Added to Creative Stoke, 29th June 2011

^29.06.11    
Creative Stoke will now be taking a customary Summer break. Since January 2011 Creative Stoke has posted 550 “What’s New?” items here. See you again in September 2010!

^29.06.11    
Added to the Directory: Eclipse Broadcast, broadcast technical experts based on the Parkhouse Industrial Site at Newcastle-under-Lyme.

^29.06.11    
The British Film Institute has funded Skillset to deliver A Bigger Future 2, a new scheme set to provide three-years of professional skills training in the UK. As part of this, the Birmingham-based Producers’ Forum is running a mentoring scheme for West Midlands feature film producers. 10 producers based in the West Midlands region will be selected…

“to receive high-level mentoring advice and guidance from industry experts across finance, business affairs, sales and distribution, and creative producing skills during Summer/Autumn 2011.”

To be eligible you have to be a West Midlands-based independent producer with one or more feature film projects in active development. Deadline: 8th July 2011. Full details and application forms are on this page.

^29.06.11    
Mid*point is a newly launched network for theatre producers in the West Midlands.

^29.06.11    
First Bite is a day of new theatre at the Midlands Arts Centre in south Birmingham. They plan to stage… “eclectic extracts and ideas” from theatre troupes, companies and performers across the West Midlands. Two will be selected to go on to receive a commission of £3,000. Full details are available here (PDF link).

^29.06.11    
The Public in West Bromwich is to offer a day of advice about careers in the arts and creative industries. Creative Journeys is a free event for young people, teachers and parents on 28th September 2011. For more information please contact:  john@creativealliance.org.uk

^29.06.11    
Romantic fiction publishers Mills & Boon plan to host creative writing workshops this summer in local public libraries across the nation, accompanied by marketing and publicity. Selected authors will teach creative writing groups how to write a Mills & Boon romance, as well as encouraging writers to take part in the ‘New Voices’ search for new romantic writing talent. Workshops are set to happen from 2nd August – 20th September 2011. To apply to run a workshop at your local library, please submit your pitch by Monday 4th July 2011.

Added to Creative Stoke, 23rd June 2011

^23.06.11    
Staffordshire’s Beacon International Centre, located at Stafford, is hosting a lunchtime BIC talk on “New Product Development: the Value of Design”. The talk is on 7th July 2011, 12 noon to 2pm. Full details from:  sandra.butterworth@thebic.co.uk

^23.06.11    
The Stone & District University of the Third Age (U3A) is considering the possibility of running educational courses for people not in full-time employment. There is also a meeting taking place to consider starting a much-needed Stoke branch of the U3A. As such they are now inviting initial expressions of interest from potential teachers, so they can work out the sorts of classes and courses that it might be feasible to provide. Interested? Phone Sandra Robson on:  01785 812730.

^23.06.11    
Midsummer’s day has passed, and thoughts turn to… Christmas pantomimes! The Lyceum Theatre at Crewe is auditioning for children’s roles (8-16) in their Snow White Christmas pantomime. The audition date is set for 3rd July 2011, 9.45am for a 10am start. Full details from:  01270 537333.

^23.06.11    
Stoke-on-Trent College is having an Open Morning on 25th June 2011. The Burslem campus is the one you want to visit for information about forthcoming creative courses in areas such as Media, Art & Design, and Music & Performing Arts.

Added to Creative Stoke, 20th June 2011

^20.06.11    
Are you thinking of starting a new design business in the West Midlands? The Interiors and Lifestyle Futures ‘Venture’ programme is now…

“recruiting the best talent from across the West Midlands to assist them with starting up their company. We are able to support a total of 30 people within the interiors and lifestyle products and service sectors [with an] intensive 6 months of mentoring & business development workshops builds business confidence, entrepreneurial skills and develops focused business ideas.”

£1,000 is awarded on setting up a business. Application deadline: 15th July 2011. To obtain an application form or for more details please email:  wendy@ilfutures.co.uk

^20.06.11    
Added to the Directory:  Kindermusik with Shelly is a new early-years music programme now on offer in Stoke-on-Trent. Kindermusik has approximately 6,000 educators worldwide in over 66 countries, and is only delivered by trained and licensed educators. Family members stay with the child during sessions, and participate in music, movement, chants, play and listening activities. See the website for full details.

