Added to Creative Stoke, 30th September 2010

^{New! 30.09.10}    
The national Big Draw month is almost underway, and there’s a full list of West Midlands activities. In Stoke-on-Trent Urban Vision is holding an all-ages “Escape to the Hidden Gardens” on the old 1984 Garden Festival site (now Festival Park)…

“Thursday 21st October 2010, 10am – 4pm. We will be exploring the past present and future possibilities for the hidden gardens with guided magical mystery tours and surprising drawing activities with artists Anna Francis and Kate Lynch.”

The event is free, but booking is required. Contact Urban Vision via their website.

^{New! 30.09.10}    
The artists of re:stoke are looking for ex-Spode workers they can talk to, in advance of a major arts event in the disused Spode factory in Stoke town (Stoke-upon-Trent). More information from:  info@restoke.org.uk

^{New! 30.09.10}    
Birmingham City University is hosting a Gamer Camp Nano. Spend a month learning to code games, from 8th November to 3rd December 2011. Develop games for the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad. The only drawback might be the pricetag: £499.

^{New! 30.09.10}    
Job: The Coppice School in Newcastle-under-Lyme is seeking a Creative Practitioner or company to work with a lively group of 11-13 year olds. You’ll be able to work with students who have physical disabilities and who have moderate to severe learning disabilities and/or medical conditions. Fee: £3,500. Application deadline: 10th October 2010. For further information please contact: Anne Kinnaird, Creative Agent, on: 07921 126694

^{New! 30.09.10}    
Job: Westfield Community Primary School needs a Creative Partner (any creative discipline) to help the school “unlocking learning across the curriculum”. You’ll work alongside two Year 1 teachers with year one children. There are two year one classes and a total of 47 mixed-ability children – 29 boys and 18 girls. The project will take place in the Spring term 2011. Fee: £3,000. Application deadline: 4th October 2010. Short listing: Tuesday 5th October 2010 Interviews: Tuesday 19th October 2010. Full information from: Mrs K. Shaw, Headteacher. Westfield Community Primary School. Ounsdale Road, Wombourne, Wolverhampton. WV5 8BH.

^{New! 30.09.10}    
Job: Carmountside Primary School — located in Abbey Hulton, Stoke-on-Trent — requires a Creative Partner (any specialist discipline) to develop drama and role-play as creative learning tools. Application deadline: 11th October 2010. Fee: £3,500. The project will start Spring 2011. Full details here.

^{New! 30.09.10}    
Job: Anglesey Primary School, located in the centre of Burton-on-Trent, requires a Creative Partner (any specialist discipline) to work with Anglesey Primary School. You’ll help Year 1 children transform an outdoor space into an area that will stimulate their imaginations. The project should include parents and stimulate literacy. Application deadline: 15th October 2010. Project to start Spring 2011. Fee: £3,500 available to support the work. Full details here.

^{New! 30.09.10}    
Job: All Saints’ Church of England is a village primary school based in Alrewas near Burton-on-Trent. They require a Creative Partner to help Foundation Stage pupils to develop skills in problem-solving, reasoning, numeracy and/or literacy through exploring their outdoor surroundings. Application deadline: 11th October 2010. Project will start Spring 2011. Fee: £3,500 Full details here.

^{New! 30.09.10}    
Congratulations to those involved in the launch of Autism Radio UK, and its polished website, now broadcasting from Newcastle-under-Lyme. Listeners might like to visit the Community Champions website Vote for Kevin of Autistic Radio UK to make a documentary film about the radio station.

^{New! 30.09.10}    
Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre has an Open Day on Sunday 3rd October 2010, from noon to 3pm.

Added to Creative Stoke, 24th September 2010

^{New! 24.09.10}    
Want to be in a movie? Shropshire’s Dare Productions and Stoke-on-Trent’s Reels In Motion are inviting all comic book fans to be part of their latest feature-film, Pulp. Pulp is a comedy feature-film set in the world of comic-book publishing. The film is written by Staffordshire’s Bode O’Toole, and directed by award-winning commercials and animation director Shaun Magher. It will be shot on location at the Birmingham International Comic Show on 16th and 17th October 2010. If you already have a ticket for BICS, please contact Dare or Reels via their websites for more information.

