Added to Creative Stoke, 27th August 2010
Posted: August 27, 2010 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentNew! 27.08.10
Interested in organising artistic collaborations between the UK and Europe? European Collaboration Grants are available from The European Cultural Foundation to fund… “transnational, cross-sectoral activities by independent cultural and artistic organisations working together or with independent organisations from other sectors.” Deadline: 6th September 2010. Application forms at the EuroCult website.
New! 27.08.10
Jobs: Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Management team is inviting applications from professional community arts groups and artists to undertake several children’s lantern and costume commissions. These will be part of the Light Night parade on 18th November 2010. Full details at the Web page.
New! 27.08.10
Birmingham’s Third Sector Research Centre is running a Below the Radar project, seeking to find ways to spot the ‘below the radar’ organisations that don’t appear in the regular/official directories and listings. There will soon be a monthly blog on different themes, such as: “Why map, where to map and what to map?”. Their web servers have currently fallen over — but if you’re interested in voluntary projects and groups that are “invisible” to the authorities, they might be worth visiting in a day or two.
Added to Creative Stoke, 26th August 2010
Posted: August 25, 2010 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentNew! 26.08.10
Do you have photographs of the field barns of the nearby Peak District? John Dawson writes to suggest that readers might like to submit their photos to the Flickr group feildbarnsUK…
“Lots of field barns are decaying through neglect, because they have fallen out of economic use. I’m interested in gathering our photographs together. Please add geographical information if possible. By doing this we can get an overview of the state of Field Barns. And by adding your pictures to the group, it may lead to your pictured barn gaining a new use for the 21st century.”
New! 26.08.10
Interface Financial Group now has a new West Midlands presence. Dave Pearce, area developer, IFG West Midlands fronts the U.S.-based funding programme in the Midlands, which provides working capital directly as needed to growing businesses.
New! 26.08.10
Hanley Public Library and the Potteries Museum will be hosting a series of public talks in the Autumn of 2010, on the history of the Stoke-on-Trent Federation. The series will include “Progress and Pride, 1910-1925” (16th October 2010, Forum theatre in the Potteries Museum), in which Ray Johnson, Professor of Film Heritage and Documentary at Staffordshire University, will…
“look at an important film produced by the city in 1925/26, reflecting on progress since 1910, together with extracts from Professor Johnson’s forthcoming documentary film on Federation.”
Tickets for the series of five talks will cost £17 and tickets for individual talks can also be purchased for £4.
New! 26.08.10
The Burslem-based Urban Vision is set to run a series of placemaking/regeneration masterclasses in the Autumn. Creative Stoke has the flyer…
New! 26.08.10
Your editor has recently published two books of essays on the works of the author H.P. Lovecraft. Each book is fronted by a new short story in the style and mythos of Lovecraft.
New! 26.08.10
Birmingham’s International Queer Video Open 2010 is seeking original and imaginative video work (1 to 5 mins) made in response to the theme of ‘queer’ and the idea of ‘invisible/visible’, and which is capable of being show in a cinema setting. Your work will be showcased alongside international artists such as Ali Cherri, Anne Guest, Michael Robinson and Steve Reinke. Deadline: 2nd October 2010. Submissions must be sent on a standard DVD-r disc containing .avi or .mov file-format versions of the work. Further information from Dan at: dan@danauluk.co.uk The postal address to send all work to is: c/o Dave Viney, Birmingham LGBT, 420 Scott House, Custard Factory, Birmingham. B9 4AA.
New! 26.08.10
The local political blog Pits n’ Pots is taking to the airwaves this autumn. Its editors will be broadcasting as part of the 6 Towns Radio community radio station, in September 2010. Shows will be broadcast from 7pm to 9pm every Wednesday. Full details at the new 6 Towns Radio website.
New! 26.08.10
The next Jelly event is at the Moat House on Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent on Jelly is… “a chance to get out of the (home) office and work alongside other like-minded business people”. It’s free to attend, with £10 payable to the hotel to cover nibbles, drinks, and wi-fi.
New! 26.08.10
Job: Longhouse/Multistory (based in West Bromwich, formerly The Public) is inviting applications from West Midlands artists who wish to undertake a period of action research. Five bursaries will be available, and each bursary will run from October 2010 – March 2011. Artists will be required to… “pro-actively discover new contexts for their work via the exploration of different approaches to socially engaged practice in the public realm.” The total fee is £2,000 (inclusive of all materials, expenses and VAT). Application deadline: 17th September 2010. Full details at the website.
