 2010. Full information from:  lyndsey.catchpole@staffordshire.gov.uk

^{New! 18.05.10}    
Noted British novelist Ewan Morrison has teamed up with heavyweight media producers Blackwatch Media to offer writers a chance to see their story made into an animation. Ewan’s Tales of the Mall project wants your everyday stories of shopping-mall life…

“Anecdotes, jokes, urban myths, tales of horror, boredom, infatuation or even just shopping […] stories of love and hate; of how communities have been transformed for the better or completely destroyed by malls.” […] Your stories could be just a paragraph or a page, or something longer. These don’t have to be stories of momentous occasions […] they could equally well be small stories, say about your best ever day of shopping, or a description of regular routine work in a shop or mall. Your story could be one of a case of mistaken identity, or of revenge, or of being accused of shoplifting; it could be about what it’s like to be a security guard in a mall or a shopper; it could be about committing some forbidden act or being a victim of a crime. These could also be stories about how malls work, how they are built, and what effect the coming of a mall has had on your community.”

The top five stories will be made into animations by Blackwatch, and the writer will also receive a free pack of Morrison’s novels. Email your tales to:  malltales@yahoo.com

^{New! 18.05.10}    
Job:  East Staffordshire Borough Council require a Poet. Arts East Staffs is running “Away Pitch”, a sports and arts collaboration, from May to August 2010. 20 visual artists will be donating 20 artworks to be placed with 20 Staffordshire sportsmen and sportswomen, in their homes or workplaces. The recipients will record their response to the artwork, in notebooks and audio diaries. Arts East Staffs is seeking an enthusiastic and personable creative writer to write a series of short poems. Inclusive Fee: £1600 (minimum 8 days). Interested? Please send a C.V. together with a covering letter (2 sides of A4 maximum), outlining your interest in and suitability for the role. Applications to be received by 5pm on 28th May 2010 to:  naomi.wilds@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk

^{New! 18.05.10}    
“Arts Den” at the Lichfield Festival (17th July 2010) is now inviting expressions of interest from artists, for a competition in which short-listed artists will be invited to give a brief presentation of their artwork to a small panel of commissioning representatives and an audience at the Garrick Theatre. At the end of the interviewing process the commissioning panel will present a £1,000 commission to the selected artist. In the first instance, artists should send a brief outline about their artwork, along with no more than 6 JPG images of present work and an artist C.V. in PDF format by the 18th June 2010, to:  info@52weeksofart.com

^{New! 18.05.10}    
The Staffordshire Connections to Opportunities project is a new “back to work” project, delivered by local voluntary services led by Staffordshire Moorlands Community and Voluntary Services and VAST (Voluntary Action for Stoke-on-Trent). They are now seeking to recruit “buddies” who will go into the community and offer their help and support to 500 people who have been on incapacity benefit for more than two years. This could range from just initial advice to offering mentoring and training, or helping them start up their own businesses. The project will be fully operational in the summer of 2010.

The Stoke-on-Trent project began in May 2010, and will provide business mentoring to potential social entrepreneurs. It will also provide an Investment Fund award of up to £30,000 for new or existing social enterprises to help with suitable job creation and training.

^{New! 18.05.10}    
Added to the Directory: newly-formed DK Design are based in Newcastle-Under-Lyme and provide design services in design, web, print, and signage.

^{New! 18.05.10}    
“Laugh out Loud” is a new regular live-comedy event in Stoke-on-Trent, put on by Stoke Gigs. The first night, 29th May 2010, will see headline acts from Canada’s Tom Stade (seen on BBC1’s Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow) and Burger Van Owner, Angelos Epithemiou (of BBC2’s Shooting Stars). This first launch event seeks likely to also be a good “foyer networking event” for those interested in local stand-up comedy. Tickets from the Regent Theatre by calling 0844 871 7627 or 01782 213808.

^{New! 18.05.10}    
Hanley’s Mitchell Memorial Theatre is shortly to be handed over from the Council to the board of a new charitable trust, before re-opening in 2011. The trust is now seeking Trustees. Interested? Please phone: 01782 238204.

Added to Creative Stoke, 13th May 2010

^{New! 13.05.10}    
Birmingham-based 4iP has a call for a new project called Lost Art. This will…

“… explore the subject of art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries that has been lost or destroyed in a variety of ways.” They want… “proposals from a cracking creative company with a great track record to create a unique online experience.”

Deadline for proposal submissions: 8th June 2010.

