Added to Creative Stoke, 23rd May 2011

^23.05.11   
Due to sell out performances and high demand for more tickets, the producers of the re:claim performance project at the old Spode factory in Stoke town are squeezing in an extra third performance of re:claim — on Saturday 28th May 2011, from 6.30pm. See the website for the booking form.

^23.05.11   
Create Radio is running from Staffordshire University in the run-up to the annual Art & Design degree shows, from 21st May 2011 to 4th June 2011. More details from the Facebook page and the online and radio listening details are available at cre8radio.com

^23.05.11   
Stoke-on-Trent’s new Filmmaking Network is holding its second meeting for local professional film-makers, at Fat Cats Bar in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, on Wednesday 8th June 2011 (6.30pm to 9.30pm).

^23.05.11   
Congratulations to Samantha Eynon of the The Art Shop at Staffordshire University — she has artwork in two leading UK digital arts magazines this month, Computer Arts magazine and Digital Artist magazine.

^23.05.11   
Keele University is hosting its annual creative writing retreat from Sunday 24th July to Friday 29th July 2011. The five-day retreat offers morning master-classes delivered by high profile British poets and novelists, and afternoons spent writing in the old library at Keele Hall — then evenings dining together and listening to readings. The retreat is open to anyone with an interest in furthering their creative writing. The retreat costs £525 inclusive of accommodation and meals. Full details are available online here.

^23.05.11   
Keele University is to hold a series of Open Days for its Raven Mason collection of rare ceramics. The collection will be open to the public on the following Tuesdays, between 10am and 4pm: 7th June; 5th July; 9th August; 6th September; 4th October and 8th November 2011. Admission is free. This is locally made pottery created by Masons Ironstone was known for its exuberant designs inspired by the Orient. Curator Harry Frost, who travels worldwide lecturing on this wonderful collection, will be available to assist visitors with inquiries about the collection.

^23.05.11   
Neighbouring Derbyshire is to host its Open Arts 2011 event at studios and venues across the county. The free event takes place annually in the Spring Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May, with over 100 artists and crafts makers displaying their work. Further details, event listings and brochure are available from www.derbyshireopenarts.co.uk

^23.05.11   
There’s to be a two-day conference on the future for theatre in the West Midlands. The ‘Open Space’ conference will take place on 23rd and 24th June 2011, taking as its theme the challenge question: “What more can we do to create a better future for theatre in the West Midlands?” The event is open to anyone working in the broad area of theatre within the West Midlands. The PDF flyer is available here (PDF link).

Added to Creative Stoke, 17th May 2011

^17.05.11   
Job:  Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking to commission a digital media / film artist / arts organisation to develop an innovative and unique digital media/film-based community arts project during Summer 2011, with children in care and care leavers across Stoke-on-Trent. The high-quality project will engage professional film-makers and a creative writer to enable the young people to…

“develop and create a documentary film that explores issues about living independently and becoming active, positive and confident members of society. The film will be developed as a tool kit [ which ] can be used in a variety of settings [ and will be ] designed to be relevant and ‘accessible’ to a wide range of youngsters.”

Application deadline: 10th June 2011. The fee available is £10,000, to include expenses, artists’ fees, engagement workshops and materials, development of the documentary, and production and duplication of DVDs. More information and a full brief is available from Paul Bailey at:  paul.bailey@stoke.gov.uk

^17.05.11   
Job:  Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Communications Team needs a full-time Web Editor and “on-line champion”. Application deadline: 27th May 2011.

^17.05.11   
A date for the opening of the annual Staffordshire University Art & Design graduation shows — the 2011 shows open with the usual Friday evening preview and launch on the 10th of June 2011, from 6pm.

^17.05.11   
Added to the Directory: Dan Weatherall, a contemporary music-maker based in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent.

^17.05.11   
Job:  Wolverhampton Arts and Heritage Service are seeking a highly motivated Outreach Person to work with Wolverhampton’s diverse communities to improve access to arts and heritage sites and collections, and to generally involve local people. The successful candidate will have outreach or community arts experience, excellent communication skills, creative ideas, the ability to complete a project to a time-scale. This is a Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2012. For more information contact Angela Tombs, Head of Learning & Outreach on 01902 552033 or Francies Nielson, Outreach Manager on 01902 552055. Application deadline: 31st May 2011.