New! 26.08.10
Job: Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery requires an artist to make an audio-visual “map” which… “encapsulates Nottingham” [and] “features comments from people on a particular artwork they love or what they see on the journey between the British Art Show venues”. The fee is £4,500. Application deadline: 21st September 2010. Full information from Michelle Bowen at: michelle@nae.org.uk
New! 26.08.10
Those interested in regional theatre may be interested in a major research project being undertaken by academics and researchers at Keele University, and partners, Ages and stages: the place of theatre in representations and recollections of ageing. The project runs to July 2012, and will focus on the unique industrial community of The Potteries — to explore how older people, place and theatre come together to co-construct, represent and reflect on ageing and old age. Full details at the Web page, and Keele also has its own website for the project.
Added to Creative Stoke, 24th August 2010
Posted: August 24, 2010 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentNew! 24.08.10
Staffordshire Dance Collective is hosting a three-day residency with Anna Macdonald from Forecast Dance. This will be at SHOP in Stoke old town, on 30th, 31st August & 1st September 2010 (10am – 4pm). The residency…
“will begin to explore and develop material for a site-specific dance designed to be seen from a window. Participants will look at ways of working with site, playing with the peculiar romance involved in trying to communicate across a distance. The work will be fun and accessible encouraging people to work to their own strengths. The residency will culminate in an informal sharing of the work in progress on the final day.”
Cost: £30. Places are limited, so please contact Anna at: forecastdance@me.com or Clare at: admin@staffsdancecollective.co.uk for further information and to book your place.
The public performances arising from the residency will be free, and the dancers will offer an informal sharing of the work in progress on Wednesday 1st September 2010.
New! 24.08.10
Job: City Centre Management in Stoke-on-Trent are seeking three artists to create new work to transform empty shops in Hanley. The shops will ‘go live’ as part of an exhibition trail on Light Night (18th November 2010) then be displayed until January 2011. The commission fee is £4,000 (excl. VAT) per shop. Artists from any discipline are welcome to submit a proposal. Application deadline: 10th September 2010. Full details from Jean Ball at: citycentre@stoke.gov.uk
New! 24.08.10
A new jazz course starts on Monday 13th September 2010, in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The course is aimed at classical musicians interested in venturing into free-style improvisation, and experienced jazz artists who want to learn more or consolidate. Creative Stoke has the course flyer here. More details from Alan at: ac.griffiths@ntlworld.com
New! 24.08.10
A new Campaign for Lemmy and Slash statues in Stoke-on-Trent group has been launched on Facebook.
New! 24.08.10
Piccadilly Self Publishing Fair and Exhibition sounds like a good opportunity for self-publishers. The event happens in Manchester city centre on 3rd October 2010 (11am-6pm). The Fair’s title seems rather misleading, though — they’re not looking for traditional self-publishers or small print-on-demand publishers. What they say they want is more in the line of hand-made artists’ books and ‘zines…
“People who hand-make artist books, zines and other paper ephemera.”
If you would like a stall at the fair, please email: caitlinandsophielee@live.co.uk with some info about your products and a link to your website. Application deadline: 10th September 2010.
New! 24.08.10
Sir Stelios Hajiloannou, founder of easyJet, is giving disabled entrepreneurs in the UK the chance to win a £50,000 prize to help fund the further growth of their business. To be eligible to enter you must own at least a 25% management stake in the company, have a turnover in excess of £10,000, have been trading for between 1 and 5 years, and the business must be registered in the UK. Deadline: 3rd September 2010. Full information at the website.
Added to Creative Stoke, 23rd August 2010
Posted: August 23, 2010 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentNew! 23.08.10
The British Ceramic Confederation’s Ceramics 2010 exhibition is set for 14th October 2010 at Stoke-on-Trent’s Britannia Stadium, in partnership with North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce. This is an important trade exhibition and networking event. Industry specialists, MPs and associated organisations will be on hand. Keynote speakers will provide insights into business development and innovation, and there will be exhibition stands from the likes of Dudson, Ceram, Endeka and Emma Bridgewater.
