Added to Creative Stoke, 30th July 2010

^{New! 30.07.10}    
The £1m Staffordshire Community Wellbeing Fund will give grants of £250,000 this year — to help small, local grassroots voluntary and community groups to help vulnerable adult groups. These groups can include: older people; adults with physical or sensory disabilities / long-term conditions; adults with mental health needs; adults with a learning disability.

Your editor suggests there may be an opportunity here for local artists to approach local community groups, with a view to making a funding application? Funding applications will be welcome from 1st September to 30th November 2010, and the full details are available at the website.

^{New! 30.07.10}    
EUCLID has announces a series of afternoon seminars, giving information about funding available from the European Union for ‘cultural diversity’ projects. The nearest sessions to North Staffordshire are: Birmingham CBSO (21st October 2010, 1.30pm to 4.30pm); or Manchester Cornerhouse (26th October 2010, 1.30pm to 4.30pm). The seminars cost £82 per person (£72 if booked before 31st August 2010).

^{New! 30.07.10}    
Jobs:  The West Midlands Office of the Arts Council requires a Relationship Manager : Visual Arts, and a part-time Relationship Manager : Engagement & Participation. More details at the website. Application deadline: 9th August 2010.

^{New! 30.07.10}    
North Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Funding Fair is set for 6th October 2010 (10am – 3pm) at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent. Newcastle Community & Voluntary Support, Staffordshire Moorlands Community & Voluntary Services, Voluntary Action Stoke-on-Trent, Saltbox Christian Centre, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council will all be on hand to give an opportunity…

“to organisations in the North Staffordshire region to meet external funders and learn about funding opportunities. The free event is open to anyone from North Staffordshire, working in the voluntary and community sector, schools, social / community enterprises or is looking for funding.”

For further details contact: Helen Anderson at Saltbox: helen@saltbox.org.uk

Added to Creative Stoke, 29th July 2010

^{New! 29.07.10}    
The Light House media centre in nearby Wolverhampton is holding an ‘Introduction to Lighting Techniques for Video & Photography’ on Friday 13th August 2010, 10am to 4pm. This is an introductory course and costs £45 + VAT. More information from: info@light-house.co.uk

And on the subject of lighting, don’t forget that The Crewe Lyceum Theatre is offering one-day professional stagecraft workshops this summer — including Basic Lighting (9th-10th August) and Intermediate Lighting (12th-13th August) from £10 per workshop. For more details please phone: 01270 537333.

^{New! 29.07.10}    
Conjunction 2010 is a contemporary arts biennial show in Stoke-on-Trent, and this year it will run from 15th October to the end of November 2010. Participating artists will be asked to create work interpreting “Escape”…

“Often film-making and literary fiction are offered as a way of escaping the everyday, and particularly during bad times. It is often a dichotomy that this escapism also prevents us from dealing with the issues that need to be addressed (that, in a sense, have created the conditions for the need to escape). Escapism in such forms allows us to not only escape from our thoughts and concerns but also to remove ourselves geographically from our immediate environment or location.”

There will be a number of artists’ commissions, subject to the success of funding applications. The Conjunction organisers are now looking for artists, working in any media, to offer their proposals for three or four paid commissions. The budget for each commission is hoped to be between £250 to £1,000.

There should also be a commission opportunity for performance artists, or those whose work has an element of ‘live art’. Again, the budget for this should be between £250 to £1,000, subject to funding applications.

The deadline for all proposals is: 31st August 2010. Please email:  conjunction@airspacegallery.org  for a full brief and an application form.

^{New! 29.07.10}    
Mobile phone company Vodafone — which has recently completed a major new training centre on Festival Park in Stoke-on-Trent — is offering around £125,000 to mobile start-up firms. Its Mobile Clicks competition is seeking the best mobile startup – even if it hasn’t actually started up just yet. The competition will be judged on economic and financial viability, the quality of the management team and the functionality offered to end users — this is about companies rather than applications, even if the latter drives the former.