^{New! 13.05.10}    
Lisa Owens has recently developed a lullaby music session at Blurton Children’s Centre in Stoke-on-Trent, for those with children aged 18-months and under. She is looking for a volunteer to come into the Centre once every six week, to help deliver a session with an acoustic aspect to it. Interested? Please contact:  lisa.owens@stoke.gov.uk

^{New! 13.05.10}    
Urban Vision North Staffordshire is set to deliver a number of creative events at community festivals and events in North Staffordshire during the school summer holidays (23rd July until 6th Sept 2010). They are now inviting expressions of interest from event/festival organisers who would like to host one of these workshops. To register your interest please make contact before Friday 11th June with the date, venue and description of your event/festival. Please email your details to:  fiona.waddle@uvns.org

^{New! 13.05.10}    
Job:  Derbyshire County Council requires a part-time Creative Derbyshire Co-ordinator. The post will pay a maximum of £24,000 over two years to July 2012. Deadline: 7th June 2010. More information from Claire Bosworth:  claire.bosworth@derbyshire.gov.uk

^{New! 13.05.10}    
A new photography group on Flickr, Your Staffordshire, welcomes your membership and submissions of pictures.

^{New! 13.05.10}    
Birmingham’s printed contemporary fine-arts fanzine An Endless Supply is aiming to make Issue 14 (‘Those Who Can Do…’ Summer 2010) coincide with the annual graduation shows in June/July 2010, but profiling the teachers rather than students. Submissions are invited from artists… “currently employed within H.E. or F.E. Art and Design education in the West Midlands.” Contact the editors via their website.

^{New! 13.05.10}    
The Peak District Products Association is now actively seeking to expand their membership. Applicants successful after an initial selection will be invited to interview, which will examine how the PDPs’ recently reviewed criteria covers development of ideas, presentation & skill, uniqueness, professional and business experience and reciprocal expectations. Interested? Please contact the membership secretary Ingrid Karlsson-Kemp at ingrid@karlsson-kemp.co.uk or by post to: Moorland, Earl Sterndale, Buxton, Derbyshire. SK17 0BS

Added to Creative Stoke, 10th May 2010

^{New! 10.05.10}    
The Contemporary Art Society is staging a centenary exhibition “…and a five legged donkey”: Fantasy Creatures from 8th May – 5th Sept 2010 at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. As part of the show the Society would like the people of North Staffordshire to share pictures of your fantasy creatures with them…

“We would welcome anyone, from artists specialising in creating mysterious creatures to museum visitors that would like to ‘give it a go’, to send us images of their fantasy creatures. Drawing, sculptures, paintings or found objects all welcome. We will put the images and any information to go with them up on the museum website. To send us a picture and some text about your fantasy creature attach it to an e-mail and send to:  katie.shipley@stoke.gov.uk

^{New! 10.05.10}    
Added to the Directory:  A new contemporary crafts gallery and workshop opens this coming Saturday, 15th May 2010. Unit Twelve is based at Tixall Heath Farm, near Stafford. See the website for full details.

^{New! 10.05.10}    
Fete Craftzine is an independent not-for-profit craftzine sold online, and distributed at events and in bookshops around the UK. Contributors are needed for the Summer 2010 issue. To take part your work should be sent as a complete page, with your contact details on it, and be A5 in size.

^{New! 10.05.10}    
Job:  Greenfield Primary School, located in Walsall, is seeking a Creative Practitioner to help gifted & talented Year Four children to work independently and lead their own learning. They are open to any kind of artistic medium, but need someone who will really listen to the children and be enthusiastic and inspiring. A project fee of £3,500 is available. An additional £500 is available for materials and travel. Applicants are strongly advised to get the full brief from: joloki@blueyonder.co.uk   Application deadline: 21st May 2010.

^{New! 10.05.10}    
Would you like to know more about the Creative Partnerships’ programme, and how it operates in West Midlands schools? Cre8us are running a West Midlands workshop on 26th May 2010 at the Xcel Leisure Centre, Coventry (10am-4pm). The day will be a mix of presentations and practical workshops led by Creative Agents and Creative Practitioners who are currently working with Cre8us and schools across Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire. The workshop will cost £30 and to attend you should download and complete an application form accessible on the Cre8us website. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come first serve basis, and must be received by 20th May at the latest. For any queries please contact Gemma Smith, Cre8us:  gemma.smith@cre8us.org.uk

^{New! 10.05.10}    
Birmingham’s Creative Alliance is seeking West Midlands teenagers (age 14-19) who are interested in film production. You must be able to commit to 2 days a week for 2 months. The aim is to make a film that…

“explores the concept of misunderstanding or misrepresentation by looking at … how young people are viewed by society.”

Interested? Please contact:  daniel@creativealliance.org.uk

^{New! 10.05.10}    
Can you do it in 90 seconds? DepicT! is a super-short filmmaking competition that…

“challenges filmmakers on any budget from anywhere in the world to create tiny gems of under 90 seconds — distinctive, imaginative and engaging.”

Deadline: 6th September 2010. DepicT! is run by the Encounters International Film Festival, which is held at the Bristol Watershed arts centre in the UK.

^{New! 10.05.10}    
Job: Buxton Opera House has a full-time vacancy for an Education & Community Officer. Application deadline: 26th May 2010.