New! 23.08.10
The Connect Midlands Investment Conference (CMIC) is set for November 2010. High growth businesses can seek funding of between £500,000 and £5 million. The organisation, which includes 24 private sector sponsors, wants to identify prospective companies over the summer, and will then run a workshop to review their strategic cases on 1st September 2010, as part of the preparation for the November conference. Companies wishing to be considered are invited to email: richard@connectmidlands.org
Connect Midlands is also running an informal The Right Funds for You afternoon/evening event on 22nd September 2010, at the Holiday Inn in nearby Telford.
New! 23.08.10 West Midlands social entrepreneurs are invited to the Social Enterprise West Midlands residential summer school on 29th – 30th September 2010 in Leamington Spa, easily accessible via train from Stoke-on-Trent. The cost is £350 (inc. VAT), discounted to £250 of you book before 31 August. This is…
“a high level programme for business leaders, senior managers or directors and aims to equip delegates with enhanced knowledge and practical tools to develop both personal and organisational skills.”
New! 23.08.10
With Business Link and the regional development agency AWM due to be scrapped, along with the North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership, local businesses are being invited to comment on plans to form a new Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Plans for the LEP have to be submitted to central government by 6th September 2010. Ideas and expressions of interest can be emailed to: steve.burrows@staffordshire.gov.uk
New! 23.08.10
The next free Stoke-on-Trent Social Media Surgery is happening at the SHOP artists’ space in Stoke old town, Stoke-on-Trent, on 1st September 2010. The time is 7pm. Video from the previous Surgery is online here.
There is also set to be a further special social media surgery at SHOP, for those working in the creative industries. This free event will be on 3rd October 2010, 2pm-5pm.
New! 23.08.10
Carol Howard will be running some free dance classes in Stoke old town in early September 2010. Contact Carol via her website for more details.
New! 23.08.10
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! 23.08.10
Muslim women in the West Midlands are invited to participate in a Muslim Women’s Writing Development course. Ulfah Arts and The Birmingham REP theatre are offering the opportunity for thirty Muslim women to be involved in a pioneering writing development programme. If selected you will work with professional writers over six months, culminating in a 3-day writing festival in 2011. Interested? Please contact Ulfah Arts on 0121 446 4460 or email: soesen@ulfaharts.co.uk
New! 23.08.10
The contemporary jewellery show Brilliantly Birmingham is calling for work by “new and emerging” designer makers in the West Midlands. The exhibition will take place 27th November 2010 – 9th January 2011. Application packs can be downloaded from the Brilliantly Birmingham website and must be submitted by 3rd September 2010.
Emerging contemporary graduate jewellery designers (graduated within the last five years and based in the UK) are especially invited to take part in the Brilliantly Birmingham selling show at the Mac art centre in Birmingham. FLUX is by open submission and a selection panel process, and application carries a £20 administration charge. Deadline: 3rd September 2010. More details on FLUX from: julie.a.sutton@birmingham.gov.uk
New! 23.08.10
Staffordshire University Creative Communities Unit is still inviting applications for its Community and Participatory Arts Programme courses. These include, among others: a Master’s Degree in Community and Participatory Arts; Postgraduate Diploma in Community and Participatory Arts; Postgraduate Certificate in Community and Participatory Arts; and Making it Happen with Community Arts. To apply, or to find out more information about any of the courses, please contact Janet Hetherington at: creativecommunities@staffs.ac.uk
New! 23.08.10
The annual Stoke Your Fires animation festival has issued dates (19th Feb – 4th March 2011) and a call for entries. Download the guidelines and application form. Deadline is: 10th December 2010.
New! 23.08.10
Job: The Burslem-based Federation of Stadium Communities (FSC) has obtained funding from The Heritage Lottery Fund to co-ordinate and manage an intergenerational oral history project that will capture and share memories and experiences of former players of Swinton Lions RLFC, supporters and local people. The Federation now require a Project Manager for this. Interested? For an informal chat please call Chief Executive Judy Crabb on: 01782 831900.
New! 23.08.10
Manchester-based Organised Chaos are looking for new theatre and performance scripts. Plays selected in previous years have been performed as part of the Buxton Fringe and other festivals. Your play should be original and written by you, be previously unproduced, and have a cast of between one-six people in a studio space. Deadline: 1st September 2010.