Added to Creative Stoke, 27th July 2010

^{New! 27.07.10}    
The new government has announced the abolition of the Film Council. Established by Labour in 2000 to distribute Lottery money, over the last decade it has dished out £160m to various British films — almost all of which saw little critical or box-office success. This funding ran alongside Labour’s tax breaks and similar film-making incentive schemes, which have since been estimated to have been worth around £5 billion between 2003 and 2005, and which probably totalled around £10 billion of public subsidy in the whole of the 2000s — the bulk of which was reported to have been fraudulently gained for tax dodging purposes, on film projects that were intended to fail.

The Film Council’s distribution of Lottery income — currently around £32m each year — will be taken over by the British Film Institute, with the aim of establishing a new “direct and less bureaucratic relationship” with film-makers. The future of Screen West Midlands (funded via the UK Film Council, and the soon-to-be-abolished Advantage West Midlands) is thus currently uncertain. More details on this when Creative Stoke gets them.

^{New! 27.07.10}    
The new government has announced the abolition of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, which operates from offices in Birmingham. The aim is to spend the money instead on “front-line, essential services” in arts and museums. There will also be a government report in September, on the viability of developing new financial instruments which will enable endowments for arts institutions.

^{New! 27.07.10}    
SHOP‘s artist-in-residence will be holding a series of “Exploring the Green Men of Stoke” events in Stoke old town, from 31st July to 14th August 2010. There will be a free “Create Your Own Green Man” day on 4th August 2010, all day from 10.30am to 4pm. There will also be maps and sightseeing trails. SHOP is also asking people to contribute relevant photographs of Stoke Town — particularly the Church Street area — and these will be used to create a new piece of artwork.To find out more, pop in for a cup of tea any time to 116 Church Street, Stoke Town, (ST4 1BU – with parking on the car-park behind, and safe bicycle-locking at the nearby Council House or Sainsburys) or email Gemma Thomas:  shop@shop-stoke.co.uk

^{New! 27.07.10}    
If you’re in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre this summer, be sure to seek out Christopher Guest and Darren Washington’s animation of empty shop windows. This new project has a Tumblr blog, and the windows will feature graffiti, drawings, photography, cut-outs, and digital media projections.

^{New! 27.07.10}    
Job: Stoke-on-Trent -based Rideout (Creative Arts for Rehabilitation) is one of the country’s leading arts organisations, specialising in work in prisons and within the criminal justice system. They are currently building their pool of freelance arts workers, for work likely to be available from Autumn 2010 onward. If you are interested in joining the pool, please send your up-to-date C.V. and a covering email outlining relevant experience to:  saul@rideout.org.uk

^{New! 27.07.10}    
If you were interested in NESTA’s recently-announced “Make It Local” scheme (featured on Creative Stoke about ten days ago), then you may want to know that Digital Birmingham is holding an event at Faraday Wharf (Holt Street, Birmingham Science Park at Aston) on Friday 30th July 2010, 1pm onwards. The aim of the afternoon will be to get people together to come up with some ideas about bids for the funding. More details at the EventBrite page.

^{New! 27.07.10}    
Do you make big art? Departure Gallery is seeking contemporary artists to exhibit in “a major warehouse show” taking place in…

“two gigantic industrial units, one mile north-east of Birmingham city centre — this August! These spaces are particularly suited to large-scale sculptures, performances, digital projection and installations”

Application deadline: 31st July 2010.

^{New! 27.07.10}    
A snippet of advance news from Bill Cawley on Pits ‘n Pots…

“Urban Vision North Staffordshire is holding a conference in the autumn, looking at ways in which redundant heritage assets of the area could be bought back into sustainable use for the benefit of the community. The plan will be to identify a number of potential assets in the area, and look at ways in which Urban Vision can work with community groups to develop a heritage project that can meet a recognised need”

^{New! 27.07.10}    
The Zoom Short Film Scheme is now open for applications. The scheme aims to support the production of six new short films accessible to deaf people, and will provide successful filmmakers with £2,000 of funding. The films must be made in British sign language. The films are likely to feature at Wolverhampton’s annual Deaffest film festival in May 2011. The deadline for applications is 17th September 2010.

