Creative Midlands Articles

Creative Midlands Articles

ACE funding to increase community engagement in arts announced: http://t.co/XP1fRrPZ

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:09 AM PST

ACE funding to increase community engagement in arts announced: http://t.co/XP1fRrPZ

artsdevuk: RT @audiencessw: 53% of the visual arts audiences in the south west are day trippers & holiday makers. 47% are local to the galleries #TPSW

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:25 AM PST

artsdevuk: RT @audiencessw: 53% of the visual arts audiences in the south west are day trippers & holiday makers. 47% are local to the galleries #TPSW

artsdevuk: RT @norwichcultcity: Hey look at me! Arts Development UK have awarded me a Senior Fellowship for my efforts in the arts. Cheers and thank...

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:06 AM PST

artsdevuk: RT @norwichcultcity: Hey look at me! Arts Development UK have awarded me a Senior Fellowship for my efforts in the arts. Cheers and thank...

artsdevuk: RT @mkartsheritage: thanks @artsdevuk for awarding our arts officer a fellowship award. Here's the challenge to get to a senior fellow...

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:43 AM PST

artsdevuk: RT @mkartsheritage: thanks @artsdevuk for awarding our arts officer a fellowship award. Here's the challenge to get to a senior fellow...

artsdevuk: RT @luciamasundire: Lucia Masundire Associate Fellow AD:uk :)

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:55 AM PST

artsdevuk: RT @luciamasundire: Lucia Masundire Associate Fellow AD:uk :)

artsdevuk: RT @mary_bisc: I am officially an AD:UK Fellow!!! @artsdevuk :-D

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:12 AM PST

artsdevuk: RT @mary_bisc: I am officially an AD:UK Fellow!!! @artsdevuk :-D

artsdevuk: Congratulations to all our members who received their fellowship today!!!

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:11 AM PST

artsdevuk: Congratulations to all our members who received their fellowship today!!!

artsdevuk: @mary_bisc Well done!!!!

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:11 AM PST

artsdevuk: @mary_bisc Well done!!!!

artsdevuk: The @ace_national Creative People & Places fund is now open for applications http://t.co/LL01thJs for areas with low level engagement in...

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:30 AM PST

artsdevuk: The @ace_national Creative People & Places fund is now open for applications http://t.co/LL01thJs for areas with low level engagement in...

The Kids In Museums Manifesto 2012

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:33 AM PST

The Kids In Museums Manifesto 2012 is a useful tool designed to encourage and support museums and galleries in making visits for children, young people and families more enjoyable.


Compiled entirely from visitors' comments, over 300 venues have signed up for the 20 point tool, including 2010 Winner Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, and Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, who were longlisted in 2009 and shortlisted in 2011.


Kids in Museums Manifesto 2012


1. Tell tales together with children and families. Share each other's stories. Listen. Families and museums each have their own expertise.


2. Be welcoming and greet each visitor. Tell visitors what they can do at the door, don't pin up a list of things they can't. Curators, volunteers, front of house and those who work in the café should all be involved.


3. Play the generation game. Grandparents are increasingly important, and many families are more than two generations. Conversations between generations should be at the heart of what you do.


4. Invite teenagers into your gang. Provide a place for them to hang out. Set up youth panels. Ask them how they want to be involved. Museums can lead the way in letting people know the contribution teenagers make.


5.  Be flexible in your activities, events and family tickets. Families come in all shapes and sizes. Design your pricing and programmes with all sorts of families in mind.


6. Reach beyond your four walls. Ask families how you can help make a visit possible. Take responsibility for the hurdles outside, even if they're not put up by you.


7. Create a safe place for children and families. Museums can be havens and provide an opportunity for families to talk.


8. Be the core of your community, with spaces where families can meet.


9. Don't say ssshhhush! If kids are being noisy, ask yourself 'Why?' is it because they're excited? Great! Then capture this excitement. Is it because they're bored? then give them something meaningful to do.


10. Say 'Please touch!' as often as you can. Everyone finds real objects awesome. Direct kids to things that can be handled. Teach respect by explaining why others can't.


11. Give a hand to grown-ups as well as children. Sometimes it isn't the kids who are shy – parents need your support too. Produce guides, trails and activities for families to enjoy together.