^{New! 24.09.10}    
Arts & Business are seeking eight Midlands-based business brains for 2010/11, with an interest in being placed on the boards of leading arts charities in the UK. You’ll be 18 to 30 years old. Full details from Carolyn Pugh at:  carolyn.pugh@artsandbusiness.org.uk

^{New! 24.09.10}    
Job:  Edgar Stammers Primary School, located in Walsall, requires a Creative Practitioner who can make make literacy exciting for young people. Project budget: “up to” £3,000. Application deadline: 13th October 2010. Full brief from Iris Bertz, Creative Agent at:  ibertz@gmail.com

^{New! 24.09.10}    
Wolverhampton’s Light House is running a one-day scriptwriting course on “Writing an Animated Comedy”, run by Myles McLeod, the writing half of the award winning Brothers McLeod. This workshop is on Thursday 4th November 2010 (10am – 4pm). Cost £25 + VAT. To book please call: 01902 716055.

Also on the same day at Light House, a one-day “Introduction to Building a Game with XNA”. XNA is the free videogame building software from Microsoft. Thursday 4th November 2010 (12pm – 4pm). Cost: £5 + VAT. To book please call: 01902 716055.

Added to Creative Stoke, 23rd September 2010

^{New! 23.09.10}    
The North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce is holding its fourth annual “Let’s Do Business exhibition“. They are expecting around 90 exhibitors and over 500 visitors. The date is 16th November 2010 (9.30am to 4.30pm) at the Stoke-on-Trent Moat House Hotel, Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5BQ. Bookings for tables/stands are now being taken.

^{New! 23.09.10}    
The English Youth Ballet have announced audition dates for Stoke-on-Trent. The Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, will host auditions on Tuesday 15th March 2011 for performances on 17th & 18th June 2011.

^{New! 23.09.10}    
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has launched its 2011/12 education grants scheme. These grants are awarded to schools to help promote educational projects that explore the design and use of buildings and public spaces. Interested schools can apply for up to £1,500 to fund or part-fund their proposed project — which must be completed by the end of March 2011. Application deadline: 5th November 2010. Full details at the website.

^{New! 23.09.10}    
The Hurst Arvon residential writing centre, in nearby Shropshire, has places available on its Sports Writing course on 15th – 20th November 2010.

^{New! 23.09.10}    
Ruth Martindale, the final Artist in Residence at SHOP, launches her artist residency on the potential for an urban farm in the city, on Sat 25th September 2010.

^{New! 23.09.10}    
Added to the Directory: The National Association of Writing Groups, an organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent.

^{New! 23.09.10}    
Job:  Burnwood Community School, in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent requires Partners in Creative Learning for arts & business projects in April-June 2011. You’ll support the school in developing teaching and learning opportunities which can be linked to business enterprise and real-world context learning. Deadline: 7th October 2010. Full brief from:  info@picl.uk.com

^{New! 23.09.10}    
Job:  Westfield Community Primary School, based in Wombourne, Staffordshire, is seeking “wow! factor” Creative Partners to support the further developing of the creative curriculum. Fee: £3,000. Application deadline: 4th October 2010. Full brief from:  info@picl.uk.com

^{New! 23.09.10}    
The DJ School Association, based in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, needs to raise £13,495 to help to run future courses and activities. If you would like to make a donation contact Sarah Armitt on:  01782 205675.