^{New! 27.07.10}    
Jobs:   Are you aged 18 to 24 years old, a ‘Stage 3’ claimant of job seekers allowance and looking for work? Light House in Wolverhampton, in partnership with Future Jobs Fund, have the following vacancies available:

Community Liaison Officer – WEL/53637
Web Developer – WEL/53638
Graphic Designer -WEL/53640
MCA – WEL/53642
Press Assistant – WEL/53643
Web Designer – WEL/53644

All vacancies are part time, 25 hours per week and are funded through the Future Jobs Fund. To be eligible to apply, you must be a ‘Stage 3’ claimant of Job Seekers Allowance (i.e.: unemployed for between 26 to 50 weeks). To check your eligibility, get further information and/or apply for any of the vacancies please contact your local Jobcentre Plus, quoting the vacancy title & reference number above. Please note you are required to book an appointment with your advisor, and application packs will only be sent out to people referred by them. Closing date for all vacancies is: Friday 20th August 2010.

Added to Creative Stoke, 24th July 2010

^{New! 24.07.10}    
The new Government has announced the excellent news that Lord Heseltine (*) will chair the Independent Approval Panel for the forthcoming £1bn Regional Growth Fund, which is to replace Advantage West Midlands. There is to be a forthcoming White Paper on regional economic growth, which will set out more details on the Growth Fund, as well as local enterprise partnerships (LEPs). There is now a consultation period, and local businesses and organisations are invited to suggest how the Fund can create new and genuine private-sector jobs and respond intelligently to the different needs of specific local areas. As things are being reorganised, there are many ‘turf wars’ going on behind the scenes at present — and Birmingham City Council even appears to be angling to cut North Staffordshire out of the wider picture. This suggests that businesses should include in their representations some comments about the need for robust connections with the greater Birmingham area — as was suggested in the conclusion of Chapter 4 of July 2009’s West Midlands: Fit for the Future? Positioning The Region For Economic Recovery. Deadline for submissions: 6th September 2010. Responses should be sent to:  growthfund@bis.gsi.gov.uk

  (*) Heseltine was behind a lot of fresh and dynamic business ideas ahead of the mid/late 1980s boom, including the Garden Festivals — one of which which was highly successful in Stoke-on-Trent, and which historians credit with vigorously kick-starting the regeneration of the city.

^{New! 24.07.10}    
Added to the Directory: Mother Town blog.

^{New! 24.07.10}    
For The Girls is holding an erotic film competition, for new short films that depict an erotic subject from a female point of view…

“We are seeking original high quality short films up to 10 minutes in length that offer an erotic experience from a female perspective. Films do not have to be explicit but should deal with erotic or sexual themes in some way. Ideally we want to see arousing, thought-proving and moving films that capture a woman’s experience of sex or sexuality. Entries don’t have to be made by professionals. First-time filmmakers are welcome. We are happy to see submissions from anyone with a desire to create good female-friendly erotic art. There are no fees to enter this competition. Deadline: 16th August 2010.”

Animation or impressionistic/fragmented film styles are also welcome. See the website for the full rules.

^{New! 24.07.10}    
SHOP, the new artists’ shop in Stoke old town, is to hold free “One Small Leap” workshops. These will… “investigate the alternative way of exchanging ideas and working with artists and creative practitioners” in a one-to-one professional development discussions, looking at promotion, branding and career development. Interested? Book a two hour sessions with Mark Brereton in August, September or October 2010. Full details and dates from: mark@shop-stoke.co.uk

^{New! 24.07.10}    
A new artists’ commission is on offer at the new Health and Wellbeing Centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council are looking for an artist or artists, to create a design for the windows of the new Centre — which is due to be built on Brunswick Street and completed by December 2011. The designs will either be etched or fritted onto the glass up to a total area of around 328 feet. The budget for the design commission is up to £10k. The deadline for the draft design: 13th August 2010. To express your interest and to receive more in-depth information about the project you are strongly recommended to attend a meeting on 30th July 2010 at 10am at Newcastle Borough Council Civic Offices in Merrial Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme. To confirm your attendance at the meeting or for further information please contact Delyth Copp or Teresa Mason at:  nulmuseum@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk

^{New! 24.07.10}    
Job:  Creative Stoke doesn’t normally carry details of jobs punted for anonymous companies by unknown recruitment agencies. But this one looks rather curious and interesting…

“a Graduate Digital Marketing Assistant is required by a plumbing and bathroom company based in Stoke-on-Trent. The PR/Website Blogger will work in a small marketing team, feeding back ideas to the business, re-cycling and improving concepts, and helping to launch new ideas, activities and environment. Candidates will need to have a strong knowledge and confidence in Photoshop and multimedia packages, and Dreamweaver would be an advantage.”

