Worcestershire Arts Partnership Blog

Monday 30 March 2015

Printing Press for Sale

 
 


Printing press for etchings, monotypes, etc.

Bed size 1m x 60cm

£2,000 o.n.o.

Collection ONLY from Worcester (heavy)


Mouth and Music on Tuesday 14th April

Mouth and Music on Tuesday 14th April is sponsored by Pangaea Poetry and will showcase winners of their recent poetry slam, Tom Crossland and Joe Whitehead. Expect some dynamic performances full of wit and humour. Featured musician is local singer/songwriter Calvert Stephens who wowed the organisers as an open mic performer and was invited back to do a longer set. Anyone can sign up for open mic on the night from 7.00 for a 7.30 start at the Boars Head, Kidderminster. Poet/musician Heather Wastie is MC and entrance is £3 (free to performers). See www.mouthandmusic.co.uk

The Fetch Theatre Company - The Cloth Of The World


Women of Worcestershire - Your County Needs You!


Art in Minds - independent artists groups exhibition


Monday 23 March 2015

Artrix - 10th Birthday Celebrations

 
2015 look set to be an exciting year for Artrix Arts Centre in Bromsgrove which is celebrating its 10th birthday this year. During its 10 year history Artrix has welcomed a stellar cast of celebrities through its doors including John Bishop, Julian Lloyd Webber and Michael Portillo and plans to mark the occasion with a spectacular free outdoor event. At 2.15 and 3.40 pm on 25th April there will be dance performances by students from Heart of Worcestershire College in partnership with Bromsgrove District Council and Dancefest on Bromsgrove High Street.  Then at 8.00 pm local schools and community groups will gather for a 10th birthday lantern procession which will leave the High Street for Artrix at 8.30 pm. This will be followed by a spectacular outdoor performance of Spellbound on the Artrix Terrace at 9.00 pm.  Spellbound is a thrilling tale of love, betrayal and daring inspired by the Ramayana, an ancient story from India, created by outdoor arts experts Walk The Plank.
Suitable for all ages, Spellbound takes place at dusk and uses shadow theatre with real performers in place of traditional puppetry. An original soundtrack, live narration, lantern procession and sumptuous special effects will add to the exhilarating performance.
Expect dazzling pyrotechnics, captivating performances and a spectacular fiery finale.
Spellbound is supported through Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Programme, Saintbury Trust and the Elmley Foundation.

Monday 16 March 2015

Two Job Opportunities


It’s an exciting time to join Live & Local. We are growing fast this year to support a network of over 300 voluntary organisations across seven counties in the east and west midlands who choose and promote professional live performances and film screenings for their local community run venues. Live & Local is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England.

Marketing & Communications Manager

£25,727 – £27,323 (Full-time/ 35hours per week/ flexi time)

To join a team of eight in Warwick and be responsible for planning, managing and implementing of our marketing and communications including website, social media, e-marketing, copy writing, print, press, audience research and development, providing support to the local promoters and managing the two marketing assistants. You will also contribute to the research and development of the Live & Local artistic programme.

You should have a passion for the arts and be an efficient and enthusiastic person with good planning, organisational and communication skills, a friendly personality, good written English, an eye for design and a high level of computer skills. Minimum three years arts marketing experience in a similar role essential.

Deadline: Noon on Monday 30th March

Interviews: Friday 10th April

Starting: Earliest w/c 4th May. Latest w/c 11th May

Application: Via online application form only. Application pack available for download on our jobs page: www.liveandlocal.org.uk

Assistant Administrator

£15,882 (Full time/ 35hours per week/ flexitime)

Live & Local are seeking a full time Assistant Administrator who will undertake administrative tasks in relation to running the office and supporting shows, events and projects. They will also be responsible for bookkeeping.

You should be an efficient and enthusiastic worker with good organisational, communication and computer skills, with good written English and numeracy abilities. Previous office administration experience and enthusiasm for the arts essential.

Deadline: Noon, Friday 27th March

Interviews: Wednesday 8th April

Starting: Latest w/c 11th May

Application: Via online application form only. Application pack available for down load on our jobs page: www.liveandlocal.org.uk

 

 

Kirsty Thomas
Company Administrator, Live & Local

Tel: (01926) 402173

£2m PCC Grants Fund Opens £2m PCC Grants Fund Opens

The Police & Crime Commissioner has said he wants “more people than ever” in West Mercia to bid for part of a £2m fund for the voluntary & community sector.

