Arts About Manchester / News and events / AAM Forums

ShowStarter day - Young People’s Day: Working in the performing arts

Admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:04:05 GMT

PANDA (Performing Arts Network and Development Agency) is holding a free events day for 14-21 year olds to find out more about their options for working in the performing arts sector.

The day will include:

A range of practical workshops run by artists & professionals that will give you a taste of the different careers in the performing arts sector
A marketplace of different organisations who can offer professional advice, provide opportunities & help you take the next step
A chance to interview a range of people who are already working in the performing arts

Sat 7 Feb ‘09, Zion Arts Centre

ShowStarter Young People’s Day is free but places are limited.

To register for a place or for more info contact Nicky Hatton at nicky@panda-arts.org.uk or on 0161 274 0652.

I Bike MCR Festival

Admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:00:39 GMT

28 March: Mural painting on the Fallowfield Loop
29 March: In conjunction with Kidical Mass, there’ll be a bike ride to get the little ones on wheels and a bike beautifying parade around Manchester as part of Critical Mass.
24 April: Bike ride to get the older ones on wheels.
Check out the website www.Ibikemcr.org.uk for more information or contact PoWWow to find out ways you can get involved with these velo-powered colourful delights.

In very early Spring they’ll be beginning an all-building mural on Platt Fields Park’s boathouse that will act as an environmental celebration of the biodiversity that lies within the park.

They’ll be working with lots of different social groups to carry out this colourful extravaganza. The OAMS (monthly vigorous volunteering days) continue in full force to carry out an array of arty-park-y projects including willow weaving, mosaic-ing, pebble installations and of course - more mural paintings.

They meet 1-4pm, every 3rd Sunday of the month at the Lakeside Centre in Platt Fields Park.

If you’d like to get involved in this HUGE project please contact the PoWWow team, anna@powwow-ecoarts.org.uk.

All are welcome, regardless of experience or skills.

Calling all playwrights!

Admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:58:30 GMT

24:7 2009 takes place from 20-26 July at non-theatre locations in Manchester city centre.

Scripts must be original, unpublished & no longer than 60 minutes. They mustn’t have formed part of a theatre season or been on an advertised tour.

If it has already been performed– perhaps at a festival– it can participate, but may not qualify for a 24:7 Award.

There’s a non-refundable fee of £30 for each individual submission. The 24:7 Theatre Festival aims to showcase talent: it makes no difference whether the writer is new or established. We base our decisions purely on the quality of each play.

For more details & to download the application form & notes visit www.247theatrefestival.co.uk

Application deadline 31 Jan ‘09.

Pride 2009 - Call for submissions

Admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:56:11 GMT

Pride 2009 proposals invited

Manchester’s annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) festival, is calling on individuals & organisations to submit proposals for its 2009 ten-day event.

The festival, which in 2008 raised £105,000 for local HIV and LGBT charities, is seeking everything from theatre, comedy, music and exhibitions to help showcase LGBT culture & diversity as part of its 2009 celebrations.

To download an application pack, visit www.manchesterpride.com or contact Jackie Crozier on jackie.crozier@manchesterpride.com

Deadline for proposals: 29 March ‘09.
Deadline for inclusion in the Guide to Pride is 23 March ‘09.

Tape, presented by Northern Outlet Theatre Company as part of the Re:play Festival at The Library Theatre, Manchester

Northern Outlet Theatre Company — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:58:26 GMT