^20.06.11    
A low-cost retailing and crafts workshop is available for monthly rental, 10 minutes from Newcastle-under-Lyme in North Staffordshire. Full details from:  info@slaters-village.com

^20.06.11    
The Surface exhibitors (opens 8th July, 6pm at Artwaves in Burslem) now have a Facebook page.

^20.06.11    
Congratulations to the Sugarmill in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. It was recently voted the NME‘s “best small music venue” in the Midlands.

^20.06.11    
Nottingham Trent University has a rare paid UK Ph.D -level studentship available in Applied Arts and Crafts / Textiles / Fashion…

“This studentship will develop connections between research in textiles focusing on the physical realisation of innovative designs, integrating technical enquiries with creative design work situated in fashion.”

Application deadline: 4th July 2011. For informal discussions please contact Professor Tilak Dias at:  tilak.dias@ntu.ac.uk

^20.06.11    
The Craft Pottery Charitable Trust is now inviting applicants to apply for the 2011 Annual Grant Scheme. The scheme is open to all ceramists, whether or not members of the CPA. Deadline: 15th December 2011. Guidance for applicants is available from:  lizgale@interalpha.co.uk

^20.06.11    
Do you want to do a Masters degree in the music industry, but without all the expense and hassle of travelling down to Birmingham at peak-time and then catching another train out to Perry Barr? Birmingham City University’s School of Media (located at Perry Barr in the north of the city) is now offering its M.A. in Music Industries by distance learning. See the website for full details.

^20.06.11    
The annual Birmingham Artsfest is inviting film and animation submissions from across the West Midlands. Films should be submitted on a DVD that’s playable in a standard player, and your film needs to have some connection to the West Midlands. The film can be of any length and of any genre. Deadline: 26th June 2011. Submit at the Kino10 site.

^20.06.11    
Applications are now invited from young people in the Midlands for a Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Summer School Young Persons’ Bursary. This is worth up to £99, and six bursaries are on offer to those aged between 14 to 18, and in full-time education in the UK. Those selected will take part in one of three selected Summer School Workshops (a maximum of two bursary students per workshop) at a much lower cost than usual. Full details at the website.

Added to Creative Stoke, 16th June 2011

^16.06.11    
ChuffChuff is a new venue for the people of nearby Crewe, supporting local artists with new ‘art pods’ to rent. Located in a former railway warehouse, they have a performing art space and a dedicated dance studio, together with a performance space for bands, a music recording studio, and a vocals booth. Visit the website for full details.

^16.06.11    
The consultants in charge of planning the regeneration of the Spode site in Stoke town, URbed, are making a promotional film which includes a ‘virtual walkthrough’ of the site — envisaged as an artists’ village. They would like to include images of local artists and crafts makers in this, rather than the standard stock photographs of people. Interested? URbed can be contacted at:   info@dbdigital3d.co.uk

^16.06.11    
On Tuesday British Telecom announced a new list of telephone exchanges being scheduled for a broadband upgrade. Congratulations to Leek and Stafford, which are set to benefit from faster “up to 40Mbps” broadband sometime in 2011 or 2012.

^16.06.11    
Planning to bid for work supplying the London 2012 Olympic Games? BiP Solutions is holding a Procurement Training Workshop at Yarnfield Park in North Staffordshire on 30th June 2011. More details from: 0845 270 7095.

^16.06.11    
Birmingham-based First Light brings young people together with film professionals for project-based work. First Light now requires a production company to make ten “how to” films of approximately 90 seconds each, each giving young people aged 14+ a very quick and fun idea of what’s involved in one aspect of the film-making process (scriptwriting, storyboarding, editing, etc). Application deadline: 17th June 2011 (12 noon). Budget: Up to £10,000, inclusive of VAT and all expenses. Delivery in full by 30th September 2011. Full details from:  info@firstlightonline.co.uk

^16.06.11    
Museums at Night are asking people to fill in a short online survey, to help make this national event better in 2012. The Mill Meece Pumping Station in Staffordshire has so far provided the most interesting reply: their Museums at Night event in 2011… “paid for the coal used for the annual boiler safety-valve check”. The survey is part of a thorough evaluation report which will be used for future fundraising.