Applications are now being accepted for the first round of funding for 2015-16.

http://www.westmercia-pcc.gov.uk/News-and-Events/News-Archive/2015/%C2%A32m-PCC-Grants-Fund-Opens.aspx

Latest news- New Arts Impact Fund to Offer Loans to Arts Organisations in England



Arts organisations in England that need additional finance to grow can apply for loans of between £150,000 and £600,000 from the new £7 million Arts Impact Fund starting from 15 April 2015.

The Arts Impact Fund is a new £7 million two-year pilot scheme set up to demonstrate the potential for social investment in arts.

The Fund wants arts organisations to see social investment as another route to sustainability and achieving their ambitions and to encourage more of them to benefit people and communities through their work.

It has been created and funded by Nesta, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, with support from the Arts Council England and additional funding from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Cabinet Office. This is the first fund of its kind that has brought together public, private and charitable investment to support arts organisations.

Online applications can be made starting from the middle of next month for unsecured loans ranging from £150,000 to £600,000. Interest rates and terms for loans will vary but applicants can broadly expect interest rates to range from 4% to 7% per annum, and the loan duration to be between three and five years. The terms and conditions will be negotiated with individual applicant organisations and can include interest and capital payment holidays.

The funding is open to arts organisations with regulated legal structures that have a charitable purpose. This means arts organisations should have the following legal structures: a registered charity, a company limited by guarantee, a community interest company (CIC) or community interest organisation (CIO).

Applicants should also be able to show that:

·        Their primary activity is in the arts.

·        Their organisation is (or could be) sustainable.

·        They can repay the loan.

·        Their organisation’s activities meet at least one of the priority social areas:

o   Citizen and Community

o   Youth and Educational Attainment

o   Health and Wellbeing.

The funding can be used for a number of different things, including purchasing or refurbishing a building, buying equipment or paying for specific services to help generate future income.

Successful applicants will be announced every six months over a two year period with their performance and social impact measurements published.

Once the two-year pilot has concluded the organisations hope to establish where demand is long-term, whether a larger fund could be set up, or if it could be expanded to other areas.

Commenting on the new fund, Nesta’s Executive Director Helen Goulden said:

“It has never been more important to think imaginatively about how to increase access to finance for arts organisations. The Arts Impact Fund not only opens up opportunities for social investment for the whole sector, but brings together public, charitable and private finance in support of that mission. These first two years will be critical to understanding the long-term potential of impact funds of this kind to support the arts.”

Full details can be found on Nesta’s website

Your opinion will shape the Arts Council of the future


 Here is an an online survey of the individuals and organisations the Arts Council works with.

 

If you have not completed this if possible please do so. The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete in full. We ask that you complete the survey by 22 March.

 

This research will let the Arts Council know how it is perceived by you and others, how well it understands and responds to your needs, and exactly where and how it can improve. It is being undertaken by ICM, an independent research agency. ICM is an independent research agency, and it abides by the Market Research Society’s Code of Conduct in every respect.

 

Your answers are confidential and under no circumstances will individual responses be made available to the Arts Council.

 

Please click on the link below to access the survey.

        

Tuesday 10 March 2015

WORCESTERSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS - Call for entries


WORCESTERSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS

29th, 30th and 31st August 2015

Open Studio events are a well-known feature of many cities and counties; they are an enjoyable time for both the public and the artist.  Now Worcestershire is having an Open Studio event over the August Bank Holiday, to coincide with the Worcester Festival.  It has been established and is run by a group of local artists who would like see this become an annual event.   

Why not take part?

This 2015 event is non-selective and open to all visual artists, photographers and crafts people living or working in the city of Worcester and its immediate surrounds. It is an opportunity to promote and sell your work. You don’t need to have a studio; many artists open a room in their home, clear out the garage to display their work or join with others to exhibit jointly, for example in a local hall or empty shop.