^{New! 24.07.10}    
Job:  A Teacher of Art is required, to cover maternity leave from October 2010 to July 2011, at Alleyne’s High School in Stone, near Stoke-on-Trent. Deadline: 7th September 2010.

^{New! 24.07.10}    
South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS is running a 2010 Visual Art Competition. Selected entries will be displayed at Shelton Hospital, and the top entries will receive awards worth up to £50. Deadline: 29th July 2010. Full details and rules are available here.

South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS also have an excellent new set of arts web pages, which round up the details of all their Arts for Health projects.

Added to Creative Stoke, 21st July 2010

^{New! 21.07.10}    
PICL to hold a one-day conference on Learning through Dramatic Enquiry, in Stoke-on-Trent. The date is 14th October 2010 (8.45am – 3.30pm) and the venue is Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre (a short walk from the train station). Register on the site to receive your booking form and updated programme for the day. For more information email:  info@picl.uk.com

^{New! 21.07.10}    
Keele Science and Business Park is to host a “Jelly” event on 29th July 2010. Jelly is free, and day passes are available to reserve. Jelly is described as a…

“casual monthly co-working event where home workers, freelancers and small business owners get together and all work together in the same place for a day. The event will appeal to anyone who wants a change of environment once in a while, and an opportunity to participate in a mixture of work, chat, sharing ideas, helping others with business issues, passing on tips and even collaborating on the birth of new projects.”

^{New! 21.07.10}    
The film SoulBoy (formerly Souled Out), partly filmed in Stoke-on-Trent, is a tribute to the classic Northern Soul scene in 1974. The film is now set to have one of its first screenings in Stoke-on-Trent, at the King’s Hall on 21st August 2010, a week before nationwide release.

^{New! 21.07.10}    
Staffordshire University is now running a scheme for local graduates and employers. The scheme lets employers employ a local graduate for a period of four weeks, to help support or develop any area of your business. There is a ‘Graduate Bursary’ to the employer of £800 from the University, to which the employer adds £200 and then runs the graduate through their payroll – the graduate is paid at £250 per week for the four weeks. Interested? Full inormation from:  c.s.bragg@staffs.ac.uk

^{New! 21.07.10}    
Would you like a PhD arts researcher in your school? Researchers in Residence brings together researchers, children and teachers to provide placements in secondary schools across the UK. The scheme is open to all PhD and post-doctoral researchers, who are funded directly or indirectly by one of the seven UK Research Councils — including the Arts and Humanities Research Council. See the website for full details.

^{New! 21.07.10}    
Room in The Roof is a local writers’ group, meeting weekly in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.

Added to Creative Stoke, 16th July 2010

^{New! 16.07.10}    
NESTA has a new “Make It Local” scheme which aims to encourage collaboration between local authorities and digital media developers, to provide innovative, web-based services for their communities. Local authorities release publicly-owned data (e.g.: population, crime data) in a linked way, which allows local developers the opportunity to build new services using that information. NESTA is offering three local authorities up to £30,000, to spend with a digital media developer in their area. Deadline for applications: 20th August 2010. Full details at the web page.

^{New! 16.07.10}    
The artists’ SHOP project, in Stoke town, now has a Facebook page.

^{New! 16.07.10}    
Job:  Staffordshire Arts and Museum Service require an experienced part-time Dance Officer (ref: CXO391). For an informal discussion contact Owen Hurcombe, County Arts Development Officer, Staffordshire Arts and Museum Service on: 01785 278339.

^{New! 16.07.10}    
The Burslem-based Urban Vision North Staffordshire is running the North Staffordshire Architecture and Urban Design Awards…

The deadline for nominations is Friday 6th August 2010, and the nomination form can be found on their website. For further information, please contact:  info@uvns.org

^{New! 16.07.10}    
Nexus in Manchester is calling for artworks on family relationships, for a… “mixed-media exhibition (including 3D & video work) which seeks to represent the complexities of family relationships”. Please send up to 10 digital images of your artworks, an artist’s statement (1 x A4 page max) and an up-to-date C.V. to:  familyexhibition@gmail.com (please state “Submission” in the subject box). Deadline: 12th September 2010.

