Creative Midlands Articles

Creative Midlands Articles

£200 million boost for the arts

Posted: 16 Feb 2012 02:24 AM PST

Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has announced that over £200 million more than expected should go to the arts over the next five years, and it's all because of increased National Lottery ticket sales,


Attending the State of the Arts 2012 conference in Salford, Manchester, Vaizey stated that the latest projections suggest £1.25 billion of Lottery funding would go to Arts Council England and about £243 million to the British Film Institute between 2012-13 and 2016-17 – an increase on October 2010 estimates.


The total funding now expected to go to the Arts Council is £2.3 billion over the next four years from grant in aid and projected income from the Lottery.


"In a time of economic uncertainty, the arts are more important than ever," the Minister said. "The cultural value is immeasurable and we are in no doubt about the contributions that the arts make to our economy, our communities, our schools and our wellbeing."


Changes to the way Lottery cash is distributed which were announced in 2010 had already resulted in increased revenues for arts, sport and heritage, with their shares of available money increasing from 16.6 per cent to 20 per cent from April this year.
The changes combined with increased ticket sales and the end of the transfer of funding for London 2012 could increase the Arts Council's funding from the Lottery to more than double the £123 million it received in 2010-11.


The sports sector was also now expected to get millions more from the Lottery than originally forecast.


Read more:



Keynote speech to the State of the Arts conference


Soaring Lottery ticket sales could mean £200 million more for the arts

Black Country Living Museum awarded designated status

Posted: 16 Feb 2012 02:29 AM PST

The Black Country Living Museum has been awarded Designated Status by Arts Council England - this is the first time ACE has administered and awarded Designated status since assuming responsibilities for museums and libraries from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) in October 2011.


BT Archives has also been awarded the same status.


Designation identifies the pre-eminent collections of national and international importance held in England's non-national museums, libraries and archives, based on their quality and significance. In recognising these inspiring collections, Arts Council England believes that the collections of the Black Country Living Museum represent a vital part of our national cultural heritage.


Alan Davey, Chief Executive of Arts Council England said: 'We are delighted to be awarding this prestigious standard to both BT Archives and the Black Country Living Museum. Both organisations' collections offer a fascinating and important insight into the history of the nation, and should be celebrated.'


The collections of the Black Country Living Museum constitute a comprehensive record of industrial activity and society in the Black Country chiefly spanning the period 1800 to 1950. They include four original industrial features on site - including two mine shafts, limekilns and a canal arm - representing a microcosm of the classic Black Country industrial landscape.


Andrew Lovett, Director and Chief Executive of the Black Country Living Museum said: 'This is an enormous step forward for the museum, not only recognising the strength of our entire collection, but an endorsement of how we are developing our own style of engaging people - our visitors - creatively in history.'


Following the announcement, there are 140 Designated collections in England, held in 112 different organisations. Organisations holding Designated collections are expected to work towards the provision of high-quality services which deliver the fullest possible public access to those collections, and to take a leadership role in the sector by helping other cultural institutions in ways such as sharing expertise, offering advice and lending objects or materials.


Links: Black Country Living Museum

Designated status awarded to the collections of BT Archives and Black Country Living Museum

Posted: 16 Feb 2012 01:58 AM PST

Arts Council England has today announced the award of Designated status to the collections of BT (British Telecommunications) Archives and the Black Country Living Museum. This is the first time the Arts Council has administered and awarded Designated status since assuming responsibilities for museums and libraries from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) in October 2011.

Arts Council England has today announced the award of Designated status to the collections of BT (British Telecommunications) Archives and the Black Country Living Museum. This is the first time the Arts Council has administered and awarded Designated status since assuming responsibilities for museums and libraries from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) in October 2011.


Designation identifies the pre-eminent collections of national and international importance held in England's non-national museums, libraries and archives, based on their quality and significance. In recognising these inspiring collections, Arts Council England believes that the collections of BT Archives and the Black Country Living Museum represent a vital part of our national cultural heritage.


Alan Davey, Chief Executive of Arts Council England said:


'We are delighted to be awarding this prestigious standard to both BT Archives and the Black Country Living Museum. Both organisations' collections offer a fascinating and important insight into the history of the nation, and should be celebrated.'