12. Be height and language aware. Display things low enough for a small child to see. Use your imagination with signs, symbols and words understood by all ages.


13. Make the most of your different spaces, outside as well as inside. Cafés, gardens, stairways and reception areas are valuable parts of the museum too.


14. Consider different families' needs, with automatic doors, decent sized lifts, wheelchair-user friendly activities and Braille descriptions. Design your activities and events for everyone.


15. Keep an eye on visitors' comfort. Make sure the toilets are always pleasant, with room for pushchairs and baby changing facilities. It's the one place every family will visit. Provide somewhere to leave coats, bags, pushchairs, scooters and skateboards.


16. Provide healthy, good-value food, high chairs and unlimited tap water. Your café should work to the same family friendly values as the rest of the museum.


17. Sell items in the shop that aren't too expensive and not just junk, but things kids will treasure and will remind them of their visit.


18. Look after your website – keep it up to date. Be honest. Let families know what's available (and what isn't) so they can prepare for their visit.


19. Use social media to chat to families. Don't just post messages about what you're doing – have a conversation.


20. Make the visit live on. Build relationships with your family visitors and let them know you want to keep in touch. involve them in long-term decision making at the museum, not just on the day. invite them back.



For more information see: www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk or Download PDF

theunitlist: RT @BBCCoP: This week's podcast (on the site on Thurs) is about job interviews. So what are the scariest questions you've been asked?

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:14 AM PST

theunitlist: RT @BBCCoP: This week's podcast (on the site on Thurs) is about job interviews. So what are the scariest questions you've been asked?

@MissLizBuckley Yes. Even earlier than normal this month. I imagine it should be with you by now, Liz. If not, please email subs@a-n.co.uk

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 03:37 AM PST

@MissLizBuckley Yes. Even earlier than normal this month. I imagine it should be with you by now, Liz. If not, please email subs@a-n.co.uk

Subscribers can now read the February of a-n Magazine online at: http://t.co/ZZhjeSzt #artists #artsfunding

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 03:25 AM PST

Subscribers can now read the February of a-n Magazine online at: http://t.co/ZZhjeSzt #artists #artsfunding

Music Nation comes to West Midlands as part of 2012 celebrations

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:17 AM PST

As part of the Cultural Olympiad the West Midlands is playing a major role in Music Nation - presented by the BBC and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Music Nation comes to West Midlands as part of 2012 celebrations


As part of the Cultural Olympiad the West Midlands is playing a major role in Music Nation - presented by the BBC and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.


On 2, 3 and 4 March   there will be a spectacular weekend of concerts celebrating the best of the UK's live orchestral music.


Music Nation also marks the beginning of an unprecedented programme of events, performance, participation and possibility that make up this year's Cultural Olympiad programme in the region.


The West Midlands Music Nation line-up includes:


2 March, 8pm at Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent. In association with the BBC Philharmonic, Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii returns to Hanley to perform Chopin's Piano Concert No.1, in a programme of American-influenced music.


2 March, 7.30pm Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) presents a programme performed by a quintet of BCMG soloists at the CBSO Centre in Birmingham.


3 March, 4pm, Wagner's Tristan and Isolde. After rave reviews for his accounts of Lohengrin in Birmingham and Bayreuth, Andris Nelsons will conduct a hand-picked cast at Symphony Hall, Birmingham.


3 March, 7.30pm. Choir with No Name (a choir for people who have experienced homelessness) brings two choirs together from London and Birmingham for a joyfull Olympic-themed concert, One Nation Under a Groove, performed at Carrs Lane Church in Birmingham.


4 March, 3pm: The Northern Chamber Orchestra and Raphael Wallfisch will perform the world premiere of a new cello concerto by John Joubert in St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, alongside a programme of work by Sibelius, Delius and Mozart.


Information is on the BBC 3 website.


Full details of the West Midlands Cultural Olympiad programme will be announced in March. Visit www.wmfor2012.com/culture for updates.

Arts Alive takes professional events to unusual stages

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:12 AM PST

These include village halls, school halls, studio spaces and community venues such as churches. Arts Alive shows create a special experience for both artists and audiences.


 

Arts Alive is the rural touring scheme that serves rural Herefordshire and Shropshire with professional events hosted by local volunteers taking place in informal settings.


These include village halls, school halls, studio spaces and community venues such as churches. Arts Alive shows create a special experience for both artists and audiences.