Added to Creative Stoke, 21st September 2010

^{New! 21.09.10}    
Job:  Trinity Church of England Primary School in Wolverhampton, wish to recruit a highly experienced web designer / web company to produce an online virtual world as an interactive learning resource for pupils and teachers in primary schools across the UK. Application deadline: 11th October 2010. For a full brief, please email Creative Agent Rebecca Hardy at:  rebecca@edge21.co.uk

^{New! 21.09.10}    
Job:  Trinity Church of England Primary School in Wolverhampton, wish to recruit a radio / music / sound practitioner who will work across the school supporting pupils in creating their own radio shows. The practitioner will work with pupils from year 1 – 6 to develop radio shows. Application deadline: 11th October 2010. For a full brief, please email Creative Agent Rebecca Hardy at:  rebecca@edge21.co.uk

^{New! 21.09.10}    
SHOP, the artists’ shop in Stoke old town (Stoke-upon-Trent) is looking for volunteers for a range of activities for the end of September and October 2010:

  1. Artist in Residence, Ruth Martindale, will be using her time at SHOP to create “A Proposal for an Urban Farm in Stoke on Trent”. She is looking for volunteers to support her in her work between Saturday 25th September and Thursday 7th October 2010. This will be a mix of helping find potential sites, talking to visitors to SHOP about her work, and a little bit of making tea and coffee.

  2. Invigilation & Installation – between Friday 8th October and 31st October 2010 there are various exhibitions at SHOP from a range of artists. SHOP is looking for people to help to install the exhibitions, give out flyers and put up posters city wide, and talk to visitors to SHOP about the project and exhibitions. Training and information will be provided.

SHOP opening hours are 10.30 to 5.30pm – with some later events as agreed. If you are interested and have some availability please email: shop@shop-stoke.co.uk

^{New! 21.09.10}    
Added to the directory, W. Terry Fox of Kidsgrove. Terry is a poet available for performances and workshops, and has served as Poet Laureate for Cheshire.

^{New! 21.09.10}    
Job:  Junction Arts, the Arts Council funded organisation based in the Derbyshire Peak District, requires a new CEO… “a dynamic, enterprising, creative and experienced person to lead the organisation into the next exciting phase of its development.” See the website for contact details.

Added to Creative Stoke, 18th September 2010

^{New! 18.09.10}    
Job:  Bright Space, Birmingham’s early years arts organisation, is seeking a Creative Careers Festival Assistant (part-time, 4 month bursary). You’ll assist in the development of the Creative Careers Festival event, taking place on 28th and 29th January 2011, and the job would suit an individual looking for their first step in the arts and event management sector.

^{New! 18.09.10}    
The Coppice School, located in Newcastle-under-Lyme, require a Creative Practitioner. You’ll work with “7JY”, a lively group of 11, 12, and 13 year olds students who wish to work with a dynamic, innovative creative practitioner or company. Application deadline: 10th October 2010. Planning starts in November 2010, and project activity will happen between January and March 2011. There is £3,500 available to support the work to include practitioner fees, travel and any resources. For a full brief and details of how to apply, please visit the PiCL website.

^{New! 18.09.10}    
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants is running an event in North Staffordshire: An Introduction to Private Equity…

“How much do you know about private equity, an important asset class investing around £8bn a year into over 1,600 privately owned UK companies? Whether your business is seeking to expand, raise finance or make acquisitions (or be acquired), an understanding of private equity should be considered essential.”

This free event will be at the Moat House Hotel at Stoke-on-Trent (Festival Park) on 21st September 2010, from 6.30pm. The speaker is Paul Harper, investment director at Barclays Private Equity in the Midlands.

^{New! 18.09.10}    
The Buxton-based Association of Festival Organisers are holding their 2010 conference at the Eastwood Hall Conference Centre, Nottingham, on 19th-21st November 2010.

Added to Creative Stoke, 17th September 2010

^{New! 17.09.10}    
Job:  New Vic Theatre requires a Lighting Operator/Technician (Maternity Cover, full-time). The successful candidate will have the ability to plot, operate, rig and focus lighting/sound equipment, work calmly under pressure and have an enthusiasm for working creatively with lighting and sound in theatre. Application deadline: 4th October 2010. Full details from Mark Carter at:  recruitment@newvictheatre.org.uk

^{New! 17.09.10}    
The Institute of Directors and UK Trade and Industry are staging a conference to help the small and medium-sized businesses to seek out new export markets. The half-day Exporting For Growth conference will be at Brindleyplace in Birmingham on 13th October 2010. Cost including lunch and VAT is £52.88 for ICAEW and IoD members and £70.50 for non-members. To book please contact:  sue.hurrell@iod.com  or  deborah.turner@icaew.com

