Worcestershire Arts Partnership Blog

Tuesday 14 October 2014

Wyre Forest Arts News - October 2014

http://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/things-to-see-do-and-visit/art-entertainment/art-news.aspx

24 Hour Culture Survey


It’s just over a week to go until the 24 Hour Culture Survey.

 

The updated website is now live. On there you will find two videos – a trailer and a statement from Savid Javid, the Culture Secretary. www.24hourculture.co.uk

 

Meera Syall has also given her support to the Survey – you can read her quote in the attached release.

 

 

Here’s a few suggestions of things to be doing over the next 10 days:

 

1. Put the trailer on your social media networks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwHOJ9_77wg

 

2. Ask your local MP / Councillors for their support, in light of Savid Javid’s endorsement. You can see his statement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kae9lgjfalM

 

3. Remember to Tweet / Facebook your endorsement and drive people to the website, particularly on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th October. www.24hourculture.co.uk and #24hourculture

 

4. If you can, email to your mailing lists to encourage participation. This can include schools and groups as well as individuals.

 

 

We are now starting to receive media interest in the survey, with more expected over the next week:

 


 


 

 

 

Thank you all for your support!

 

Very best

Helen

 

Helen Stallard
MCIM Chartered Marketer
T: 0774 033 9604
E: helen@helenstallard.co.uk


 

Helen Stallard Communications currently represents:

Arts Connect, West Midlands

The Hundred Years War, Midlands Creative

Radar at Loughborough University

Eye Candy, Birmingham

My Route by sampad south asian arts, Birmingham

What Next? 24 Hour Culture Survey, West Midlands

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group

Fierce Festival, Birmingham

Nymbol / Substrakt, Birmingham

Talking Birds, Coventry

 

12 Melville Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 2LN

Monday 13 October 2014

Future of the Arts Survey - October 2014


I am  invite you to take part in Arts Quarter's latest online survey.

This year has been quite a remarkable one in the life of the UK and for the arts - it has been one of significant reflection about the future of this nation, politically and economically.  For the UK cultural community it has been one of planning and forecasting, especially in the context of applying for public sector support.  All of this thinking has been taking place in the context of an economy that continues to progress out of recession but in varying degrees according to leading thinkers in the field. Much has been learnt by the arts community in recent years which is enabling many, if not all, to think in detail about the opportunities and challenges that may lie ahead.

It seems inevitable that the change that has already been experienced by the UK arts community will continue well into the second half of this decade and so we are seeking to capture the current mood of UK artists and arts organisations as they look forward to the next five years - both aspirations and indeed reservations.

We have devised a series of questions which we feel cover a range of issues relevant to the sector at this time and I very much hope that you will feel able to take 15 minutes out of your day to share your views.  All information shared remains strictly confidential and will be unattributed in our reporting.  To access this survey, please click on this link:
Click on the following survey link to take this survey: Click Here
Or copy and paste the following link in your browser to take the survey:
http://www.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?B385FBE3B2F9E0E7B9F2E5


I do hope that you'll feel able to take part and indeed direct colleagues and peers to do so as well by directing them to our website: http://www.artsquarter.co.uk

We will be sharing findings free of charge in late November.

Thank you again

John Nicholls
Managing Partner
Arts Quarter LLP
E: john@artsquarter.co.uk


Click on the following link to not take this and other surveys from us: Click Here
If clicking on the link does not work, copy and paste the following URL into your browser.
http://www.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?B38FFBE3B2F9E0E7B9F2E5

BAFA - 2014 Conference for Festivals



YOU ARE INVITED
23, 24 OCTOBER 2014
ACCESS ALL AREAS – the 2014 Conference for Festivals
Website:
www.artsfestivals.co.uk
Facebook:
British Arts Festivals Association
Twitter:
@BritArtsFests

‘Social Value?’
How should the sector identify and evaluate its social value and impact? What partnership opportunities are there for: arts & cultural organisations, public service commissioners & managers, policy makers & influencers?

 ‘The Cooperative’
Economic advantage or artistic suicide? Is cooperative working the magic key to long-term sustainability? What makes for a successful collaborative project – both artistically and logistically?

‘Barriers’
What barriers prevent people from engaging and having the most enjoyable experience at your event? Is it money or culture? Is there a perceived accessibility or intellectual barrier?

The Conference for Festivals is run by the British Arts & Science Festivals Association. This is an annual event and in 2014 the Canterbury Festival, the largest festival of arts and culture in the region, and one of the most important cultural events in the South East, will be our host.
The only conference with a programme designed for the whole arts and culture sector: cross sector networking is at its core; shared experience the ambition.

Discover new ideas, share your own knowledge, make fresh contacts and meet up with old friends.

We promise:
No dull presentations in darkened rooms
No lengthy, soul destroying power-point lists!