Sian Kerry director of Arts Alive said: 'We work hard to find the right space and community for every show that will create the best event. Church acoustics are great for choirs, small halls for intimate shows. It's a bit like running an arts centre with a hundred different spaces.


'Our programme is eclectic and diverse, we aim to please most of the people most of the time, and add shows that will challenge and excite as well as entertain. Think of it like adding spices to cooking!'


This winter the Arts Alive programme features a large selection of companies and shows. They range from Hansel and Gretel by Northumberland Theatre Company, Hot Swinging Musical Mayhem by The Hot Potato Syncopators, Instant Wit comedy show, Postcards from Blackpool by About Face Theatre Company and Rapunzel by the Clydebuilt Theatre Company.


All information on shows and venues is on Arts Alive's website www.artsalive.co.uk, where tickets can be purchased online.


Arts Alive is currently an Arts Council Regular Funded Organisation and from next April has been invited to join the National portfolio of organisations.


 

Godiva prepares for her 2012 journey to London

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 05:48 AM PST

Thanks to a Lottery grant from Arts Council England glass makers across the country are being encouraged to take part in Glass Games - a project being run to showcase glass making during next year's Olympic and Paralympic Games.


 

2012 is Godiva's year and Imagineer Productions invite you to join them in counting down to her  awakening in Coventry on 28 July.


To kick start the year Imagineer have released a stunning new image (shown here), created by Midlands based advertising agency Cogent Elliott, who have been working in partnership with Imagineer contributing their skills, ingenuity and resources to the project.


The image reflects the forthcoming awakening as Godiva appears out of the darkness and into the light surrounded by representations of the diverse industries of the West Midlands past, present and future that are at the heart of this once-in-a-lifetime project.


Rehearsals have also started with a number of the groups which will perform as part of the awakening in July.


In early January the eight apprentice aerialists came together for only the second time to be put through their paces and train together ahead of their performance.


 In mid January the 150 strong Godiva Awakes Choir met to begin their monthly rehearsals focussing solely on the Godiva Anthem written by BAFTA award winner Ilona Sekacz.


To keep up to speed on Godiva Awakes and to find out more about the many elements and people involved in the project visit www.imagineerproductions.co.uk


Let Imagineer know what you think of the image of Godiva by posting a comment on their facebook site.


 

Poddingham 23 - A Homecoming

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

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

2012 Glass Games wins funding from Arts Council England

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 02:30 AM PST

Thanks to a Lottery grant from Arts Council England glass makers across the country are being encouraged to take part in Glass Games - a project being run to showcase glass making during next year's Olympic and Paralympic Games.


 

Thanks to a Lottery grant from Arts Council England glass makers across the country are being encouraged to take part in Glass Games - a project being run to showcase glass making during next year's Olympic and Paralympic Games.


A grant of £64,000 has been awarded to the West Midlands based Contemporary Glass Society. This grant, which will cover a two years period, is for the Glass Games project in 2012 which will be followed by Glass Skills, which will run the following year and is aimed at raising the profile of glass making skills.


Victoria Scholes, Chair of the Contemporary Glass Society, which has 650 members, said: 'This two year project will raise the profile of contemporary glass art and glass-making skills. It will forge partnerships between contemporary glass related organisations, recruit new members and increase income for our organisation.'


Victoria Scholes said: 'Glass Games will be a nationwide campaign which will energise the glass community to bring the magic of glass to more people than ever before.


'Already we have over 30 artists and organisations registered to take part. We aim to have over 50 events, with six key large events, including an exhibition in London during the Olympic weeks to launch the programme, and a celebratory event at the International Festival of Glass to round it off.


'We are grateful for this Arts Council award which will help us build a future for our society.'


Ms Scholes said that Glass Skills will take place the following year and will include a showcase exhibition, a conference, and a programme celebrating glass making skills and activities taking place around the country.


Jackie Lee, Relationship Manager (Visual Arts) with Arts Council England in the West Midlands, said: 'The grant will enable the Society to build on its achievements as a key national artist led organisation with a strong track record for high quality work. It will also enable them to attract new members and potential sponsors.'


For more information visit www.cgs.org.uk


 
Posted by Creative Midlands at 2/01/2012 11:44:00 am
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