Worcestershire Arts Partnership Blog

Monday 21 December 2015

Arts Fundraising









Changes to Arts Council England's Grants for the arts application process


I’m writing to let you know that we are changing the way that we manage grants.

 

From 27 January 2016, all new applications for Grants for the arts will be processed through a new online system. Applications for other funding programmes will move to the new online system over time and we’ll let you know as this happens.

 

We know that many local authorities have applied to Grants for the arts, as well as offering support and advice to artists and organisations on their Grants for the arts applications.

The main change that you will notice is that the application process will become more interactive.

 

Anyone making an application will need to register online to create an account, and all activities related to the application will then be managed online. For example, once your account is set up, you will be able to make a funding application, receive your decision online and if successful, upload any documentation that we ask you to provide to us.

 

Why we are making this change

This new system represents the final stage of the cost cutting measures that we began in 2012, when we had to find major savings from our administration budget. We estimate that the system changes will save us £1million each year - money that can be spent on supporting arts and culture in other ways.

 

Making sure the system is accessible to everyone

We want to encourage the widest range of people to apply for funding for arts and culture. To make sure the new system is accessible to everyone and no-one is disadvantaged by the new online application process, we have consulted widely with specialists in the field.

 

Lots of information and guidance about using the new system will be available from our website from January. Our Enquiries team will also be available to support people through this change. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact them on 0845 300 6200.

 

Kind regards,

 

Hugh

 

 

Hugh James

Senior Relationship Manager

Arts Council England

 

0121 631 5772/07540 669291

The Foundry, 82 Granville Street, Birmingham, B1 2LH

 


 

I think #culturematters – do you?

 

Monday 14 December 2015

Heather Wastie - Weaving Yarns



'Weaving Yarns' - poems, songs & real life stories from the Kidderminster carpet industry with archive photographs
available from the Museum of Carpet and Black Pear Press http://blackpear.net/authors-and-books/heather-wastie/


WAP Christmas Message


Dear all

 

I wanted to wish you all a merry Christmas and a great 2016.

 

We have had a great year with the Arts Partnership. There has been some excellent events including Moving on Staying On with The University, the Creative Cultural Commissioning Event with the New Economics Foundation and three excellent Jump Start Events. Our Health Group had a brilliant event and our Children and Young People's Group gets stronger with each meeting.

 

Our partnerships continue to develop and I would especially like to thank The Elmley Foundation, The University of Worcester and Arts Connect for their on-going support.

 

I want to thank all our sub group leads; Lee, Louisa, Jan and Sarah for their hard work and for making all our sub group meetings such a pleasure to attend.

 

Thanks to the work undertaken by Jan, Paul Sutton, Manda and Rose in the Transition group. It was much appreciated by us all.

 

Thanks to Judith our Chair for keeping our Steering Group together and a big thanks to Debbie for her work in developing a future plan for us.

 

Most of all thanks to you all for supporting WAP during this year. It's not easy at times to keep it all going but having such loyal partners as yourselves means so much. I love our work in the arts partnership and I am proud of it too.

 

Have a great break and see you all next year.

 

 

 

Steve

 

Stephen Wilson

County Arts Officer

01905 765754

07850 923358

Bewdley Museum studios available



Craft Studios at Bewdley Museum



Bewdley Museum
In 1969 a private Museum Trust was formed by the local people who considered Bewdley’s historical past worthy of preserving. The museum opened in 1972 and Wyre Forest District Council became trustees of the museum in 1975. The museum is housed in historic 18th century buildings including a Butchers’ Shambles and Brass Foundry.



In addition to illustrating the area’s history, the museum encourages working crafts through demonstrations, exhibits and resident craftspeople.

Visitor numbers have increased significantly over the past 10 years. In 2014 over 160,000 visitors came through the museum’s doors. There is also a varied programme of activities, events and exhibitions throughout the year.
Opening hours - 10am-4.30pm during March to 1St November



11am-3pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday throughout November and December
Studios and licences
Studios vary in size ranging from 128sq ft to 341sq ft.

Electricity is included within the rent along with a listing on the museum’s website. Craftspeople can also sell their work through the museum/TIC shop with a reduced commission rate of 10%

The site is closed during January and February, however craftspeople can still access their studios during this time and arrange for individual clients to visit.

Licences are renewed every 5 years with a break clause on either side with two months notice.
Application process
All applications will be considered, however studio space will only be allocated to craftspeople who meet the museum’s aims and objectives and have demonstrated that they can fulfil the criteria set out in the application form.
Studios are not allocated on a first come, first served basis



Decisions will be based on the following criteria:
Variety – preference will be for crafts people demonstrating an unusual or traditional skill



Quality of work and professionalism
Commitment and enthusiasm – we require all crafts people to be present in their studios for at least 3 weekends per month and 2 days per week (11am – 3.30pm) throughout the open season. Bewdley Museum



The studios

Sawyard units
Each unit is approx.