Using innovative formats the programme is designed as a conversation, an interactive dialogue, a collaboration.

Take away more than you thought – more than you brought
Any questions? Please email the BAFA Office:
info@artsfestivals.co.uk
To review the full programme and to reserve your place visit the BAFA Website: http://www.artsfestivals.co.uk/content/conference-festivals
Read the daily ‘Canterbury Tales’

22 October 2014
A Festival Career

Are you, or anyone you know, interested in working in the festival/events sector?
Take a look at the programme for this year’s third ‘A Festival Career’. This is a one day, unique conference for students and recent graduates with a programme that explores all the different job roles that go towards making an event happen.

Bestival, City of London Festival, Freedom Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, BBC Proms, Brighton Fringe and many, many others will all be sharing their knowledge.

Any questions? Please email the BAFA Office:
info@artsfestivals.co.uk
Visit the BAFA Website Events page to see the whole programme and to reserve your place: http://www.artsfestivals.co.uk/content/a-festival-career




Dear All

 

A group of  some 22 arts organisations from across the West Midlands who include  the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Coventry Belgrade Theatre to Talking Birds, Dancefest and Ironbridge Gorge Museums have come together under the umbrella of the nationwide What Next campaign about the future of  arts and culture within the UK. The group which includes representation from Worcester University have come up with the idea of an online  24 Hour Cultural Survey to take place across the whole region from noon on Friday 24 October to noon on Saturday 25 October which aims to show just how rich and diverse the experience of arts and culture is in our local communities. What would our lives be like if all this activity suddenly disappeared?  If participants have read a book, sung in the neighbourhood choir, watched a film, taken part in a youth theatre, played a musical instrument, taken part in a pottery or painting or dance class we would like to know. Of course it also includes the experience of theatre or concert-going or visiting an art gallery or museum, but the point is to show just how fundamental the arts are to the health and happiness of our daily lives.  From a specifically Worcester and Worcestershire perspective it would be great if all the local arts groups plus individuals could participate. There are various ways to take part—simply going to the website  on the days of the survey to flag up what you’re doing or if your organisation wishes to promote itself more fully there are other social media options which are outlined in the website www.24hourculture.co.uk


20 August 2014

 

Major survey to discover what arts and culture

means to people in the West Midlands

 

·         24 Hour Cultural Survey to take place from noon 24th to noon 25th October

·         People to be asked what arts and culture means in their everyday life

·         Survey will find breadth of activity that takes place in one single day

 

 

A major survey will take place this October to discover how people experience arts and culture in their everyday lives in the West Midlands. Repondents will be asked what cultural activities they have taken part in during one 24 hour period, from noon 24th to noon 25th October.

 

Residents across the region, from cities to rural areas, will be encouraged to fill in the short questionnaire at www.24hourculture.co.uk, which will go live in October 2014.

 

The survey has been commissioned by 22 of the West Midlands’ arts organisations including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Compton Verney, mac birmingham, the Belgrade Theatre Coventry, DanceXchange, Ironbridge Gorge Museums and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. It is hoped that the findings will be used to inform arts policy in forthcoming years, both by the organisations themselves but also by local authorities and government.

 

Joanna Reid, Director, Belgrade Theatre Coventry explained: “We want to encourage people to realise what arts and culture means to them in their normal everyday life. They may not think that they take part in arts and culture but my hunch is that most people do some kind of cultural activity as part of their weekly routine – from being part of a book club to playing a musical instrument for pleasure, to take part in a dance class. It all counts.”

 

She continued, “We have an amazing diversity of cultural life here in the West Midlands. Our hope is that the 24 Hour Cultural Survey will help people to value the part that arts and culture already plays in their life, rather like how the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Survey has made many people appreciate the bird life in their gardens. We hope that by valuing arts and culture, they will want to protect it and participate more in it.”

 

Findings from the 24 Hour Cultural Survey will be analysed by experts at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Audience Insight team, and will be released before the end of 2014.

ENDS.

For more information contact:

Helen Stallard, Co-ordinator, 24 Hour Cultural Survey

T: 0774 033 9604      E: helen@helenstallard.co.uk

 

1.    The 24 Hour Cultural Survey will be live from noon on Friday 24 October to noon on Saturday 25 October 2014 at www.24hourculture.co.uk . Further information will be posted online prior to the survey.

