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Jam entrepreneur spreads the word at DMU Enterprise Fair

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 01:00 AM PST

9th Nov 2011 ⁄ East Midlands ⁄ The man behind the SuperJam brand will deliver a keynote speech at De Montfort University (DMU) next week in a bid to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs. Fraser Doherty, 22, – who started mak...

DanceXchange hosts UK premiere of TAO Dance Theatre

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 12:00 AM PST

9th Nov 2011 ⁄ West Midlands ⁄ As part of its tenth anniversary celebrations DanceXchange (dx) in Birmingham will host the UK premiere of Chinese company TAO Dance Theatre's latest work. Having performed all over the world from C...

The Public teaches ACE a lesson »

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 06:01 PM PST


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Nusic #14

Posted: 07 Nov 2011 04:00 PM PST

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Six Degrees of Separation

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 12:31 AM PST

Mat Trivett & Gobsquad

Could you describe your relationship to Nottingham?

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An action, event or other thing that occurs or happens again

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 12:13 AM PST

Nottingham Visual Arts

An exhibition produced by a Nottingham Trent University graduate Candice Jacobs and supported by Arts Council England will be

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Guest Blog – The New Industrial Revolution is FAB

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 12:58 PM PST

Editor of Wired Magazine, Chris Anderson tell us that "Atom are the new bits" in what he describes as "the next industrial revolution" (1). The last few decades has been a digital revolution, the commodity is bits, tiny pieces of information. Now in the new industrial revolution we are turning those bits, that information into a product, a thing we can touch. Atoms! But how?

Less than a decade ago digital fabrication was an impossible dream for the hobbyist. Only large companies, Universities and government research agencies had access to tools that could interpret information from a data file and make that into a real touchable thing. Digital fabrication is likely to be as empowering to user as desktop publishing was in the 1990's, desktop fabrication is set to revolutionise the way we think about what a computer can be used for.

All over the world places like the Nottingham Hackspace are starting to provide anyone who wants it, access to these sorts of tools.

Tony Shannon works on the Hackspace CNC Machine

Computer Numeric Control (CNC) Mill
If you can draw a graphical file on an ordinary desktop computer, the CNC machine and it's software can interpret that file in the physical word, using a router or drill bit to create cuts and pockets on metal and wood. Shapes and holes are made in the material by very precisely controlling the position of the router head and the position of the workpiece in three dimensions, X, Y and Z or left to right, forward and back up and down. By controlling the Z access very thick materials can be cut layer by layer.

In early 2011 the Nottingham Hackspace invested in a project to develop a small CNC machine. A fabrication tool that was cheap and could be easily built by an a maker in their shed. My DIY CNC started shipping their home invented and developed CNC machines in August 2011. The small machine is available at the Nottingham Hackspace along with 2 much larger milling machine capable of cutting tougher and larger workpieces.

Laser Engraver/Cutter

By positioning mirrors and lenses you can direct the beam of a powerful laser. By mounting those lenses on a similar mechanism to the CNC machine you can control where that beam of laser goes very precisely. A laser beam from a 40w laser is capable of vaporising plywood up to 6mm thick. As the laser can move very quickly and precisely and because the strength and speed can be controlled, very intricate designs can be cut in paper, card, felt and leather not to mention plywood, MDF and acrylic. We've even used the laser at Nottingham Hackspace to cut rice-paper for decorating a cake!

the Nottingham Hackspace Laser cuts 3mm ply

My favorite project on the laser cutter has been the creation of a tactile braille birthday card for the wife of one of the Hackers. The laser can make deep letter shapes and braille, Rocio, who is blind, will be able to feel the shapes in the plywood making it a perfect personal gift. The design was by Hackspace member Martin Raynesford

3D Printer

Perhaps the most futuristic and unimaginable new fabricating machine is the 3D printer. It works by using software to slice up a 3D graphic. To make that it then heats ABS plastic, squirting it out and building the object layer by layer.

Matt Lloyds' RepRap Mendle is the unofficial 3D printer of the Nottingham Hackspace. Most of the parts of this home built machine were printed on another RepRap machine or printed as replacements on this same machine. When you start to talk about a machine that can replicate itself you can see a whole load of geeks go weak at the knee and get misty eyed at the prospect. The Nottingham Hackspace is in the process of printing parts for a new 3D printer called a RepRap Prusa named for it's inventor.

RepRap 3D Printer makes Barcamp Nottingham Logos out of ABS plastic

These tools are very empowering and easy to use. With practice and a little software knowledge the ability to prototype almost anything is with in grasp of almost any boffin. Sites like THINGYVERSE.COM are a superb resource for the sharing of open source fabrication projects. Hackers love to share their intellectual property and let their designs have a life beyond that of their makers imagining.

It's an exciting time. I can only imagine the tools that will be available in the next decade. Perhaps Star Trek like replicators are not so far in the distant future!