You can enter as:

·         An individual

·         Part of a group

·         A business/gallery

·         A non-selling group

 

Those taking part will benefit from

  • An entry in a printed and downloadable guide
  • Promotion through an online entry on a dedicated website, together with a link to your own website
  • Promotion through a dedicated Facebook page
  • Promotional material in and around the county and for you to distribute in your locality
  • Signage
  • Exhibition space (one piece per artist) at Barbourne Health Centre or Thorneloe Lodge from August Bank Holiday until November 2015
  • A launch event at Barbourne Health Centre
  • Hints and tips on how to present your venue and encourage people to attend
  • Regular update on the progress towards the event
  • To take part: register by submitting an entry form, provide the specified promotional material, and paying the appropriate fee by Sunday May 31st.  Places are limited so don’t delay!

For an entry form and/or further information

email sally@worcestershireopenstudios.org.uk / telephone 07796 181276

Monday 9 March 2015

Mouth & Music March 10th


As the election approaches, Mouth and Music are looking for political poetry and songs for their acoustic night on Tuesday March 10th at the Boars Head, Kidderminster. Anyone can sign up from 7.00pm to perform and the evening runs from 7.30 to 10.00pm. There'll be political rhyming from featured poet Paul Francis and wry humour from singer/songwriter Rich Stokes. The theme of "Politics and Polemics" is not obligatory so anything goes! See www.mouthandmusic.co.uk for more.


The Spirit of 2012 has launched the Spirit of Achievement Arts and Culture Challenge Fund


The Spirit of 2012 has launched the Spirit of Achievement Arts and Culture Challenge Fund to increase the participation of disabled people in the arts and cultural activities across the UK.

Spirit of 2012 is an independent Trust, established with a £47 million endowment from the Big Lottery Fund to ensure the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games is felt across the UK.

Grants of between £100,000 and £250,000 are available to charities, voluntary and community organisations, Social Enterprises, and Community Interest Companies in the UK to create opportunities to enable disabled people to participate in arts and cultural activities, individually and with their families. Arts and cultural activities is meant in the broadest sense and can include visual art, craft, writing and literature, music, dance and performance arts.

Spirit uses the social model definition of disability which includes those with learning disabilities, mental health problems and long term life-limiting conditions.

Projects should:

·        Increase opportunities for disabled people to participate regularly in arts and cultural activities.

·        Provide opportunities for disabled and non-disabled people (particularly families) to participate in activities together.

·        Provide regular and sustained opportunities for participation (not one off activities).

·        Provide opportunities for disabled and non-disabled people to volunteer together to deliver those activities.

·        Provide disabled and non-disabled volunteers with training and skills that both ensure a high quality volunteering experience and boost employability.

·        Address a clearly identified and evidenced need, reflecting current public health priorities and including the views of potential beneficiaries.

·        Articulate a clear vision of how the project will impact beyond the life of Spirit’s funding.

International artist Rachel Gadsden (who sits on the Spirit of Achievement Panel) said:

“Without the kind of opportunities which the Challenge Fund is offering I wouldn’t have been able to be the artist I am today. I think it is really important that people like myself, who live with disabilities all of their lives, have the opportunity to live the most fulfilling lives. The Challenge Fund helps make that happen so is absolutely critical to everything I care about. I look forward to receiving the applications.”

The deadline for applications is 20 April 2015 (9am).

Full details can be found on the Spirit of 2012 website

Important WAP Event


Next Worcestershire Arts Partnership Event 18th March 1.30 (for 2pm start) to 5pm. Venue Kidderminster Town Hall

WORCESTERSHIRE ARTS PARTNERSHIP – A NEW FUTURE

The Worcestershire Arts Partnership would like you all to come along to The Kidderminster Town Hall to an event to look at what an independent arts led Arts Partnership might look like.

Led by The Transition Group of the WAP, the event will:


·         Remind us WAP's journey so far

 
·         Explore the views of creative people in Worcestershire based on the feedback from the recent Survey Monkey questionnaire https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WorcsAP


·         Begin to answer some of the key questions you may have through an open space format (please bring along a question too)


·         Look at the  way forward


If you haven't already please complete the link which is attached.


To book a place please contact Diane Thomson on DEThomson@worcestershire.gov.uk


We will be supplying tea and coffee and biscuits too!

 
Please see attached on how to get there – there is plenty of parking in the centre of Kidderminster – I would pick the Aldi car park which is very nearby.

