We Invite you to 'What's The Agenda?'

Mouth and Music March 11th

At the Boars Head, Kidderminster on Tuesday 11^th March, Mouth and Music welcomes The Very Grimm Brothers, described as “Gilbert & George, almost Morecambe & Wise”. Also appearing will be the brilliant Gloucestershire Poet Laureate, Brenda Read-Brown. Brenda has been behind bars on many occasions, as writer in residence for HMP Shrewsbury. MC Heather Wastie invites poets, storytellers and musicians up onto the stage for short open mic slots. The theme this month is Current Affairs. Slots are booked on the night from 7.30 and the entertainment starts at 8.00. See www.mouthandmusic.co.uk for further details.

ILLUSTRATION TALKS at The Hive by Neal Fox

Mouth and Music - Decadent Diva in town!

On Tuesday 11^th February, there will be a Diva in town. Laura Yates is one of The Decadent Poetry Divas, a group of women whose performances are thought provoking, slightly risqué, but above all, humorous. Laura features at Mouth and Music along with singer/songwriter Alex Vann whose original songs have pop and folk influences. Open mic performers are invited to sign up at the Boar's Head, Worcester Street, Kidderminster from 7.30 and the evening kicks off at 8.00pm. The MC is local poet Sarah Tamar. With Valentine's Day a few days away, the theme this month is Love.

 

WAP event invite - Wednesday 5th March at 5pm- 7.30pm Woodland Room, Worcester Countryside Centre, WR5 2LG

 

Wednesday 5^th March at 5pm- 7.30pm

Woodland Room, Worcester Countryside Centre, WR5 2LG

 

 

With the rain falling down what better way to focus one's attention than an exciting arts project. So come along to the latest arts event being hosted by The Worcestershire Arts Partnership

 

Hosted by The Free Range Arts Group of the WAP the event will stick to the water theme and will be focussed around a new and exciting arts project taking place on the Worcester and Droitwich Canal Ring.

 

The project, which is led by the Canals and River Trust, will we hope  be one of the most exciting and innovative arts projects in the county for the next three years.

 

Louisa Davies & Mandy Fowler will be at the event  and you will get the chance to hear about the project as well as seeing an example of a successful arts activity that has taken place on water. You will also get to see how you can get involved as well as to find out the latest news from the Worcestershire Arts Partnership. There will also be time to network and yes the budget will stretch to pastries and coffee too.

 

 

Since 2005, Louisa Davies has acted as mac Birmingham’s Producer for Performing Arts responsible for the development, production and curation of mac’s performing arts programmes. Most recently, she produced mac’s first Christmas show since reopening with Red Earth Theatre, an adaptation of Carol Ann Duffy’s children’s book The Lost Happy Endings, and nationally touring spoken word artist Polarbear - Return. During mac’s closure for its major Building Project she managed a programme of artist commissions creating permanent works for the new building and a series of audience development commissions. In 2013, she produced a large scale outdoor promenade piece, Sounding the River, to mark the end of mac’s 50^th birthday celebrations.

 

Mandy Fowler is an experienced cultural sector professional working with new business models to present culture in different contexts to new audiences – acting as an agent for change.  With an academic background in Contemporary Art Theory and Heritage and professional experience in the corporate world and the tourism sector, Mandy was formerly the Manager of the contemporary art NPO Meadow Arts for eight years, working in partnership to deliver contemporary art in historic settings with the National Trust.  More recently Mandy has been working with a range of cultural organisations including the Library of Birmingham, DASH, University of Birmingham, Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery, the National Trust and with a collaborative partnership comprising Craftspace, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and Arts Alive – underpinning this portfolio is a desire to engage wider audiences in cultural activity and providing a sustainable base for cultural organisations.  Mandy is also a trustee of the Welsh regularly funded venue Oriel Davies Gallery.  Mandy has been undertaking a feasibility study for the Mid-Worcestershire Canal Ring, visioning the programme and devising a business model for delivery.

 

We envisage a high demand for this so to book a place email Sue Church

on SChurch@worcestershire.gov.uk by the 21^st February

if you wish to attend.

 

Worcester Show Logo competition

In 2014 the Worcester Show in Gheluvelt Park on Sunday 17th August celebrates its 9th year. Formerly known as The City of Worcester Flower Show, this year the show seeks to rebrand itself so the name rightly depicts the diverse community talent that is shown on the annual one day event.

The Worcester Show Committee wishes to recognise the community involvement in the event and invites the public to submit designs for a new logo for consideration. The competition is open to everyone, so if it doesn’t tickle your fancy perhaps you could send it on to someone you know.

 

I’ve attached the design brief and poster for the competition. This is a fantastic opportunity to have your artwork used widely.

 

There are only 11 days left to send in your entries so go get creative!