New! 23.08.10
Job: Cannock Chase Council Community Wellbeing-Arts (formerly Arts Development) have recently secured funding to produce a series of short films promoting dance in the local area. Doorstep Dance will help to breakdown barriers to dance, and give members of the local community a taster of what is available locally and how to get involved. The commissioned artist will work closely with dance providers active in Cannock Chase, to record a series of dance sessions which people can then follow in the privacy of their own home, or on screen in a community venue etc. DVDs will be distributed locally and the films will also be available to download from websites. Filming will commence in October 2010 and be completed by the end of December 2010. The fee is £4,000, all inclusive fee for filming, editing and production of 1000 DVDs. Deadline: 17th September 2010. Full details from: lisajshephard@cannockchasedc.gov.uk or adriennewhitehouse@cannockchasedc.gov.uk
New! 23.08.10
Amateur performance groups are invited to apply for funding under the BBC’s new £200,000 Young People’s Musical Theatre Scheme. Starting in September 2010, individual grants will be available of up to £5,000, for non-professional theatre groups that are either made up entirely of members under the age of 25, or which have a strong youth section and are involved in musical theatre productions. The scheme will launch on 27th September 2010, and the application deadline will be November 2010. One to watch!
New! 23.08.10
The Burslem-based Urban Vision is set to run three cultural/architectural learning trips to other cities. These will include: Walsall Art Gallery, “Building for Cultural Change” on 25th August 2010; Birmingham’s “Streets, Spaces & Squares” on 22nd October 2010; and Liverpool, “Cultural Reflection & Futures” on 26th October 2010. To express an interest, email Hannah Barter at: hannah.barter@uvns.org
New! 23.08.10
The counties of Staffordshire and Cheshire are having Heritage Open Days as part of a national celebration of local history, culture and architecture. Venues will be open from 9th to 12th September 2010. The Staffordshire events directory is now live and online. The tour of the old Chatterley Whitfield Colliery in Stoke-on-Trent may especially interest local photographers.
New! 23.08.10
The Woodland Trust is inviting children (aged 14 and under) to take part in its first National Nature Detectives photography competition. The theme is, of course, trees and woods. The overall winner will also receive a digital camera plus tripod. Entry deadline: 30th September 2010.
New! 23.08.10
The Geeks In The Peaks event returns on 3rd September 2010. It is a low-tech camping gathering of technologists, mapping neogeographers, outdoors and other assorted geeks in the fabulous Peak District, located adjacent to North Staffordshire. Full details at their website.
New! 23.08.10
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee currently has an ongoing inquiry into the funding of arts and heritage in the UK, and the Committee is inviting artists to submit evidence in no more than 3,000 words. See the website for full questions and submission guidelines. Respondents should email: cmsev@parliament.uk by 2nd September 2010.
New! 23.08.10
The consultants for a new national Skills Strategy document for the voluntary sector are currently inviting responses. Those interested are invited to complete the online consultation survey.
New! 23.08.10
BBC Storyville and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have an open call for film proposals documenting poverty in the UK. Six shortlisted film-makers will be selected to pitch at Sheffield’s Doc/Fest, and three short (6 to 10 minute) documentaries will be commissioned. Deadline: 11th October 2010.
New! 23.08.10
Job: Christ Church Church of England Primary School — located in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent — is looking for a Creative Practitioner… The school is looking for someone to work with the Foundation Stage unit to help investigate the question: “How can we plan in a creative and flexible way?”. They are interested in receiving applications from creative partners from any background/discipline. A budget of around £4,000 is available for project work, and the project will run from January-March 2011. Application deadline is 30th August 2010. Full information from: sbradbury@sgfl.org.uk
New! 23.08.10
Job: Christ Church Church of England Primary School — located in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent — requires Creative Practitioners to work with children in Key Stage 1. The school would appreciate a Partner who could work on the planning and delivery of lessons and workshops drawing on a wide range of aspects of African culture. A budget of around £4,000 is available for project work, and the project will run from October 2010. Application deadline is 30th August 2010. Full information from: sbradbury@sgfl.org.uk
New! 23.08.10
Job: Christ Church Church of England Primary School — located in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent — requires Creative Practitioners to work with children in Key Stage 2 to help the school investigate the question: “How can we plan in a creative and flexible way?”. A budget of around £4,000 is available for project work, and the project will run from October 2010. Application deadline is 30th August 2010. Full information from: sbradbury@sgfl.org.uk
New! 23.08.10
Volunteers wanted: re:stoke‘s arts project ‘re:claim’ is offering opportunities for shadowing artists to join lead artists for a minimum of ten days from September 2010 – May 2010, as re:stoke prepare for a major arts event in the disused Spode factory in Stoke old town. All expenses will be covered. re:stoke is particularly keen to work with emerging artists based in Staffordshire, and will prioritise regional graduates. To apply please send a current C.V, and a cover letter detailing which art form you are interested in shadowing (dance, music, visual art), as well as your interest in the position and its relevance to your future development to: info@restoke.org.uk
New! 23.08.10
Laura Stacey writes from Sheffield. Laura is a recent graduate with a first-class degree, and is currently undertaking an M.A (by Research) in the Politics of Performance Making. Laura plans to move back to Stoke-on-Trent, and her aim is to set up an alternative theatre company which offers workshops in schools and communities. If you can help or offer funding opportunities to Laura, please contact her at: laura_stacey88@hotmail.co.uk
New! 23.08.10
Kim Carnwell writes to say that she is promote a drop-in-day for adults with learning/physical disabilities. These will start in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, in September 2010. Kim is looking for any volunteers who could demonstrate or learn some of the service users things such as pottery making, art, ceramics, fashion etc. Interested? More information from: kimbocarni@googlemail.com
New! 23.08.10
Brief Encounters invites you to write true-life accounts of things that happened to you, or things/events/people that you spotted, at Stoke-on-Trent railway station.