(1) Atoms are the new bits by Chris Anderson
Wired Magazine UK March 2010

Try your luck »

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 07:59 AM PST


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tpwestmidlands: tist Artist Baptist Coelho will be giving an artist talk tomorrow at ECArts http://t.co/M8z74Bp9

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 06:20 AM PST

tpwestmidlands: tist Artist Baptist Coelho will be giving an artist talk tomorrow at ECArts http://t.co/M8z74Bp9

tpwestmidlands: ART IN A COLD CLIMATE - Tomorrow! http://t.co/rTdF9iYa #tpwm #tpn

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 04:40 AM PST

tpwestmidlands: ART IN A COLD CLIMATE - Tomorrow! http://t.co/rTdF9iYa #tpwm #tpn

tpwestmidlands: ART IN A COLD CLIMATE - Tomorrow! http://t.co/vGc1kVmf

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 04:03 AM PST

tpwestmidlands: ART IN A COLD CLIMATE - Tomorrow! http://t.co/vGc1kVmf

ART IN A COLD CLIMATE - Tomorrow!

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 04:01 AM PST

 

 



 

A Turning Point West Midlands event in partnership with Birmingham City University and the University of Warwick

Wednesday 9 November

10 am – 3.30pm

Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry

 

This conference is for artists and academics who teach in art schools, their students and alumni and other cultural brokers in the region. 

 

Tickets cost £5 for individuals & concessions/£10 when paid by an institution and are available from Warwick Arts Centre Box Office, Telephone 02476 524 524 or visitwww.warwickartscentre.co.uk to book online.  

TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE DAY

 

Developing the Ecology of the Art Schools in the West Midlands

It is widely predicted that the period following the economic crisis of 2008 will be a 'lost decade' with no economic growth and a consequent absence of opportunities for a generation to initiate their careers. At a time when Universities are undergoing huge changes, this day conference, facilitated by Turning Point West Midlands, explores what is needed to place the region's art schools at the centre of a dynamic, sustainable cultural ecology.

 

Speakers include Lynda Morris of EASTInternational, Colin Greenslade of the Royal Scottish Academy, artist Hadrian Pigott, and artist-academics based in the region including Mona Casey, and Professor Antonia Payne.

 

A minibus shuttle will be available at Coventry Station at 9.30am to bring people to and from the University of Warwick campus from Coventry station at the beginning and the end of the conference. For further travel directions visit, www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/visit/getting-here

 See exhibitions, film and live programme at 

www.warwickartscentre.co.uk                                  
See art collection at 
www.warwick.ac.uk/go/art

Current exhibitions:

1 October - 10 December 2011

Mel Brimfield - This is Performance Art

Dickinson and McCarthy - Greenwich Degree Zero

Tom Hunter - Unheralded Stories

 

NorthantsArts: NTA also have a FB pg, packed with information about all the events coming up in our 2011/12 Autumn-Winter programme. http://t.co/EGc7MYdZ

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 01:18 AM PST

NorthantsArts: NTA also have a FB pg, packed with information about all the events coming up in our 2011/12 Autumn-Winter programme. http://t.co/EGc7MYdZ

BBC Performing Arts Fund awards £172,000 to UK community dance groups

Posted: 07 Nov 2011 12:00 AM PST

BBC Performing Arts FundThe BBC Performing Arts Fund (PAF) has awarded a total of £172,000 to 41 community dance groups, with winners spanning the length and breadth of the UK. Each group will be able to use the grants – which can be as much as £5,000 – to carry out much needed training, attract potential new audiences and raise their profile within their communities.

A selection of the groups awarded money through the BBC Performing Arts Fund Community Dance Scheme include:
• Magpie Dance – a group of dancers with learning disabilities, in Kent, have been awarded £5,000, to help develop a piece to be performed at Big Dance 2012 which aims to increase their skills and raise awareness of the potential of learning disabled dancers.
• TAN Dance Ltd – a community dance orginisation working with groups of young people to the elderly, in Port Talbort, Wales, have been awarded £4,400 to create a TAN Ambassadors Group of eight people representing various groups who will access new dance and encourage collaboration.
•  – an African dance and drumming group, in the West Midlands, have been awarded £3,000 to develop the group's dance stills, raise their aspirations and work with Dudley Age UK, local libraries and schools

For more information about the BBC Performing Arts Fund, visit: www.bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund/dance.

Discount scheme to boost domestic tourism

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 03:12 AM PST

As part of a push to encourage domestic tourism during 2012, the Government have announced a new discount scheme.


Speaking at the World Travel Market, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt is encouraging organisations to offer 20.12% discounts.


The 20.12% discount initiative will be launched next year by VisitEngland as part of a campaign to use the Olympic Games to boost domestic tourism. 


Under the scheme, holidaymakers booking a UK short break before the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games will be eligible for the '20.12' discount. 


VisitEngland's campaign is supported by a £3 million investment from the Olympic budget and is expected to deliver 12,000 new jobs and £480 million in extra spend over three years. There will also be a 'heavy' advertising campaign.


Among those already signed up for the scheme are Cottages4You, Superbreak (who specialise in short breaks such as theatre breaks and theme parks), Bourne Leisure (Haven Holidays, Warner Leisure Hotels and Butlins) and The Eden Project.


Mr Hunt will be taking to the road over the next couple of months as part of a 'regional roadshow' to promote the tourism, cultural and business opportunities of the 2012 Games. Beginning in Cumbria on Wednesday, he arrives in Birmingham - his West Midlands stop - on Wednesday 23 November 2011.


Read more:
- World Travel Market speech
Posted by Creative Midlands at 11/09/2011 11:08:00 am
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