Added to Creative Stoke, 7th May 2010

^{New! 07.05.10}    
Job: Staffordshire University has a rare PhD Studentship in Ceramic Design, based at the Stoke-on-Trent campus. Please note that this is not one of the coveted three-year fully-paid PhD studentships, but it does offer a fees waiver and an annual contribution of £5,000 to your ongoing costs. You’ll investigate the value of industrial heritage to the design of contemporary luxury ceramic products, specifically evaluating the potential use of traditional industrial processes and techniques for innovation in the design of shape and surface pattern. Application deadline: 24th May 2010. Enquiries and applications should be sent to: amdpgqueries@staffs.ac.uk

Staffordshire University also has a Fine Art Practice and Philosophy Studentship (fees, plus £2,500 per year, over four years), a Journalism Studentship on “citizen journalism” (fees plus £5,000 per year), with the same application deadlines.

^{New! 07.05.10}    
Job:  Saint Dominics Priory School in Stone require an Art Technician (6 hours per week) until July 2010. Application deadline: 13th May 2010. See the school website for full details.

^{New! 07.05.10}    
Job:  Sir William Stainer School in Crewe require a Subject Leader in Art, from September 2010. Application deadline: 19th May 2010. See the school website for full details.

^{New! 07.05.10}    
Peter Cheeseman has died. He was an influential theatre director, and a lifelong champion of the Potteries and regional theatre. There are obituaries in The Times and The Guardian.

You can read a long interview with him on Google Books. The British Library Theatre Archive also has a long interview online.

^{New! 07.05.10}    
Added to the Directory: North Staffordshire Press, publishers of Dandelions: A Book of Poetry by Arthur Berry, among others.

^{New! 07.05.10}    
Skillset will be undertaking its online Creative Media Workforce Survey 2010 in May 2010, and this should be online any day now. The survey is especially important this year, with a new government in power and inevitable funding cuts looming. For the first time ever the survey will seek the views of those working in publishing. Photographers and film production freelancers (previously collected separately) will be included in the survey for the first time. Skillset is also taking over all regional skills and training funding for film, and has also recently expanded to encompass fashion and textiles. Early results will be available in the Autumn 2010.

^{New! 01.05.10}    
Job:  Alumwell Business and Enterprise College, in Walsall, are seeking an artist to help them “Transform the Quad” You’ll work with the children to create playground designs, large scale toy monsters, huge pieces of “body adornment jewellery” out of recycled material, and stage a party and performance. Full details from: noel@jobdunne.com

Added to Creative Stoke, 1st May 2010

^{New! 01.05.10}    
Job:  Stoke-on-Trent City Council require a Cultural Development Manager (Ref: 000507) on a full-time salary of £41 – £44k. Application deadline: 21st May 2010. For an application and details pack, please email:  recruitment@stoke.gov.uk

^{New! 01.05.10}    
Oxford University would like to invite those interested in community-run local heritage collections (either online or offline) to a free one-day workshop on the topic on 26th May 2010. Places are limited, and a similar event exclusively for Oxford projects was over-subscribed. So please register your interest (providing as much information as possible in support of your application) by completing this form by noon on 14th May 2010.

^{New! 01.05.10}    
Congratulations to eight-year-old Cheshire girl Mia Jones. Mia re-made Alice in Wonderland as a Playmobil (similar to Lego) animation, and has just won the Playmobil animation competition…

^{New! 01.05.10}    
Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum is inviting all budding animators from the West Midlands to a one-day Digital Animation Workshop for Adults on 12th June 2010. Leamington is very easy to get to on the train from Stoke-on-Trent. Sumit Sarkar, creator of the Ananta exhibition will demonstrate the processes involved in digital animation and will help you to create your own animated character. £10 per person. Advance booking is essential as places are limited. Please call 01926 742700 to book.

The same gallery is also running a “Museum Movies Film Competition”, inviting local film makers to submit short films inspired by Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum’s collections of fine and decorative art, social history, ethnography, archaeology, ceramics and glass. The five most inspiring films will be presented to the public on the mezzanine film screen in the gallery’s local history area. It is free to enter and the competition is open to all ages and abilities. Films should be submitted in DVD format with a completed submission form by 14th July 2010. Films should not be longer than 10 minutes. Please contact curator Tammy Woodrow on 01926 742700 or tammy.woodrow@warwickdc.gov.uk for a submission form or any other queries.

^{New! 01.05.10}    
Screen WM’s 2010/11 Investment Fund opens on 4th May 2010. Deadline for submissions is 25th May 2010. Priority applications will be in the areas of…

Film and media education.
Film festivals.
Film scripts development.
Regional film industry networks.

Regrettably, Screen WM has also announced that the UK Film Council is slashing Lottery funding by 25% to the nine regional screen agencies. In addition, all regional skills and training funding is to be redirected to Skillset.