^17.05.11   
Jobs:  Writers in Residence in Prison, in association with the National Offender Management Service, are seeking five new Writers in Residence. Each contract is for 1-2 Years @ 18.5 hours per week. For an application pack, send a large, A4-sized stamped addressed envelope (66p stamp) to Writers in Prison Network Ltd, P.O. Box 71, Welshpool, Wales. SY21 0WB. Deadline: 27th May 2011.

Added to Creative Stoke, 16th May 2011

^16.05.11   
A series of Stoke, Stone, and Stafford Social Media Surgeries are being scheduled for 2011. Creative Stoke has just learned that the first is happening today…

“The first of the SSSSMS’s will be taking place at The Royal Exchange in Stone this coming Monday 16th May [i.e.: today].

The event is planned to be monthly, and will rotate around North and Mid Staffordshire. The later mid-summer dates are: 13th June 2011 (Sun Inn pub, Stafford at 7pm); and 13th July 2011 (White Star pub, Stoke town at 7pm).

Added to Creative Stoke, 13th May 2011

^13.05.11   
Staffordshire University is organising a free breakfast networking event on June 14th 2011. The Stoke-on-Trent campus will play host to employers within the creative industries, inviting them to come and meet the artists and designers of the future, and also to take the opportunity to view the June 2011 art & design degree shows. Please note that this is not a recruitment event: the University wants to provide an opportunity for students to develop their networking skills, and gain an understanding of working in the creative industries, and also for employers to appreciate upcoming talent. Full details from Andrea Pugh at: a.pugh@staffs.ac.uk

^13.05.11   
Rachel Wood has a new YouTube interview with Stoke-on-Trent sports artist Paine Proffitt, about his excellent recent F.A. Cup paintings…

You can also read Creative Stoke’s 2009 interview with Paine.

^13.05.11   
Added to the Directory: Whimsical and Curious. Illustrations and collages of found objects and collections of forgotten photographs and letters.

^13.05.11   
Jude Theatre Company is a long-running children’s theatre group based at King’s Street Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Their Young Ones group (Tues 6pm-8pm, 7-14 years) is offering one free taster evening per child — just print off the the voucher and take it along!

^13.05.11   
Landscape photographer Charlie Waite will be hosting “An Evening with Charlie Waite” in Stafford on 26th May 2011. The event has been organised by the Rotary Club of Stafford Knot as a fund raiser for a local Hospice. Tickets are £12.50, and the tickets hotline is: 01785 254653. Further information from David Stubbs at: holyroodstubbs@yahoo.co.uk

^13.05.11   
The Exchange artists’ shop in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, is to have its second Saturday brunch (breakfast/lunch) event on Saturday 28th May 2011 (12 noon to 2pm). This time it’s a “bring your own food” event, but please still RSVP to: mail@thisisexchange.co.uk

^13.05.11   
Body Image Dance is looking for a female dancer. The selected dancer will work creatively on a new dance project, over a one-week residency in August 2011. The new work is written by local composer Ellie Davies, and the piece will be performed with live music at Newcastle-under-Lyme College in September 2011. Full details from:  amy_tomson@hotmail.com

Added to Creative Stoke, 7th May 2011

^07.05.11   
Nantwich Festival of Arts now has its website online, with dates (17th-19th June 2011) and programme. The festival is partly sponsored by Honda, and supported by MMU’s Crewe campus and MMU’s £7m Axis Arts Centre at Crewe.

^07.05.11   
All the major providers of adult learning opportunities in North Staffordshire are combining for a joint public open day to present their courses. The venue is the Wedgwood Memorial College, Barlaston, on 21st May 2011 (11am – 3pm). Sounds like an ideal opportunity to cut through the online thickets, in terms of finding out about and comparing short creative courses that are set to be held locally.