BT Archives was awarded Designated status for its compelling documentation of the leading role that the UK and BT and its predecessors have played in communications technology from its very beginning. The archives cover the provision of communications services around the country and across the globe, and its profound influence on society and impact on people's lives. 


The collections of the Black Country Living Museum constitute a comprehensive record of industrial activity and society in the Black Country chiefly spanning the period 1800 to 1950. They include four original industrial features on site - including two mine shafts, limekilns and a canal arm - representing a microcosm of the classic Black Country industrial landscape.


Suzi Williams, BT Group Marketing and Brand Director, said:


'We're thrilled - Designation recognises BT Archives as an important collection not just about BT's corporate history and leading role in the development of telecommunications technology, but also for social, economic and industrial and many other histories. We're proud to preserve and share these unique and exceptional resources as part of our commitment to the nation's, indeed the world's, memory and heritage.'


Andrew Lovett, Director and Chief Executive of the Black Country Living Museum said:


'This is an enormous step forward for the museum, not only recognising the strength of our entire collection, but an endorsement of how we are developing our own style of engaging people - our visitors - creatively in history.'


Following today's announcement, there are 140 Designated collections in England, held in 112 different organisations. Organisations holding Designated collections are expected to work towards the provision of high-quality services which deliver the fullest possible public access to those collections, and to take a leadership role in the sector by helping other cultural institutions in ways such as sharing expertise, offering advice and lending objects or materials.

artsdevuk: RT @nesta_uk: We're inviting proposals from research teams for an international review of creative economy mapping http://t.co/tjqtF6uS

Posted: 16 Feb 2012 01:01 AM PST

artsdevuk: RT @nesta_uk: We're inviting proposals from research teams for an international review of creative economy mapping http://t.co/tjqtF6uS

artsdevuk: RT @SusanJonesArts: State of the Arts 2012: Artists shaping the world | News | Arts organisers | a-n: http://t.co/zNUXsJhB #SOTA12

Posted: 16 Feb 2012 12:55 AM PST

artsdevuk: RT @SusanJonesArts: State of the Arts 2012: Artists shaping the world | News | Arts organisers | a-n: http://t.co/zNUXsJhB #SOTA12

<br> <br> - <br> <br><br>This post has been generated by Page2RSS

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 09:39 PM PST


    This post has been generated by Page2RSS

    <br><br><br><br> <br>This post has been generated by Page2RSS

    Posted: 15 Feb 2012 11:17 AM PST






    This post has been generated by Page2RSS

    See Emily Speed's blog post on Saturday's #OpenAIR artists' event: http://t.co/QGQfUzYS #sota12

    Posted: 15 Feb 2012 08:58 AM PST

    See Emily Speed's blog post on Saturday's #OpenAIR artists' event: http://t.co/QGQfUzYS #sota12

    @speedina on #OpenAIR : "hierarchy was irrelevant & people were really listening to each other on an equal footing" #sota12

    Posted: 15 Feb 2012 08:58 AM PST

    @speedina on #OpenAIR : "hierarchy was irrelevant & people were really listening to each other on an equal footing" #sota12

    “@PlatformLondon: Text of James Marriott's talk yesterday now up online http://t.co/Z1aQRdwd” #sota12

    Posted: 15 Feb 2012 08:54 AM PST

    "@PlatformLondon: Text of James Marriott's talk yesterday now up online http://t.co/Z1aQRdwd" #sota12

    @Nicola_Anthony yes send ideas to edit@a-n.co.uk see also our artists blog platform @artists_talking

    Posted: 15 Feb 2012 07:13 AM PST

    @Nicola_Anthony yes send ideas to edit@a-n.co.uk see also our artists blog platform @artists_talking

    Why not let artists set the agenda? #sota12 http://t.co/wOcqgAqA

    Posted: 15 Feb 2012 03:58 AM PST

    Why not let artists set the agenda? #sota12 http://t.co/wOcqgAqA

    What did #sota12 tell us about the status of artists? Gillian Nicol reports http://t.co/wOcqgAqA

    Posted: 15 Feb 2012 03:54 AM PST

    What did #sota12 tell us about the status of artists? Gillian Nicol reports http://t.co/wOcqgAqA

    ace_westmids: RT @ace_national: RT @richardrussell1: Good round up of #SOTA12 from the Guardian: http://t.co/gnTWGsmE