 

www.worcester.gov.uk/worcestershow

 

Deborah Merrick

Community Engagement Officer

Arts & Dementia Training Day

Arts & Dementia Training Day

10am – 5pm, 1st March 2014, Liverpool
Over the past five years Collective Encounters has amassed considerable experience working in the field of arts and dementia.  We have delivered a long-term programme of creative arts workshops with people with dementia and their carers in community and care home settings; toured performances in care homes; developed performance work to be used in a training context for health care professionals and delivered a training programme for carers in how to use the arts more effectively in their work.  We have supported this practical work with an extensive research programme which began with a full literature review of academic and grey literature dealing with best practice and the benefits of arts and dementia.  Publications include: Arts and Dementia: a summary report; A pocket guide to arts activities for people with dementia: a toolkit for carers; and a series of advice sheets for artists.

Co-facilitated by Collective Encounters’ Artistic Director and Creative Producer, this is a full-day training session introducing experienced artists to working with people with dementia.  Training methodology will involve tutor presentation, group discussion and action learning sets.  Participants will be provided with high quality materials to take away with them to support and remind them of their learning.  By the end of the day participants will have developed:

• an enhanced understanding of dementia
• an understanding of person-centred care and relationship-centred care, and the ability to apply this to their own arts practice
• an understanding the potential benefits of using the arts with people with dementia
• increased awareness of the unique creative potential of people with dementia
• an awareness of a range of arts initiatives run successfully with people with dementia as case studies
• an understanding the particular challenges of working with people with dementia, and
• a set of creative approaches to overcome these challenges
• an understanding of the challenges of working in a care home setting, and
• guidelines to make this process run more smoothly
• confidence in their ability to run creative workshops with people with dementia

Read more at: http://collective-encounters.org.uk/arts-health-well-being/masterclass-programme/

 

Job Opportunity - Voices and Visions Technical Manager

 

 

Voices and Visions Technical Manager

 

A Technical Manager is needed to work alongside Worcestershire County Council's Arts team to provide Lighting and Sound for the performance shows at Worcester Cathedral on Monday 9^th and/or Tuesday 10^th June. Full confirmation will be given by the end of March 2014.

 

What is Voices and Visions?

 

Voices and Visions is a showcase of both visual and performing arts within schools, colleges and arts organisations in Worcestershire.

 

It has been running for 15 years and in 2013 there was a visual arts and performing arts showcase at Worcester Cathedral, arts grants given to schools and a singing project called Pop Icons.

 

 

What we require

 

We require a Project Officer to undertake the following responsibilities

 

• Work with colleagues in the County Arts Team and a Project Manager to liaise with Worcester Cathedral to ensure that the  Performance Showcase takes place on either both or one of the above dates.

 

• Liaise with schools and arts organisations who will be taking part in the Performing Arts Showcase

 

• Work with a to be appointed Project Technical Manager.

 

 

Fee

The total fee for the work will be £2,000 including travel costs and equipment costs.

 

How to apply?

 

Please send in your CV plus a letter or no more than two pages outlining the following:

 

• Your Technical Management Skills

 

• Experience in working within non arts spaces especially places of religious worship.

 

• Risk Assessment for the project.

 

• Experience of working with schools/young people

 

Applications to be submitted by email to:

 

Stephen Wilson, County Arts Officer.

 

Email swilson@worcestershire.gov.uk by Friday 21^st February at 4pm.

 

(Dependent on how many applications we receive we may interview for this post.)

Job Opportunity - Voices and Visions 2014 Project Officer

 

Voices and Visions 2014 Project Officer

 

A Project Officer is needed to work alongside Worcestershire County Council's Arts team to co-ordinate Voices and Visions for 2014.

 

What is Voices and Visions?

 

Voices and Visions is a showcase of both visual and performing arts within schools, colleges and arts organisations in Worcestershire.

 

It has been running for 15 years and in 2013 there was a visual arts and performing arts showcase at Worcester Cathedral, arts grants given to schools and a singing project called Pop Icons. In 2014 the offer will include museums and libraries for the first time,

 

The Plan for 2014

 

In 2014 the plan will be to:

 

• Run a performing and visual arts showcase at The Cathedral in June 2014

 

• To give small grants for schools and arts organisations

 

• To run three poetry projects

 

• To fund and support a number of satellite arts events in Worcestershire.

 

 

What we require

 

We require a Project Officer to undertake the following responsibilities

 

• Work with colleagues in the County Arts Team to liaise with Worcester Cathedral to ensure that the Visual Arts and Performance Showcase takes place.

 

• Liaise with schools and arts organisations who will be taking part in the Cathedral and Performing Arts Showcase

 

• Liaise with schools and arts organisations and venues for the satellite events in Worcestershire.

 

• Work with a to be appointed Project Technical Manager.

 

 

Fee

The total fee for the work will be £1,500 including travel costs

 

How to apply?

 

Please send in your CV plus a letter or no more than two pages outlining the following:

 

• Your project management skills

 

• Experience in managing projects.

 

• Your experience and knowledge in working with the arts and arts education

 

 

Time Frame

 

Applications to be submitted by email to:

 

Stephen Wilson, County Arts Officer.

 

Email swilson@worcestershire.gov.uk by Friday 21^st February 2014

 

(Dependent on how many applications we receive we may interview for this post.)

 

If you have any questions please contact Stephen either by email or call 01905 765754