^16.06.11    
The Three Shires Textile Festival has announced dates for the next festival: 1st — 31st July 2013.

^16.06.11    
John Gillow is set to give a lecture on Islamic textiles at the Heritage Centre in Macclesfield, on 23rd June 2011. This accompanies the exhibition ‘Afghan Bazaar’. Gillow is a renowned non-European textile collector and author of many textile books. Cost is £5.

Added to Creative Stoke, 15th June 2011

^15.06.11    
Job:  Stoke Your Fires, the Stoke-on-Trent animation and film festival, is seeking a Freelance Project Manager (PDF link). You’ll deliver… “a comprehensive research and development project that will influence the future direction of the festival.” Deadline: 20th June 2011.

^15.06.11    
Job:  Making Moves II requires a Freelance Evaluator. Making Moves II was a Midlands-wide crafts development initiative between Midlands councils such as Staffordshire County Council and Craftspace. Fee: £2,000. Application deadline: 1st July 2011. See the Web page for full details.

^15.06.11    
Newcastle-under-Lyme College will open its annual student art exhibition, at the new College campus, from 18th June to 25th June 2011. There will also be the opportunity to view the exhibition and find out more about the creative courses on offer, at the College’s Open Morning on 25th June 2011.

^15.06.11    
Congratulations to Burleigh in Middleport, for completing the major re-funding and re-financing that will save this unique working Victorian pottery (after it was hit by embezzlement). There are now apparently plans to open spaces in the building as crafts making studios by 2012.

^15.06.11    
Young Enterprise Staffordshire is reported to be seeking corporate sponsorship to help expand its service to 15-18 year olds who are considering a business start-up.

^15.06.11    
A number of ‘Factory Nights’ for artists are being planned across the Midlands and beyond in 2011-2012, as an… “innovative, new approach to commissioning art work and inspiring collaboration”, and these will aim to be… “experimental and spontaneous”. Places will be limited to 25, and selected attendees will then be able to apply for bursaries of between £1,000 and £3,000 to… “conduct research residencies, collaborations or produce a piece of work responding to the [venue] space.”. The ‘Factory Nights’ are reported to be partly funded by Staffordshire University and Stoke on Trent City Council, among others. Full details at the website.

^15.06.11    
The Leek Writers Group now has its own website.

^15.06.11    
Added to the Directory: Luke Reynolds is graduate photographer, who will shortly be returning to live in Stoke-on-Trent after completing a degree in Photography at Leeds.

^15.06.11    
Added to the Directory: David Sidley is a Staffordshire University student photographer who now has a new book available featuring his home city, focusssing on his snatched photographs of Tontine Street in Hanley and the people who pass through it. A selection of the pictures can be viewed online and the book can be purchased here.

^15.06.11    
Added to the Directory: Adam Lowndes, a Stoke-on-Trent photographer.

^15.06.11    
Added to the Directory: Nicholas Proud Music, Stoke-on-Trent based and offering freelance music services including piano tuition and music production for film, theatre, visual arts, and dance.

^15.06.11    
Outside In, the UK network for outsider artists, is set for a website revamp and the launch of its 2012 Outside In 2012 Open exhibition in July 2011. Submissions of work will be accepted from 21st July 2011. They’re also planning…

“regional surgeries delivered in your area by the Outside In team and ‘artist ambassadors’. These surgeries will provide support and advice to local artists who want to create their own online galleries and who wish to submit their work for the 2012 Open competition.”

Outside In are also looking for organisations who may welcome the chance to host a surgery and accompanying workshop at their venue. A website to watch, if you’re making outsider or visionary art.

^15.06.11    
The Light House in nearby Wolverhampton has a Exhibition Talk on ‘The Street’ on Thursday 16th June 2011 (6.30pm). Pete James, Head of Photographs at Birmingham Central Library will be talking to Dean Kelland and Andrew Jackson about their exhibition The Street.

Added to Creative Stoke, 12th June 2011

^12.06.11    
Fierce Earth’s Helga Henry will be delivering a series of six ‘Be Effective’ workshops in partnership with the Exchange artists’ shop in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. These one-day workshops are on offer to all local creative entrepreneurs who want to start a business using your talent and doing the things you love. There are still places available, and the series starts on 23rd June at the Mitchell Arts Centre (formerly the Mitchell Memorial Theatre), Hanley. See the schedule and booking form for full details.