128 sq ft

£770 per annum
Shambles studio 1
243 sq ft

£1460 per annum
Shambles studio 2
231 sq ft
£1390 per annum Bewdley Museum

Application for a studio at Bewdley Museum Name
Address
Telephone
Email
Date of birth
Are you currently self employed? Yes/No
Employed? Full time / part time / unemployed / retired
Other? E.g. training scheme

Tuesday 8 December 2015

Routes2Roots - funding available



What is Routes2Roots?

 

Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands (HLF WM) have launched a new campaign called #Routes2Roots. The campaign aims to inspire and challenge young people to explore heritage, culture and identity and to raise awareness about the Young Roots grant programme.

 

You can apply to Young Roots (£10,000 - £50,000) for projects for young people, aged 11-25, to explore the heritage that matters to them. Any not for profit organisation can apply, there is no minimum match funding and you can get a decision in just 8-10 weeks. Through these projects young people not only find out about heritage but gain confidence and new skills from curating exhibitions to film making.

 

Young Roots projects have to be delivered by a partnership between youth and heritage organisations. Youth organisations are anyone who works with young people. Heritage organisations are those who have expert knowledge or resources on the heritage you want to investigate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How can we help?

Do you have an idea for a project? Do you know a group of young people who may be interested? Or do you need help finding a heritage or youth partner?

 

For free advice on your ideas, how to apply and possible partners please send in a project enquiry form through the Heritage Lottery Fund website www.hlf.org.uk/your-project-idea This form is not part of the formal application process and is just a way to start a conversation with us about your ideas.

 

 

What next?

o   Tweet @HLFRoutes2Roots using the hash-tag #Routes2Roots with your ideas or stories about the heritage of Birmingham

o   Ask Amerah if there is anything you’d like to discuss amerah@beatfreeks.com

o   Keep your eyes peeled for a special event happening in Spring 2016

o   Visit www.beatfreeks.com/routes2roots for more information on the campaign and to see videos and read blogs from past projects!

o   Find out more about Young Roots on HLF’s website www.hlf.org.uk/youngroots

Monday 7 December 2015

Tuesday 8th December Invite to Hive events Planet Art , working on ideas for the Cornmarket Area

  • Make Your Mark - Tue, 08 December

    Worcester's unique Cornmarket Square is being transformed!
    Planet Art will be creating six sculptured bollards reflecting the area's fascinating history, to be installed in the area.
    Come and share your artistic ideas at a special drop-in session here at The Hive, 11am - 1pm on Tuesday 8 December.
    You can examine historical research and artefacts relating to Cornmarket, create designs, bring in your own artefacts for us to look at, or simply find out more from Planet Art about the project.
     
  • Sunday 6 December 2015

    Community Funding available


    A fund for community groups, schools etc to apply for between £8k - £12k to create community gardens, plan orchards or anything related. He says the process is really easy and they are a bit undersubscribed in Worcestershire, so if you would benefit, now's a really good time to apply as there's less competition, deadline is 11/12/15.
    http://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/tescocommunityscheme/Pages/large-grants-tes

    Wednesday 2 December 2015

    Jump Start - call for new work


    Dear Practitioner,

    I’m writing to you because you’ve either been involved in a previous Jump Start event or expressed interest. Jump Start is an initiative run by Worcestershire Arts Partnership to provide opportunities for new theatre works to be performed. This will be our fourth event and we are excited about the project’s progress  - more people are being engaged and we’re so pleased to be working with so many local theatre makers.

    We are looking for:

    New theatre work that has not previously been performed 

    Work that is 10 - 15 minutes long 

    Work that is low-tech and does not require any get-in or get-out time 

    Ideally, work from Worcestershire-based practitioners 


    We can also provide an opportunity for writers to link with directors & actors so don’t worry if you have a text or an idea but no company!

    Submissions (either an outline of the work or a script) should be made by email to me by FRIDAY 15th JANUARY 2016. We will then select 5 submissions and  invite people to a meeting where writers, practitioners & actors can link up and start rehearsing. The performance night will be SATURDAY 5th MARCH 7pm at Worcester Arts Workshop. There may be some rehearsal space available at WAW, but generally each group will be expected to rehearse independently and to sort out their own space & timings.

    If you’re an actor / director who’s interested in the project, please drop me a line and I’ll keep you up to speed with the February meeting date.

    We are pleased to be able to offer a small fee of £100 to each of the 5 submissions chosen to perform at Jump Start. The fee is offered on condition that each of the 5 chosen pieces of work will be performed without a script at the event on 5th March.

    Please pass this message onto your networks & anyone who might be interested.

     

    The Jump Start Facebook group is here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/248446278623071/ - so please like it & use it to share details, ideas, questions etc.


    Thanks everyone, please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to receiving your submissions!

    Lee Farley


    Perfect Circle Theatre Company
    www.perfectcircletheatre.com
    07800 892840
    07878 789313

    Company no: 6764190

    facebook: Perfect Circle Theatre
    twitter: @perfecttheatre