    Posted: 15 Feb 2012 03:49 AM PST

    ace_westmids: RT @ace_national: RT @richardrussell1: Good round up of #SOTA12 from the Guardian: http://t.co/gnTWGsmE

    ace_westmids: RT @ace_national: Transcript from State of the Arts keynote speech by @edvaizey http://t.co/SEYCpcXm #SOTA12

    Posted: 15 Feb 2012 03:49 AM PST

    ace_westmids: RT @ace_national: Transcript from State of the Arts keynote speech by @edvaizey http://t.co/SEYCpcXm #SOTA12

    voluntaryarts: RT @somewhereto_: Be part of the #somewhereto_ movement! Volunteer & help energise your community & find people spaces. Click for info:...

    Posted: 15 Feb 2012 06:48 AM PST

    voluntaryarts: RT @somewhereto_: Be part of the #somewhereto_ movement! Volunteer & help energise your community & find people spaces. Click for info:...

    The Buxton Mermaid attracts media attention

    Posted: 15 Feb 2012 05:28 AM PST

    When MA Conservation of Historic Objects student Anita Hollinshead came across a mysterious, apparently mummified, mermaid, she was determined to find out more about her. She may have uncovered a rather ghoulish love story along the way.

    Anita first discovered the source of her study, the Buxton Mermaid – thought to be of ancient Japanese origin and now held in the collections of Derbyshire County Council at the Buxton Museum and Art Gallery whilst working at the gallery as Museum Development Officer for Derbyshire.

    "I remember thinking that the Buxton Mermaid didn't look like the beautiful mermaids you see in paintings or read about. I instantly wanted to know what she was made of, how she was constructed, where she might have come from and the best ways to preserve her for years to come," she said.

    Anita discovered some of the secrets to the Buxton Mermaid through a series of tests carried out here at the University. Professor Belinda Colston, Director of Research at the School of Life Sciences, invited Anita to bring the Mermaid to the Forensic Science Department. Here, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Science and forensic photographer David Padley, captured the mermaid in more detail than can be seen with the naked eye and a forensic anthropologist was able to confirm that there was no human skeletal material included in the head, despite the mermaid's skull-like appearance.

    Further tests, including x-rays using a phosphorous plate, were then carried out with help from Chris Robinson and Jo Wright, within the Conservation and Restoration Department at Chad Varah House, to determine how the mermaid was constructed. This enabled Anita to conclude its construction was based upon an armature of wood and wire with a real fish's tail. Other tests will, hopefully, establish what the mermaid's hair, 'skin', teeth and eyes are made from.

    While discovering how the mermaid was constructed was on her list of objectives, finding out that she used to reside in the Wellcome Institution for the History of Medicine with a merman (now at the Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, London) was a surprise. During her research, Anita contacted Deputy Keeper of Natural History at the Horniman Museum, Paolo Viscardi. By sheer coincidence, he was in the process of researching the Horniman's Merman. Their research suggests that the Buxton Mermaid and the Horniman Merman were last together in 1982 in the collections of the Wellcome Institution. As a result of this project, they will be reunited in March for a special exhibition and presentation of mermaid research at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, Derbyshire.

    The exhibition runs from March 19 until May 13, during which time Paolo, Anita and Ross MacFarlane from the Wellcome Collection will present their research."It's been so exciting to see the reaction that this research has generated. Mermaids really spark people's imagination," said Anita. "Although I have been able to find out quite a lot about the Buxton Mermaid she is still in many ways a mysterious creature and I don't think we'll ever uncover her whole story".

    In the meantime, Anita's discovery is attracting quite a lot of media attention. You can read more on the BBC website or in the world news section of News Pano.

    [story written by Thirzah Wildman, University of Lincoln PR Strategy and Development Manager]

    RIBA West Midlands hosts film night tribute to John Madin

    Posted: 13 Feb 2012 11:10 PM PST

    The Birmingham & Midland Institute will be the venue for a special screening of two films as part of a tribute to Birmingham architect John Madin.
    Posted by Creative Midlands at 2/16/2012 11:27:00 am
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