 

Vicar Street Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 1DB, United Kingdom

Vicar StreetGBWorcestershireDY10 1DB

01562 732158


 

Thanks


Steve

 

Stephen Wilson

County Arts Officer

01905 765754

07850 923358


 

Outrider Exhibition artist talk

 
Outrider is an Arts Council England Libraries Fund exhibition artist commission in response to the historic Alfred Watkins archive of bee-books, pamphlets and photographs housed in Hereford Library. Commissioned Worcestershire and national artists including the University of Worcester graduate, Becca Harris, have made work that both relates to the bee keeping archive and to contemporary environment problems and issues facing us today. Alfred Watkins was a regional photographic pioneer, inventor of the 'Bee' light meter and famously coined the phrase 'Ley line' to describe the pagan alignment of transportation routes and cultural sites across the country.
 
The exhibition has been curated by Dr Sally Payen from an open submission process and managed by Salt Road for Herefordshire Council. The artists include Cath Keay, Megan Powell, Ron Haselden, Jane Tudge, Jaime Jackson, Elisabeth Bond, Anneka French, Becca Harris and Sally Payen. Outrider has been funded by an ACE Library Fund with support from the Elmley Foundation and Herefordshire Council and will go on to tour to Winterbourne House and Gardens, Birmingham and Haden Hill House Museum, Sandwell after showing at the Hive.
 
Artist talk event at the Hive:
 
10:30am to midday,  23rd March - for more information and to book a free place email: jaime@saltroad.org.uk
 
For more information visit: http://outriderblog.wordpress.com

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Applications Open For REP Foundry 2015


 
The REP - Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Box Office: 0121 236 4455
Email: ticketservices@birmingham-box.co.uk
 
 
 

THE REP FOUNDRY OPENS FOR 2015 APPLICATIONS

Birmingham Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce that the third REP Foundry scheme will take place from April this year.
Do you have a theatre vocation but need some support to establish yourself? Birmingham Repertory Theatre is looking for emerging talent to join its acclaimed artist development scheme.
 
 
 
 
 
 
REP Foundry is an opportunity for playwrights, theatre makers and directors from across the West Midlands to take part in a year-long attachment to The REP. REP Foundry offers artists workshops and master classes, the support to make and share work, and the opportunity to become part of the life of our theatre.
Former REP Foundry artists have gone to have work produced both on The REP’s stages and in theatres beyond, as well as extending their contacts, opportunities and relationships both in the region and within a wider theatre community.
We are now offering 18 emerging practitioners free professional development through mentoring, access to The REP’s expertise and resources and the opportunity to become part of a vibrant and supportive artistic community.
New to this year is the Introduction to Directing programme, as part of the Regional Theatre Young Director’s Scheme, aimed at directors from more diverse backgrounds and at a much earlier stage in their careers.
This year’s REP Foundry will run from April 2015 to April 2016 for writers and theatre makers and April 2015 to July 2015 for directors.
Applicants need to be starting out but committed to making theatre as a career and based in the West Midlands. Theatre makers and writers must not be in full-time education.
 
 
 
 

How To Apply

Applications for REP Foundry 2015 are now open. Anyone interested in applying can find out more by visiting our website.
The deadline for applications is 6pm on Monday 9 March 2015.
 
Support 2014’s Foundry Artists
 
 
 

AsparaWriting Festival Short Story Competition


Monday 2 March 2015

Outrider arrives at The Hive


 

 

ACE Libraries Fund exhibition artist commission in response to the historic Watkins bee keeping publication collection at Hereford library.

 

Outrider is a series of artists’ commissions exploring the Alfred Watkins archive of bee-books, pamphlets and photographs housed in Hereford Library.

 

The exhibition has been curated by Dr Sally Payen from an open submission process and managed by Salt Road for Herefordshire Council. The artists include Cath Keay, Megan Powell, Ron Haselden, Jane Tudge, Jaime Jackson, Elisabeth Bond, Anneka French, Becca Harris and Sally Payen. Outrider has been funded by an ACE Library Fund with support from the Elmley Foundation and Herefordshire Council and will tour to  Winterbourne House and Gardens Birmingham and Haden Hill House Museum Sandwell after showing at the Hive.

 

Artist talk event at the Hive:

10:30am  23rd March - for more information and to book a free place email: jaime@saltroad.org.uk
http://outriderblog.wordpress.com