^07.05.11   
Added to the Directory: Steelworks Dance & Performing Arts Academy, based in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent. Their next audition date for September 2011 entry is 14th June 2011. The Studio offers professional tuition in a wide range of classes from pre-school to advanced, holding three examinations sessions annually in conjunction with the BBO (British Ballet Organisation).

^07.05.11   
Manchester Metropolitan University is creating a £10 million non-repayable scholarship fund to provide degree bursaries and grants to selected undergraduate students. MMU’s Dept. of Contemporary Arts is based at the Crewe campus, within easy travelling distance from Stoke-on-Trent. The Dept. offers degrees in:  Contemporary Theatre & Performance; Creative Writing; Dance; Drama; Creative Music Production; Music; and Popular Music. Lower income households (earning less than £25k a year) are being specifically targeted for the bursaries — so as long as there are no geographical boundaries on the funds, then that suggests that Stoke-on-Trent students may have a good chance of getting a bursary/grant. Further details will be available on this Web page “soon”.

^07.05.11   
Frame has publicly-subsidised creative workspaces available in Birmingham city centre, at the very affordable price of just £39 per month. Only 15 full “memberships” are on offer and nine are already confirmed. There’s no mention of the offer being limited only to those living in Birmingham. For full details and an application form please email:  lucy@framecreatives.com

Added to Creative Stoke, 6th May 2011

^06.05.11   
A special free screening of the North Staffordshire-made film Pulp is set for 9th May 2011, at Vue in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Partly shot at the British International Comics Show in Birmingham, this new feature film is a comedy set in the world of British comics publishing. The makers are seeking audience feedback at this test screening, and attendees will be asked fill in feedback forms. Tickets are limited in number and only available to over-15s — to get one (or two, max.) send your email and phone number to:  bill@pulpthemovie.com

^06.05.11   
Added to the Directory: Flint is a new one-page broadsheet of new writing from West Midlands writers, produced by the Creative Writing Society at Staffordshire University. Two issues published, so far, in 2011.

^06.05.11   
The Spode re:claim performance project is inviting people to take part in an afternoon of costume-making with Jayne Lindley and prop-making with Sarah Nadin, on Sat 7th May 2011 from 2pm. The venue is 116 Church Street, Stoke town. The actual performance takes place on 27th and 28th May 2011, at the disused Spode ceramics factory in Stoke-upon-Trent.

^06.05.11   
Councillor Hazel Lyth has lost her seat at the May 2011 Local Council elections — so it seems that Stoke-on-Trent will be getting a new Cabinet member for Sport, Leisure and Culture in the near future.

^06.05.11   
Artists are invited to submit work to a Summer Exhibition at The Public in West Bromwich. Artists must have “a connection to Sandwell” (it’s part of the Black Country in South Staffordshire) to qualify for free display. Deadline: 6th June 2011. To apply, obtain an entry-form from The Public’s website and then email a photo of your work to:  exhibitions@thepublic.com

^06.05.11   
Craftspace‘s ‘Made In the Middle’ is now calling for work from crafts makers currently working in the West Midlands, or makers with “connections to the region through education, teaching or past practice”. Selected work will be shown at an exhibition that will launch at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham in January 2012, and which will then tour for 18 months. For an application form please email: info@craftspace.co.uk

^06.05.11   
Stockport Art Gallery and SKarts are set to hold an Open Contemporary art exhibition, with over £1300 worth of prizes. The dates are 25th June to 14th August 2011. Handing in dates are: 9th, 10th, and 11th of June 2011. All work must have been created within the previous year and not previously have been exhibited at Stockport Art Gallery. The following media are acceptable: drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, photography, mixed media, and 2D digitial art. Up to three works can be entered, at the cost of £5 per work. Entry forms can be downloaded from SKArts.

^06.05.11   
Down at the other end of the Midlands, the Hereford Photography Festival now accepting submission for 2011. Deadline: 31st May 2011.