^12.06.11    
Staffordshire Patchworkers and Quilters have a new venue in Stone, just south of Stoke-on-Trent. The programme of speakers for the second half of 2011 includes Annette Emms on ‘Gargoyles, Ghosts and Graveyards’, and a talk by the award-winning Ferret, among others.

^12.06.11   
A reminder that the entry deadline for the Halls Fine Art Open Competition is 30th June 2011. Artists’ awards and prizes include a £2,000 first prize; a special £500 Shropshire or Staffordshire based winner award; and a Junior Award for artists under 16. For full details and an entry form contact:  Mary Peace at Weston Park, Weston-under-Lizard, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 8LE. There will be an accompanying gallery exhibition, 1st – 31st August 2011. The competition and exhibition are sponsored by Halls — the Estate Agents, Chartered Surveyors, Auctioneers and Valuers.

Staffs University Art & Design degree shows, June 2011

^10.06.11    
Below is Creative Stoke’s taster selection of pictures of works now on show at the annual Staffordshire University Art & Design Shows, which opened tonight. The show times are…

* Sat 11th June, Sun 12, and Saturday 18 June — 11am – 4pm
* Mon 13 and Wed 15 June — 10am – 8pm
* Tues 14, Thurs 16 and Fri 17 June — 10am – 6pm

Click the pictures for larger versions:

In Photography Chris Davis presents a series of wonderfully costumed triptych self-portraits with a definite Stoke flavour, which your editor thought were the most fascinating and fully-realised visual art works in the shows. The snapshot below really doesn’t do the illustration-like quality of these works justice. Chris also has a book available for online purchase, Welcome to Chrisville. Prints are also available from Chris…

In Graphic Design there’s this charming faux-vintage neo-Victorian poster by John Ellis…

In Crafts, Darren Kelly (no website) has this delightfully cheerful stool. He makes and fits all the materials himself, and intends to remain in Stoke after graduation…

Jonathan Colenso‘s characterful stop-motion animation ‘king’ model is just one of a very lively animation, stop-motion puppetry and 3D rendering room. Sadly there doesn’t seem to be a YouTube channel or similar where all the year’s final works in these degrees are collected together, but there’s a big screening room plus PCs at the show.

In Fine Art, Laila Flood has some eerie Francesca Woodman -inspired prints…

Also in Fine Art, Tracey Barlow’s magnificent walking-inspired painting — shown in the catalogue and website — has sadly been sold and hasn’t been loaned back to Tracey for the show. But it can still be seen online.

^10.06.11    
There’s a new Cartoon and Comic Arts degree at Staffordshire University, which your editor is told starts with its first cohort of students in September 2011. One of the tutors has a blog and a Tumblr page for the course.

Added to Creative Stoke, 10th June 2011

^10.06.11    
An automated Linkbot-based checking of all Web links on the Creative Stoke Directory has been undertaken, and dead links have been either repaired or deleted. Please note that the What’s New Page and its archive have not been included in the checking.

Please write if you know the online whereabouts of the following: Cheadle Choral Society, the City Music and Performing Arts Service of Stoke-on-Trent Council, Newcastle Operatic Society, Biddulph & District Youth Orchestra, World of Puppets, Stafford Art Group, The Academy of Theatre Arts, Miho Suganami, or William Eccleston.

A deeper hand-checking of the Directory will be undertaken over the Summer.

^10.06.11    
The Shire Hall Gallery is currently seeking artists to show their work in an exhibition space located in the Gallery’s Balcony Coffee Bar.

^10.06.11    
The AirSpace Gallery in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, is having a Yard Sale from 12 noon on Saturday 11th June 2011.

^10.06.11    
Job:  St. Margaret Ward Catholic College (Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent) requires a part-time Dance teacher for the September 2011 term. Deadline: 15th June 2011. Full details from Karen Wilson at: 01782 236162.

Added to Creative Stoke, 9th June 2011

^09.06.11    
Tonight at the Burslem School of Art, Stoke-on-Trent, there will be a free talk by three artists from Sheffield who are currently exhibiting at the School. Simon Kent is a self-taught sculptor who creates his large scale artwork in wood, Brian Holland is a professional ceramic artist, and Bernhard Culshaw is a painter. Their free talks will run from 5pm – 7pm.