New! 23.08.10
Emma Harris writes, as the Student Officer from Staffordshire University Students’ Union. Her team has been given a project to refurbish an unused community building in Hanley Park. They want to give local artists the chance to display some of their work in the centre. They cannot offer payment, as it is a voluntary project, but they can cover reasonable costs. The deadline for the project is 26th August 2010. Full details from: e.harris@staffs.ac.uk
New! 23.08.10
Congratulations to local business leaders for stepping forward to fund the final £600,000 needed to transform The Foxlowe in Leek into a new community arts and heritage centre. The new £8m venue will include a 400-seater theatre auditorium, and will have studios for artists. The Parkside Centre Trust has now commissioned architects. The project is going ahead despite Staffordshire Moorlands District Council withdrawing its funding. The BBC has the full story.
New! 23.08.10
Congratulations to the Staffordshire Adult Autistic Society, which has obtained a short-term community radio licence and £14,000 of funding. Their new SAAS radio station should be broadcasting around 200 shows over the next year, starting in September 2010. Drop into the HQ at the Ironmarket in Newcastle-under-Lyme if you want to offer your services or donate, and check out the SAAS’s new www.autismradiouk.co.uk website from September.
New! 23.08.10
Staffordshire Open Studios is running again this September, on the 18th/19th and 25th/26th September 2010. As usual, Stoke-on-Trent is something of a blank on their brochure map, but there are plenty of other artists’ studios open throughout mid and north Staffordshire, and workshops are also on offer. The list of participating artists is online here, and and the full PDF brochure is here.
New! 23.08.10
Cheshire Open Studios is running during September 2010. 44 professional contemporary artists will be opening their studios to the public at weekends. See the website for full details.
New! 23.08.10
Those interested in the literature of the fantastic, children’s literature, or the ways that creatives can transmute local folklore in their works, may be interested in The Weirdstone of Brisingamen 50th Anniversary events. These are being held at Chester, Alderley Edge and Nantwich until 30th October 2010. The full programme is online here.
New! 23.08.10
Staffordshire University is running a series of Portfolio Development consultations in the Autumn…
“You will work with University Fine Art lecturers, and practising artists, on practical sessions which will equip you with the skills and knowledge to build a portfolio which will help when attending interviews (for courses or professional situations) or when pitching to clients and galleries. This programme is free, but you will need to provide your own materials and lunch.”
Three sessions will run in November 2010, and then again in March 2011. These days will cover: “What is a Portfolio?”; “Building a Portfolio”; and a 30 minute portfolio review slot. Interested? Please email your details and reasons for wanting to attend, to: newgenerationspace@googlemail.com
New! 23.08.10
The annual Writers’ Toolkit: Writers’ Networking Conference, for writers in the West Midlands, will take place on 20th November 2010 at South Birmingham College. Panel discussions will include: “understanding publishing”; “writing and the health sector”; “rights for writers”; and “the business of writing”. A full programme will be released in early September 2010.
New! 23.08.10
Are you interested in making a major documentary? Docs 360 has a funding opportunity. Applicants must have a documentary project in development with a duration of at least 50 minutes, intended for cinema release. Deadline: 31st August 2010. Full details at the website.