^{New! 16.07.10}    
Animation Forum West Midlands has a new animation competition. The Great Animation Challenge 2010 invites you to download sketches from top British comedians, and animate them — with software, stop-motion, or any other cinematic form you can think of. The audio tracks will be uploaded to the Animation Forum WM website around noon on 16th July 2010. The organisers are looking for between 30 seconds and 2 minutes of animation, but this is flexible. Deadline: 31st August 2010.

^{New! 16.07.10}    
The Tate has a national animation collaboration/contest for kids…

“Children will create every aspect of a 20-minute animated film, from the hand-drawn characters to the plot twists, and even the costumes and sound effects! Animators and filmmakers will tour the country holding workshops and kids (defined as from 5 to 11) will also be able to send in their ideas through the Tate Movie Project website. The resulting film will be broadcast nationally on BBC TV.”

^{New! 16.07.10}    
Newcastle-under-Lyme’s B arts is offering a series of six short residencies to professional artists, as part of its “Growing Hearts and Minds” project in the Northwood area of Stoke-on-Trent. The project aims to combine creativity and natural environment to develop a greater capacity for individuals to self-manage mental health conditions. Each residency will last for one season (two to three months), and you’ll deliver a minimum of 14 sessions per residency. Total commission fee is £3,000, plus a materials budget. The residencies will be suitable for artists who…

“excel in participatory workshops and feel inspired by nature and the potential offered by the urban outdoors. These residencies would be of particular interest to artists who would like to further their experience in arts and health work in North Staffordshire”.

Further information from:  deborah.nicklin@b-arts.org.uk   Application deadline: 9th August 2010.

There are also likely to be volunteer opportunities, which will run alongside these professional artist residencies. Further information from:  deborah.nicklin@b-arts.org.uk

Added to Creative Stoke, 13th July 2010

^{New! 13.07.10}    
The New Vic Theatre is to celebrate the life and achievements of its founder, Peter Cheeseman CBE. “A Celebration for Peter Cheeseman” takes place on Sunday 18th July, from 2.30pm. The afternoon will also launch a new fund for the the Victoria Theatre Cheeseman Archive, based at Staffordshire University. The event is ticket-only and tickets are available for a £10.00 minimum donation to the Cheeseman Archive Fund. Tickets are available via the New Vic’s online box office.

^{New! 13.07.10}    
The Light House arts and media centre in Wolverhampton is calling for exhibitors for its “Handmade at the Light House”. The display opportunity is for designer makers to sell handmade work in two display cases in the Lock Works cafe bar at Light House (average monthly footfall of 2,000 people). The following exhibiting/selling slots are available: 23rd Sep – 4th Nov 2010; 4th Nov – 16th Dec 2010; and 16th Dec 2010 – 27th Jan 2011. Each slot will be for six weeks, and there will be a one-off hire fee of £60. No commission will be charged on sales. All proposals must be received by Friday 27th Aug 2010. Full details from Natalie Round at:  light-house-handmade@live.co.uk

^{New! 13.07.10}    
The Light House arts and media centre in Wolverhampton is to hold a free “Social Media and Business Development” evening, on the 22nd July 2010 from 6pm – 8pm…

“This event will be of interest to anyone thinking about either using social media to develop their business, or media practitioners and enterprises that are looking to add this service to their portfolio. The event will be led by Steph Jennings, Digital Marketing Officer at Light House, and consultant for Walsall Council and Replenish New Media. Steph has over 5 years experience working in social media, helping organisations plan and deliver digital marketing strategies.”

To reserve a place please email:  info@light-house.co.uk

^{New! 13.07.10}    
The North Staffordshire Pensioners’ Convention writes to say that they are holding one of their monthly public meetings on 2nd August 2010, and…

“…instead of our usual topics we are inviting creative groups from across North Staffordshire to talk to our members about their activities.”