 

 

2.    The 24 Hour Cultural Survey has been commissioned by the West Midlands’ What Next? group and will be promoted by many arts organsations in the region. The main partners are:

·         Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

·         Birmingham Hippodrome

·         Birmingham Repertory Theatre

·         Birmingham Royal Ballet

·         Compton Verney

·         Culture Coventry

·         Dancefest

·         DanceXchange

·         DASH

·         Eastside Projects

·         Fierce Festival

·         Ikon

·         Ironbridge Gorge Museums

·         Live & Local

·         mac birmingham

·         New Vic Theatre

·         Phizzical

·         Royal Shakespeare Company

·         Talking Birds

·         Warwick Arts Centre

·         Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

·         Worcester University

 

 

 

Wednesday 8 October 2014

Job Opportunity - Dancefest

Business Development Manager

Following the first stage of a Catalyst project, Dancefest, the dance development organisation for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, is looking to appoint a Business Development Manager to build and deliver Business Development and Income Generation Strategies in order to improve and diversify growth in Dancefest’s income base, to underpin the development and sustainability of its programme.

Salary: £28,847 pro rata
Hours: initially 14 per week with the aim of increasing to 21 hrs in the longer term.
Freelance proposals will be considered.

Deadline for applications:
Monday 13 October.

Interview date: Thursday 23 October in Worcester, with a potential second interview at a mutually agreed time.

You can find more information, including the job description and person specification, at http://www.dancefest.co.uk/about-us/vacancies

Many thanks,

Karey

Dancefest, The Angel Centre, Angel Place, Worcester, WR1 3QN
tel: 01905 611199  email: info@dancefest.co.uk web: http://www.dancefest.co.uk


Monday 6 October 2014

Batik workshops in November and January


Dear Friends,
Myself and Marie-Therese are running some new batik workshops. We have found a perfect purpose built art studio to run them from so we are very excited about working there.
Please take a look at the attached flyer and if you have anywhere to stick up a flyer I think the quality is good enough to print.
I hope some of you can make it.

With kind regards and some fun thrown in too      Sarah and Marie-Therese


New Batik Workshops from eekbatik

 

Spend a creatively indulgent day with Sarah and Marie-Therese

Exploring batik art in a beautiful spacious studio near the Malvern hills.

 

Christmas Workshop

Escape in to the magical world of colour and pattern.

Enjoy a fun day making batik cards, gift boxes, wrapping paper, gift tags and tree decorations. No previous experience necessary.

November 1st or 2nd     10am – 3-30pm

£40 per day including refreshments – bring your own lunch.

 



 

New Year Workshop

Spend a day designing and making your own batik on Indonesian cotton. Learn how to crack the wax, mix colour and experiment with different wax tools. Take home a completed artwork ready to put on the wall.

January 31st or February 1st   2015 10am – 4-30pm

£70 per day to include refreshments, delicious homemade lunch and cake.

 



 

To book a place and for more information contact info@eekbatik.com or phone  M    01684 573684     Sarah  01684 561068

Artistic Internship - 6 Months paid


 



Artistic Internship

6 Months - Paid

 

Women & Theatre is recruiting an Artistic Intern to work with us on all aspects of project delivery including performance, stage management, workshop delivery and project-related administration.

This paid Internship offers a creative individual the chance to gain professional experience working across a variety of projects for an award-winning Birmingham-based theatre company.

Women & Theatre deliver high quality participatory projects and produce new theatre of contemporary relevance that reflects the lives and experiences of ordinary people, giving voices to those who are not usually heard. www.womenandtheatre.co.uk

Working as a valued member of our small staff team, the successful Intern will have plenty of opportunity to use their talents in a variety of contexts. Duties will include: providing project support in delivery settings, co-delivering workshops, performing, stage managing, doing research, writing, and carrying out administrative tasks to support project delivery and evaluation.

 

Key Information

6 month Internship starting in November 2014

£ Minimum Wage

30 hours a week including some evenings & weekends

Some delivery work otherwise office based in Moseley, Birmingham

 

Key Dates

Deadline for Applications: 12pm Tuesday 14th October 2014

Interviews: Tuesday 21st October 2014

Start date: Monday 3rd November 2014

 

Apply

To apply for this position contact Women & Theatre for an application pack on info@womenandtheatre.co.uk

Alternatively, please contact your work coach at your jobcentre and quote LMS reference: ERG/30345

This paid internship is supported by the Creative Employment Programme.

There are certain criteria you must meet in order to be eligible to apply for a Creative Employment Programme funded internship. At the time of applying you must be aged 18 to 24 years old and you must be registered as unemployed with Jobcentre Plus. These eligibility criteria have been approved by the Department of Work and Pensions.

Women & Theatre is an equal opportunities employer that is actively seeking to employ people currently under-represented in the creative and cultural sector. This includes young people, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

Beeline Festival



http://www.worcester.ac.uk/discover/beeline-storytelling-festival

Sunday 5 October 2014

The W Factor 2015 Tender


The W Factor 2015 Tender

Wychavon District Council is looking for an experienced performing arts workshop leader and project manager to deliver our flagship project, The W Factor competition (and related tour of 5 local events in the summer) across the district working with a wide range of individuals and arts groups. The project will nurture and develop performing arts talent for young people aged 11-18 years across the district.