Northern Outlet is glad to announce that TAPE has been selected to feature as part of the Re:play festival at Manchester Library Theatre on 30th Jan (9pm) and 31st Jan (1.30pm and 8pm).
[p][/p]
[b]TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE.[/b]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
Presented by Northern Outlet Theatre Company
[p][/p]
In a motel in small-town America, three ex-high school friends reunite for the first time in a decade. Jon is an aspiring film-maker on the verge of hitting it big, Vince is a volunteer fireman who makes his money selling drugs, and Amy Randall is the girl they once both dated.
[p][/p]
As old wounds are exposed, can their friendship survive?
[p][/p]
Tape, by cult American writer Stephen Belber, was nominated for Best Production in the 2008 Buxton Festival Fringe Awards.
[p][/p]
Directed by Paul Walker, Tape features Ryan Cerenko as Jon, Ric Ward as Vince, and Marie-Louise Cookson as Amy.
[p][/p]
Contains strong language.
[p][/p]
Approximate running time:
1 hour 15 minutes.
[p][/p]
[b]“Any new theatre company’s work is to be welcomed, especially when their debut production is as good as Walker’s Tape”[/b]
- WHAT'S ON STAGE
[p][/p]
[b]“consistently entertaining…
gripping production…
riveting…”[/b]
- BUXTON FESTIVAL FRINGE
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]PERFORMANCES:
Fri 30 Jan - 9pm
Sat 31 Jan - 1.30pm
Sat 31 Jan - 8pm[/b]
[p][/p]
Tickets are available in person, by phone or online from the Manchester Library Theatre.
[p][/p]
[b]Box Office: 0161 236 7110[/b]
[p][/p]
Online: [url]http://www.librarytheatre.com/whatson/whatson_details.php/7/2009/1194/tape/[/url]

Competition for Local Artists - £500 to win!

Admin — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:39:40 GMT

Beliz Kitchen Window

Beliz Kitchen is a new family run café in Levenshulme serving freshly made sandwiches, home-cooked food and cakes to local residents and workers.

We are looking for a local artist to create a unique piece of community art on the outside of our wall that looks onto the Kingsway roundabout.

This major thoroughfare in Manchester, joining Levenshulme, Burnage, Longsight and Fallowfield is a daily drudge for commuters that we feel could do with brightening up.

A plain white brick wall is on the side of our building, and we want to use this to create a window into Beliz Kitchen. This will be a piece of art that communicates to the local community and commuters the inner life and qualities of our café.

We are inviting submissions from artists to create a window that looks into our café and we will be offering £500 (£300 prize and £200 materials budget) for the winning submission to complete the work and create a unique piece of community art.

Our specification is we want to see your ideas for the design and how this piece of art will be created and in what timescale.

If you wish to submit your ideas then please contact us via email (ben@beliz.co.uk) for an application form.

Deadline for applications is 15th January 2008 and the winner will be announced on the 1st February 2008.

Win a £50 Blackwell's voucher!

Admin — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:20:46 GMT

Have you been to a live literature event in Greater Manchester in the past two years?

We want to know more about the audiences for spoken word, performance poetry, open mic, author readings and anything else that might be described as literature…live.

What do you go to?
Why do you go?

For the chance to answer these and further questions, to help support and develop the scene, and to win £50 in Blackwell’s Vouchers, please follow the link here.

Background

Live Literature: spoken word, performance poetry, reading nights, open mic, author Q&A, cross media…

AAM is currently undertaking a mapping of live literature across Greater Manchester. The project aims to support the development of a healthy ecology in which live literature can flourish. Key aims of the project are

A greater understanding of current live literature events across Greater Manchester
A greater understanding of the audience for live literature across Greater Manchester
An exploration of the potential for collaborative, cross-art form marketing
Supporting the creation of a strategic network of providers, organizations, venues and artists

‘We recognize the potential of live literature as a new way of communicating the power of the written word. We want to help develop a network of creative producers and venues offering an experience that is as artistically imaginative and professionally enticing as any other performing arts event.’
[Arts Council England Literature Policy]

For more information contact Rachel McCrum - rachel@aam.org.uk

PANDA Spotlight On… Meet the Neighbours

panda — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:37:15 GMT

Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Venue: Unity Theatre

1 Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BS
Find it: www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk/findus.htm

Regional support and rural touring opportunities for people in the performing arts in the North West.

Performing Arts Network and Development Agency (PANDA) are pleased to announce a special event run in association with our partners Unity Theatre and Hope Street Limited in Liverpool and the Cheshire’s Rural Touring Network (CRTN).

The event is free and open to anyone working (or hoping to work) in the performing arts in the North West. Join us at 6.30pm on Wednesday 12th November 2008 at Unity Theatre to meet the organisations that can support you and find out more about rural touring opportunities in the region.

• Liz O’Neill will be on hand to introduce PANDA (www.panda-arts.org.uk) and outline the information, advice and development services that the organisation can provide.