Interested? Please email:  admin@greypowernorthstaffs.org.uk  or phone Andy Day on 01782 201724.

^{New! 13.07.10}    
The Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services (SCVYS) have recently started working on a project called “Us2”. The Us2 project runs until 2012. It will work in rural parts of Stafford borough to encourage engagement between young people and other members of the rural communities. They are holding an event on Friday 27th August in Woodseaves, Stafford, intending to engage with young people and the communities, and to show examples of what young people can get involved in. Local artists are offered the opportunity to have a space at this event for free, giving them a chance to speak to the community organisers who will be running the youth activities starting in September. Perhaps participating artists could also offer a short activity? Full details from: Jessica Wilkes-Mellor at:  jessica.mellor@staffordshire.gov.uk

^{New! 13.07.10}    
A cartoon/caricature artist is required by Lichfield Council to run two half-day workshops on Saturday 7th August 2010, as part of the annual Burntwood Open Art Exhibition. There will be a two & half hour session in the morning, then again to different participants in the afternoon. Number of participants will be 15 to 30 per session, but the artist will need to tell the orgaisers the maximum numbers of participants you can manage. Application deadline: 18th July 2010. Full information from:  celia.houghton@lichfielddc.gov.uk

Added to Creative Stoke, 12th July 2010

^{New! 12.07.10}    
North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce requires volunteers from local businesses, to mentor Year 11 school pupils. Can you offer 9 x 1 hour one-to-one mentoring sessions, from September to March 2011? More information from Adele Cope at:  adelec@nscci.co.uk

^{New! 12.07.10}    
“Developing Ideas for the Stage” is a one-day workshop/training event to be held by Pentabus Theatre at Ludlow, Shropshire. The date is 17th July 2010 (10am-5pm), and the cost is £50 (£40 concessions). Full details and booking at: developingideas.eventbrite.com

^{New! 12.07.10}    
Job:  Longhouse/Multistory (based in West Bromwich, formerly The Public) is currently looking for a Lead Artist/Mentor to support the recipients of this year’s action-research bursaries. You’ll design and deliver this year’s action research bursary programme and help to select the five artists, and delivery of group workshops. This year the bursary activities will take place from September 2010 to February 2011. The total fee for the lead artist/mentor commission is £3,000 (inc. of all materials, expenses and VAT). Deadline: 2nd August 2010. Full information from:  karlgreenwood@multistory.org.uk

^{New! 12.07.10}    
The members of the Midlands Textile Forum will be holding a study-day at the Betty Smithers collection, Friday 17th September 2010. There will also be an exhibition at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Museum and Art Gallery in late Summer 2011, showing the Betty Smithers design collection (which is stored at Staffordshire University). More details about the study-day can be found at the Forum’s website.

^{New! 12.07.10}    
Added to the Directory: Timothy Osborne, a portrait photographer based in Stoke-on-Trent.

^{New! 12.07.10}    
The Indie Fund is a new venture capital fund, which is seeking to finance the next innovative independent videogame. Could it be yours? More details at the website.

^{New! 12.07.10}    
The Live Art Development Agency is seeking participants for “An Artists’ Guide to the Black Country”. Six artists will spend time in the Black Country during August 2010 at some of its most iconic tourist attractions (starting with the Black Country Living Museum). The scheme is open to artists from the West Midlands region. Application deadline: Friday 16th July 2010.

^{New! 12.07.10}    
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is currently consulting on how and where to cut £30m from its annual budget. In previous such exercises, sports and leisure (which includes the arts) are said to have topped the list. Regardless of the Council’s consistently dismal record at holding genuine public consultations, now might be a useful time to fill in their online survey — in a way that tries to speak up for the arts in the city. The survey deadline is 20th August 2010.

Added to Creative Stoke, 9th July 2010

^{New! 09.07.10}    
Moving Further Forward is a forthcoming ‘arts in mental healthcare’ one-day conference. It’ll be held in Manchester on 17th September 2010. The aim is to… “bring together some of the key [ senior ] people working in art in mental health, to continue the development of a national strategy”. Details from:  breakthrough@mentalhealth.freeserve.co.uk

^{New! 09.07.10}    
Job:  The organisers of the annual Buxton Festival require a full-time worker to develop and implement the marketing and media campaign for Buxton Festival. Application deadline: 31st July 2010.