New! 23.08.10
Fancy designing a videogame for a netbook PC? A $5,000 competition from The Game Creators and Intel is encouraging developers to make games targeted at netbooks. Deadline: 4th October 2010. Full details at the website.
New! 23.08.10
The British Glass Biennale 2010 is taking place in Stourbridge and Wordsley, South Staffordshire, on 27th-30th Aug 2010. The Biennale features events, exhibitions, demonstrations, hands-on workshops, talks, and selling fairs. There is also a Masterclass Programme taking place from 23rd-26th August 2010, including a Symposium at the University of Wolverhampton on Friday 27th.
New! 23.08.10
The National Media Museum, based in Bradford, is offering contemporary “emerging and mid-career” photographers up to £20,000. Applicants are invited to pitch a project proposal for potential funding. Applicants must be resident in the UK. Deadline for entry is 1st October 2010. For more information, please visit the website.
New! 23.08.10
Triodos Bank is running a “Business at its Best” photography competition, and this year’s theme is to… “capture the unique and transformative work of social enterprise”. The winner with recieve a prize of £750, and the social enterprise pictured will also win £750 along with one year’s free membership to the Social Enterprise Coalition and £1,000 worth of print advertising in Social Enterprise magazine. Deadline: 1st October 2010. To enter e-mail: socialvision@triodos.co.uk and request an application form.
New! 23.08.10
It has been announced the Script, the public-funded West Midlands agency for dramatic writers, is to close…
“It is with great regret and reluctance that the Board of Script has taken the decision to dissolve the company as of the end of August 2010. The loss of [Arts Council] Regularly Funded Organisation status in March 2008 has had a serious impact on the company’s resources, and the reliance on ever-decreasing pots of project funding has made its future existence unsustainable.”
New! 23.08.10
Added to the Directory: Krystyna Komar, an artist based in Leek.
New! 23.08.10
Advance notice that Arts & Business plans to run a “People Give to People: How to identify prospects for major gifts” event on 11th February 2011, in Manchester. Those who can’t attend may find this document (PDF link) useful.
New! 23.08.10
Advance notice of DataFest, a planned digital arts / social media festival in Stoke-on-Trent in early 2011, which it is envisaged as a fringe/add-on event for the Stoke Your Fires animation festival. More details as Creative Stoke obtains them.
Added to Creative Stoke, 2nd August 2010
Posted: August 2, 2010 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentNew! 02.08.10
Creative Stoke will now be taking a customary August break. See you in September 2010!
New! 02.08.10
Creative Stoke has a new long interview with local film-maker Richard Pekar. Richard is the founder of the North Staffordshire Hungarian Association, and has just made a Lottery-funded film of his father’s heroic escape from the horrors of socialism. In 1957 his father Nandor Pekar crawled through miles of frozen mud, barbed wire and land mines to escape — and eventually settled in Stoke-on-Trent. The Last Train to Budapest was made for £10,000, with a £6,000 National Lottery grant. The film is based on the book Hungarian Blood, and will be shown at Staffordshire University Film Theatre in August or September 2010. There are also plans for a DVD release.
New! 02.08.10
Your editor has a fun little summer competition for comic-book artists/writers. Prizes include a full licence for the real-time animation software iClone 4 Pro, worth £180. I recently won the licence in an animation competition — but I don’t need it as I already own the software. To enter simply download the free version of iClone, play around with it and make some still images, then assemble them into a short comic. Full details are available here.
New! 02.08.10
The Light House media centre in nearby Wolverhampton is holding several summer short courses. Those not yet mentioned on Creative Stoke include: Introduction to High Definition; Lighting Techniques for High Definition; and Introduction to Animation. Courses cost £45 plus VAT. More information from: info@light-house.co.uk
New! 02.08.10 restoke is a collective of three artists: a dance artist; a visual artist; and a musician. restoke has recently received Arts Council and local authority funding to commence their May 2011 project re:claim, a participatory performance at the old Spode factory site (next to SHOP) in the heart of Stoke old town. For more information please visit the restoke website, or get in touch by emailing: info@restoke.org.uk
New! 02.08.10
A new report by the left-wing Institute for Public Policy Research think-tank and Internocracy says that employers are “almost certainly” breaking the law when they take on unpaid interns. More details in the free report.
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