^09.06.11    
Staffordshire University now has the PDF catalogue online (PDF link, 4Mb) for the 2011 art & design graduation shows. The shows open on Friday evening at the Stoke campus (just around the corner from Stoke’s intercity train station).

^09.06.11    
North Staffordshire’s Rideout prison arts organisation is seeking a designer or Lego enthusiast to design two small Lego models for then, using the Lego software. This software is free and easy to download. This work can be done from home and is to be paid via a fee-per-model. Please enquire for more details from Chris Johnston at:  chris@rideout.org.uk

^09.06.11    
500 organisations recently joined forces to chide Arts Council England about its lack of concern for the regular funding of digital culture…

“We the undersigned believe that clear national policies need to be developed to ensure that the UK can remain at the forefront of digital culture, globally, and that these must take account of the key role creative practices play in driving digital innovation. Whilst we appreciate that digital technologies have created exciting opportunities to engage with audiences, and to disseminate and distribute arts programmes in new ways, it is critical that funders and policy-makers understand that this is not the extent of digital culture. If we are to make the most of the digital opportunity, it needs to be recognised at a national policy level that digital culture is about more than extending the reach of existing arts practices. It is about entirely new forms of production, expression, practice and critical reflection that digital technologies have made possible. We are concerned about the place of art, creative practice, criticality and risk-taking in current and future funding policies.”

In what would appear to be a first response Arts Council England has now brought in the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) to run a new £500,000 ‘Digital R&D Fund for Arts and Culture’. NESTA will fund digital research and development projects which… “have the potential to produce new data and research insights that can be shared with and benefit other arts and cultural organisations”. The deadline for applications is 2nd September 2011, and organisations can apply via NESTA’s Web page for the Fund.

^09.06.11    
The Light House in nearby Wolverhampton is running a one day Photographing People workshop. The workshop will run on Friday 17th June 2011 (10am – 4pm). The cost is £40 + VAT. See the website for full details.

^09.06.11    
The BBC’s Performing Arts Fund is now accepting applications for community dance projects. The Fund has up to £200,000 to award, with grants of £500 to £5,000 available across the UK. Deadline: 12th July 2011.

Added to Creative Stoke, 6th June 2011

^{New! 06.06.11}    
DACS Payback launches its 2011 payback on 13th June 2011. The scheme allows visual creatives to claim a share of the £4-million DACS Payback fund. If you’ve had an image of your work published in a British magazine or newspaper, or seen on a TV programme, yet not been paid for it — then applying could get you a DACS cheque. The Payback cash is raised from the annual photocopying and video/TV/DVD duplication licenses paid for by British schools, colleges and universities. Last year the average individual Payback royalty payment to artists was for £295. All claims must be submitted no later than the 9th of September 2011. See the website for full details, from 13th June.

^{New! 06.06.11}    
Advance notice that a photography competition, “A Year in the Life of the Churnet Valley”, is currently being planned by the Friends of the Churnet Valley and the Phoenix Trust. The competition will run from 1st September 2011 to 31st August 2012, giving picture-making opportunities right across the seasons. More details on this competition in the early Autumn.

^{New! 06.06.11}    
Job:  Manchester Metropolitan University’s Department of Contemporary Arts, based at nearby Crewe, requires a full-time Senior Lecturer in Drama. You will have experience in professional theatre and a specialism in performance technique and training, ideally with a specific focus on voice and/or movement. Directing experience in text-based theatre practices is also desirable. As part of a team you will provide teaching across undergraduate Drama provision. Experience in supervising to PhD level and/or a record of external income and research activities would be of advantage. Full details from Carola Boehm, Head of Contemporary Arts at:  c.boehm@mmu.ac.uk

^{New! 06.06.11}    
As an adjunct to the outdoor Art Market (2nd July 2011 on Piccadilly in Hanley, 11am – 6pm), artist Denise O’Sullivan is organising an ‘English Tea Party’ at The Exchange artists’ shop, also on Saturday 2nd July 2011. This event will be in aid of the Red Cross Japan Tsunami Recovery Appeal, and will feature tea — a shared passion of both the Japanese and the British — together with Cakes for Japan cakes, a laughter workshop, vintage clothing, and cup-cake making.