^{New! 09.07.10}    
A talented metal worker (fabricator, blacksmith) is required in the Midlands. You’ll make and finish a wide variety of public art metal sculptures. Interested? Please send your current C.V. and expression of interest to:  andy@artfabs.co.uk

^{New! 09.07.10}    
Disabled young people (aged 13-18) from Stoke-on-Trent are invited to learn how to play and write music using new technology. The sessions are run by Make Some Noise, with experienced musicians. There are four opportunities: 26th July at the Victoria Hall; 2nd August in Longton, 9th August on the Meir estate; and 16th August at the Victoria Hall. Interested? Please phone: 01782 600869.

Added to Creative Stoke, 8th July 2010

^{New! 08.07.10}    
The Department for Work and Pensions has an employee volunteering scheme called Community 5000. They can offer DWP staff as one-day volunteers to a charity, voluntary or community organisation which are linked to communities served by the Department for Work and Pensions. Volunteer placements can be for individuals or teams. Interested? Please contact Kate Thompson at:  kate.thompson@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

^{New! 08.07.10}    
The Stoke-on-Trent arts organisation, Rideout, will be hosting two x two-day events in October 2010. “For Those Who Like to Say No: The Art of Engagement in Custodial Settings” will mark the publication of Chris Johnston’s new book on working with difficult groups, and Rideout will present two days of workshops on their creative practice in prisons. The first two-day event will be in North London on 12th – 13th October 2010. The second two-day event will be in central Birmingham on 20th – 21st October 2010. Cost for each event is £75/£50 conc. (both days) or £45/£30 conc. (one day). Your fee includes the course, refreshments, plus a free copy of For Those Who Like To Say No and other goodies. Two free discretionary places are available on application to ex-offenders, or others without funds. Interested? To register a place on this course please email:  admin@rideout.org.uk

^{New! 08.07.10}    
The Burslem-based Urban Vision North Staffordshire is giving early notice of their annual photographic competition and exhibition. The theme for the 2011 competition and exhibition is “Green”, inspired by everything that is “green” in North Staffordshire — including green spaces and places, parks, gardens, buildings, canals, public art and sculpture, education, people, events and festivals. Entry forms will be available from UVNS in December 2010. Submissions must be attached to an entry form and will be accepted from December 2010. The exhibition will take place in March 2011.

^{New! 08.07.10}    
The temporary artists’ Shop, in Stoke Town, Stoke-on-Trent, is set to have their launch event from 3.30pm on 14th July 2010. Programme Manager, Gemma Thomas and Kevin Bell, Regeneration Manager for Stoke Town will both be speaking. To join in, email: rsvp@shop-stoke.co.uk

^{New! 08.07.10}    
Care to enjoy a summer’s evening drink and chat with fellow animators at the next Animation Forum West Midlands event, “Out of Hours”? It’s on Thursday 15th July 2010 (6.30-9pm) at the Light House, Wolverhampton. This free after-work event, run in conjunction with Light House, will begin with a screening of the best of Flip 2009 featuring award winning films from across the world. The screenings will be followed by a talk from Light House’s Animator-in-Residence Drew Roper. Drew has just completed his first commercial commission in between stints on The Fantastic Mr Fox and Tim Burtons’ latest Disney production. Drew will show his three and a half minute stop-motion short, and the sets and puppets will be on display. There will also be the official launch of the 2010 edition of “The Great Animation Challenge”; much like last year’s, but “with an exciting twist”! All this, plus the chance to chat with fellow Forum members in the Light House’s pleasant covered courtyard. To reserve a place, please email:  info@light-house.co.uk

^{New! 08.07.10}    
The Midlands Women’s History Network will be holding a one-day symposium in Stoke-on-Trent in November. “Twentieth Century Women: Culture, Media and Leisure” will explore the the significant changes in culture and media during the century. The event will be on Saturday 20th November 2010, at the University of Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent campus. Papers are invited, with a deadline of 1st September 2010. An abstract of approximately 250 words should in the first instance be sent via email to Dr Maggie Andrews at:  m.r.andrews@staffs.ac.uk