^{New! 17.09.10}    
Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Building Schools for the Future programme is to hold a special “Meet the Buyer” event in Stoke-on-Trent. The aim of the day is to encourage local suppliers to come along and talk one-to-one with the main BSF’s main design and build contractors: Balfour Beatty; Thomas Vale/Wates (TVW consortium); and the RM Group. While the event seems geared towards local building and fitting firms, there may be opportunities for larger creative firms to learn about the possible supply of items such as: creative playground designs; use of local ceramic art tiles in the schools; creative exterior seating; the fitting out of special ‘fantasy theme’ classrooms (spaceships, etc); and suchlike. The event is on 7th October 2010 (9am-4pm) at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent. Those attending should first contact  sam.wood@stoke.gov.uk

^{New! 17.09.10}    
Staffordshire University’s Media & Film Production students now have a new Facebook group, for those who want to keep informed about their various activities, new films, and success stories. For those who want to see recent work on a big screen, a joint graduation show at the Film Theatre will happen on 22nd September 2010 (7.45pm start) in association with Stoke Cine and Video Society. This event will present a programme of new film and animation made by students who graduated this summer in the Faculty of Arts, Media and Design.

^{New! 17.09.10}    
Local film-maker Richard Pekar is launching his new film The Last Train to Budapest at the Film Theatre on Wednesday 3rd November 2010 (7pm start). This is an all-ticket event, at £3 per person (inc. after-show buffet), and there should be 100 public tickets spare after cast and crew have been accounted for. Contact the Film Theatre box office for tickets. Creative Stoke has a long interview with Richard Pekar, which has details of the film.

Added to Creative Stoke, 15th September 2010 – part two

^{New! 15.09.10}    
AirSpace gallery in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, is to host a talk on ‘Art and Regeneration’ on 21st October 2010 (5pm-7pm). David Bethell, founder and director of AirSpace will be talking about the impact that art and the cultural environment can have on the regeneration of our local area. Those attending will also have the opportunity to review the Conjunction 2010 exhibition.

^{New! 15.09.10}    
“Animating Blake” is three days of free drop-in workshops at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, billed as… “create colourful characters and bring William Blake to life through animation”. The dates are 26th October to 28th October 2010 (11am to 4pm).

^{New! 15.09.10}    
Professor Barbara Kelly, Michael Bell and Karen Radcliffe, all of Keele University, are teaming up to present a free lecture on ‘Local and exotic locations: Music in the Midlands and Europe 100 years ago’. This will be at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, on 9th October 2010 (2pm to 4pm). There will also be music by Debussy and Vaughan Williams.

^{New! 15.09.10}    
Only five days left to apply for the shadowing opportunities available with re:stoke. Deadline: 20th September 2010. Their project ‘re:claim’ is offering opportunities for shadowing artists to join lead artists for a minimum of ten days from September 2010 – May 2011, as re:stoke prepare for a major arts event in/around 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 covering 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! 15.09.10}    
North Staffordshire Business organisation finest & futurefinest are having a Communication Skills Workshop on 16th September 2010 (9am-12.30pm). Lymedale Business Centre, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Cost: £50 + vat (£58.75).

^{New! 15.09.10}    
Staffordshire University is having a ‘Blogging for Business’ / ‘Introduction to Social Media for Business Growth’ day at their Lichfield Campus, on 20th September 2010. Each workshop morning / afternoon workshop costs £50. More details from Pat Holdcroft at:  p.holdcroft@staffs.ac.uk

^{New! 15.09.10}    
Planning an arts event connected with the Olympic Games 2012? Need volunteers? Volunteering England is working with Volunteer Centres throughout the nation, to deliver free regional workshops for organisations interested in developing Olympic Games-inspired volunteering opportunities. They’re having a Stoke-on-Trent workshop on 12th October 2010 (9.30am to 1pm) at The Bridge Centre, Birches Head Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 8DD. The free…

“workshops involve a range of practical group and individual activities and will equip you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to create your own Games inspired volunteering opportunities and get them advertised on the Do-it volunteering website.”