^06.05.11   
The University of Warwick (located on the outskirts of Coventry, moderately accessible on the train from Stoke) will be holding an unusual two-day event on 28th-29th May 2011. The event will be about colour in all its creative aspects. The event seems to be free? Kaleidoscope: New Perspectives on the Humanities is on the theme of “colour” and aims to…

“unite researchers, visual artists, writers, students, dancers and all others with an interest in the arts, for two days of productive discussion and collaboration all around the theme of colour”

^06.05.11   
London’s Genesis Digital is offering free c-type prints to bona-fide UK students, until the end of May 2011. Your order has to include paid-for mounting and framing, and then they’ll throw in the cost of the print for free.

Added to Creative Stoke, 5th May 2011

^05.05.11   
“Connect Forward” is a second series of professional development events designed and supported by Partners in Creative Learning (aka PiCL, formerly Creative Partnerships). The aim is to… “bring together teachers with leaders from the local cultural and creative sector”. There will be bursaries available for local creative practitioners — for more information on this please contact:  info@picl.uk.com

The first local date is Saturday 2nd July 2011 at Newcastle-under-Lyme. There will be a lecture by Professor Rob Pope of Oxford Brookes University, titled: “If culture and learning are about the same thing — making meaning of the world we live in — what does that mean for lead-learners and cultural providers?”

There are then a variety of similar events around England. There is a final and second local date, on Saturday 21st January 2012 at Newcastle-under-Lyme, when there will be a second chance to hear Professor Rob Pope’s lecture of 2nd July.

Application deadline: 27th May 2011. To apply, please fill out the booking-form (link is not currently live, but it should be in the near future) available here (Word .doc link) and return to:  info@picl.uk.com

^05.05.11   
Congratulations to Staffordshire artist and BIAD graduate Roxanne Gooderham for creating 100 charcoal horse and farm portraits in 100 days. The work has been featured in Horse and Hound magazine, will be on show at the Family Festival at Reaseheath Agricultural College (Nantwich) on Sunday 15th May 2011. Photographs of the pictures can also be viewed online via this Web page.

^05.05.11   
eFestivals online magazine has an interview with Mike Stephens, organiser of The Acoustic Festival of Britain. The Festival takes place at Uttoxeter on 20th – 22nd May 2011.

^05.05.11   
The veteran music paper NME is now searching for the best small live-music venue in the UK. There are plenty to suggest from Stoke and North Staffordshire, and there’s also a Midlands regional shortlist to aim for. A great opportunity for publicity, even if you only make the shortlist! Nominated venues have to hold less than 500 people.

Added to Creative Stoke, 4th May 2011

^04.05.11   
Due to be available online today, the first issue of the North Staffordshire Press monthly poetry broadsheet, Fade.

^04.05.11   
‘Meet me @ WAG’ is the title of a series of new Wednesday morning arts discussions at nearby Wolverhampton Museum and Art Gallery, easily accessible on the train from Stoke-on-Trent. The 25th May event (11am) is themed “Making and Breaking”, and the 29th June event (11am) is themed “Please Sir!”. The museum curators bring relevant objects and artworks from the collection. No booking required. Full information from:  jane.james@wolverhamptonart.org.uk

^04.05.11   
Added to the Directory: The Daleian Singers, of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

^04.05.11   
Added to the Directory: Newcastle Male Voice Choir.

^04.05.11   
Added to the Directory: Stone Choral Society.

^04.05.11   
Added to the Directory: Newcastle Strings, a string orchestra based in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

^04.05.11   
Birmingham’s Rotten Park Road is seeking a Midlands-based freelance theatre director to work with them for one day, as part of a series of short play readings/rehearsals in partnership with the Stafford-based writing group ‘Rising Brook Writers’. The fee for the work is £150, and it will take place on Saturday 4th June. Application deadline: 20th May 2011. Full details from Lynne Payne at:  lynnep@rottenparkroad.com

^04.05.11   
Keele University has some rare fully-funded arts studentships available. AHRC Doctoral Awards (Ph.D) studentships are available in English Literature, and also in Music. There is also a Masters (M.A.) studentship award in Creative Writing. The application deadline is tight: 20th May 2011.

^04.05.11   
Parts Five and Six of the made-in-Stoke-on-Trent vampire series Blood & Bone China are available online…

Chapter 7 is due on the 15th May 2011.