Application process

To apply please submit a quotation document to include the following:

             A budget breakdown

             What relevant experience you have (a minimum of 2 references required)

             A proposal detailing how you would run the project including how you would develop bands and individuals (content of sessions and coaching)

             How Child Protection and Safeguarding policies will be addressed

             How you would meet Health & Safety and security requirements at all times

             Anything else you may feel relevant to support or add value to your tender

Quotations and proposals to be received by Thursday 23rd October 2014 5pm

For an application pack and more information contact Jenny Davis jenny.davis@wychavon.gov.uk

Job Opportunity - Young Curator Creator Project (pilot project in Worcestershire schools)


Young Curator Creator Project (pilot project in Worcestershire schools)

Visual Artist Required (any art form)

 

From its base in Shropshire in the rural West Midlands, Meadow Arts commissions and sites new art works and produces temporary context responsive exhibitions throughout West Midlands and beyond.

 

Meadow Arts is undertaking a unique new education project with children and young people.  It will work with participants to explore contemporary art and how artworks look very different if shown on the white walls of a traditional exhibition space, as opposed to in a historic building or a church, or even in an old garden or woodland.  Meadow Arts’ aim is to encourage the children involved to comment on the context or environment of where art is shown.  This will often change or reinforce the meaning of an artwork; the work can 'comment' on the space while the space can accentuate the impact of a work.

 

We are seeking an artist who is willing to work with children and young people to investigate how the context in which art is placed affects it, using creativity as a tool.  As the lead artist on this project, you will be able to help children to interpret contemporary art and ignite their interest and creativity.  Though the workshops may not produce artworks as a direct outcome, you will inspire children to create their own art.

 

Please view the attached Artist’s Brief for further information about the project and how to apply. Expressions of interest must be submitted by Wed 22nd October.

 

Manda Graham

General Manager 

Meadow Arts


Normal work days: Mon – Thurs

Please note that the office is closed on Fridays.

 

Meadow Arts

Exceptional contemporary art in remarkable places

 

2014 programmes:

 

In partnership with National Trust:

Building Site

Hardwick Hall

In Another Light

Croft Castle

 

Public Commissions

Visit Meadow Arts Public Commissions in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire: public art by leading contemporary artists in unusual places

 


 

From its base in Shropshire in the rural West Midlands, Meadow Arts commissions

and sites new art works and produces temporary context responsive exhibitions

throughout West Midlands and beyond.



Visual Artist Required (any art form)

The Young Curator Creator Project - Artist’s Brief



“Exhibitions need not only take place in galleries, need not only involve

displaying objects. Art can appear where we expect it least.”

Hans Ulrich Obrist (Curator)



Meadow Arts is undertaking a unique new education project with children and young

people. It will work with participants to explore contemporary art and how a


rtworks

look very different if shown on the white walls of a traditional exhibition space, as

opposed to in a historic building or a church, or even in an old garden or woodland.

Meadow Arts’ aim is to encourage the children involved to comment on the context or

environment of where art is shown. This will often change or reinforce the meaning

of an artwork; the work can 'comment' on the space while the space can accentuate

the impact of a work.


We are seeking an artist who is willing to work with children and young people to

investigate how the context in which art is placed affects it, using creativity as a tool.

As the lead artist on this project, you will be able to help children to interpret

contemporary art and ignite their interest and creativity. Though the workshops may

not produce artworks as a direct outcome, you will inspire children to create their own

art.

You will work with our two partner schools in Worcester - a primary and secondary -

and take children and young people to see art in traditional and non-traditional

settings. The visits will then inspire new pieces of art for the schools. You will be

responsible for planning and devising the project and workshop content, in

collaboration with the schools.

You will work with both schools (potentially together) and the project will form the

basis of an Arts Award for some of the participants. A knowledge of Arts Award

would be an advantage but is not essential.

This is a pilot for Meadow Arts to be able to explore


what represents quality for

schools and students and what outcomes they value: As such, it will be evaluated by

our Arts Education Specialist with a view to us developing future opportunities.

You will be required to have a recent DBS and Public Liability insurance.


Artist fee


There are 4.5 days available at a rate of £250 plus travel (artists will be responsible


2

for their own tax and National Insurance).


Timescale


The project will take place during the Autumn Term 2014, workshop dates to be

negotiated between artist and schools.


How to Apply


Please send your CV and a covering letter expressing your interest in this contract.

In your covering letter please outline how you feel your skills and experiences meet

the requirements outlined within this document.

Please send your CV and covering letter to

manda@meadowarts.org by 22nd

October 2014.


Interview:


We will contact interested artists by phone for a brief telephone interview

during the week of 27th October 2014.

If you wish to discuss the contract prior to expressing an interest, please contact

Manda Graham on

manda@meadowarts.org or 01584 891659 (Office open Mon –

Thurs).