Added to Creative Stoke, 15th September 2010

^{New! 15.09.10}    
Job:  The New Victoria Theatre requires a Youth Theatre Director & Education Practitioner. This is a full-time post (40 hours per week) at £17,736 per annum. Application deadline: 4th October 2010. For an application pack please email:  recruitment@newvictheatre.org.uk

^{New! 15.09.10}    
Added to the Directory: Andrew Flint, an M.A. artist at Staffordshire University. Andrew makes… “installation-based [artworks that] involve sound created in collaboration with electronic musicians, drawings, sculpture, scent, prose poetry and performance contained within a relatively small space”. Added in the “Unusual Structures and Environments” section on the Architecture page.

^{New! 15.09.10}    
PiCL (formerly Creative Partnerships North Staffordshire) has news of a new PricewaterhouseCoopers report on the Creative Partnerships programme, and highlights parts relating to North Staffordshire. The full report is here (PDF link)…

“Overall, Creative Partnerships is estimated to have generated or is expected to generate a net positive economic benefit of just under £4bn. Expressed as a ratio of the benefits to the costs, we estimate that every £1 invested in the programme delivers £15.30 worth of benefits.”

^{New! 15.09.10}    
My list of those tracking / discussing / lobbying against the forthcoming arts cuts in the UK…

Save the Arts.

I Value the Arts.

AIR Activists (Artists’ Newsletter group).

artsfunding @ Ning.

Arts & Business: Forum for Arts, Culture & Heritage.

National Campaign for the Arts.

Arts Council’s Advocacy Kit & Guide to Lobbying MPs.

State of the Arts in Wales (a map of the cuts)

Save the Arts’ official campaign video…

Staffs University M.A. Fine Art degree show 2010 – photos

^{New! 15.09.10}    
Creative Stoke has a set of 12 pictures from tonight’s M.A. Fine Art 2010 degree show at Staffordshire University (apologies for not telling readers about it beforehand — your editor only found out about it 30 minutes before it opened for its final night). Click on a picture to see a larger version.

Russell Willett — both “Untitled”.

Chris Parks — one of a group of bird sculptures (detail).

Barrie Felton — “Deconstruction” (detail). A reproduction of one of the steel joists above the studios.

Chris Parkes — “Meerkat Den”.

Chris Parkes — one of a group of sculptures.

Jill Impey — from “Diving for Pearls”.

Jill Impey — “Illusion 1”.

Lawri Slack — Punchpainting Performance + Punchpainting sculptures.

Chris Parkes — “Crow”.

Andrew Flint — “The Jolly Anthropomorphism”.

Michelle Parr — “Pylon” (detail of a large and impressive installation).

Andrew Flint — Entrance to “Ultima Thule”.

Added to Creative Stoke, 14th September 2010

^{New! 14.09.10}    
The West Bromwich-based Longhouse/Multistory is currently looking for applications from artists to undertake five research bursaries from October 2010 until March 2011. Artists will pro-actively discover new contexts for their work, via the exploration of different approaches to socially-engaged practice in the public realm. The umbrella theme is “Connections”. Each of selected artist will receive support from Lead Artist/Mentor, Scott Farlow. The fee for the bursary is £2,000. Application deadline: 17th September 2010. Full details at the website.

^{New! 14.09.10}    
Job:  Surtal Asian Arts require an Assistant Arts Administrator in Derby, for a six-month contract (25 hours per week from Monday to Friday, with one evening). The post pays minimum wage and is open to 18-24 year-olds who are on Job Seekers Allowance and eligible for the Future Job Fund scheme. To apply please contact your adviser at Job Centre Plus, quoting this vacancy.

^{New! 14.09.10}    
Matthew Rice has a forthcoming book, due for publication at the start of October 2010. The Lost City of Stoke-on-Trent is described as “a fanfare for one of the great cities of the world’s first industrial revolution”, and is based around Rice’s architectural watercolours. The foreword is by Emma Bridgewater.