• Graeme Phillips from Unity Theatre (www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk) will welcome you to the venue and say a little about the events and opportunities available at the theatre.

• Peter Ward will explain how you can get involved with the various schemes and training opportunities at Hope Street Limited (www.hope-street.org).

• Claire Smith of Cheshire’s Rural Touring Network (www.cheshire.gov.uk/arts) will discuss the rural touring opportunities in the region and launch the fifth year of the PANDA-CRTN Rural Touring Mentoring Scheme, which offers mentorship to a company who would be keen to develop their work for rural touring.

The PANDA-CRTN Rural Touring Mentoring Scheme is a successful scheme and a valuable entry-point for any company wishing to establish themselves on the rural touring network. Full details of the scheme including how to apply will be covered at the event, and are also available on the PANDA website at www.panda-arts.org.uk/rtms09

Come along to find out about the great opportunities available and network with other people working in theatre, dance, street art, live art and writing for performance. The event will take place in the comfortable surroundings of the Unity Lounge bar and will be followed by The Lavender Club, a comedy, poetry and music night, running as part of the Homotopia festival.

Book your place

To RSVP for this free event contact Rachel Morton on 0161 274 0626 or email rachel@panda-arts.org.uk.

For full details visit: www.panda-arts.org.uk/neighbours

Orderly Bazaar Records & Publishing seeks Arabesque visual artists

JFDI — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:33:25 GMT

This is a call to visual artists from the Middle East and possibly India and Pakistan:

Orderly Bazaar Records & Publishing is launching Canadian artist Lorelei Loveridge and her new 15-song, 4-year album project 'Bakhoor' (recorded in India, Saudi Arabia and Canada and featuring the likes of players like Brian Hughes of Loreena McKennitt, Harry Manx, etc.) on Saturday, November 29th at the Nexus Art Cafe, Northern Quarter, Manchester.

The venue is donating exhibition wall space and the artist is seeking others from the Middle East and possibly South Asia who would like to showcase their work as well that night -- photography, crafts, painting, sculpture, etc.

A celebration of women artists is particularly of interest for this event.

For more information, call: 0796 416 7353

Orderly Bazaar Records & Publishing
http://www.orderlybazaar.com
http://www.loreleiloveridge.com
http://www.myspace.com/loreleiloveridge

Asta Theatre Presents Rhizome Cowboy 5th & 6th November

Asta_Theatre — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:19:10 GMT

[b]November 5th and 6th[/b] sees the debut performances of Asta Theatre's new dark comedy, Rhizome Cowboy. Okay, so there's a cowboy, and a bear, and some really bad performance art, and a coconut, and the scary man with the shears (and the moustache), and the sand, and all the crying, and the writer who's writing something strangely familiar, oh and the guy, the jogging, guy, and the sand, and the moose and the, the plumbing doing things that plumbing shouldn't do, and the futility of existence, no wait, the joy of being alive, and the man with no ears and the sand, and the despair, and the oh God I think I'm happy, and the tiny castle and the ridiculous dance, and the c-60 and the sand. Did we mention the sand?
[p][/p]
Everything will make sense, guaranteed.*
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]Email:[/b] [email]asta.theatre@googlemail.com[/email]
[b]Office: 07982 674450[/b]
[b]Location: Upstairs bar at Revolution, 90-94 Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 5WH, United Kingdom[/b]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]Performance dates/times are as follows;[/b]
[p][/p]
[b]Wednesday 5th November - 8.00pm[/b]
[p][/p]
[b]Thursday 6th November - 2.30pm and 8.00pm[/b]
[p][/p]
[b]Tickets £4 - every ticket can be redeemed at the bar for a free shot of vodka.[/b]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]Tickets are now on sale. Phone 0870 428 0785, or visit [url]www.quaytickets.com[/url] and search for "Rhizome Cowboy".[/b]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
Thank you for your support :)
Clare Heath, Stage Manager
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
*Not a guarantee.

LUNG CANCER FOUNDATION CALLS FOR ART SUBMISSIONS

RCLC Foundation — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:55:13 GMT

Artists across the North West are being given a unique opportunity to showcase their work in an art sale supporting The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, to take place on Thursday 30^th October.

For one day only, Manchester’s renowned Mr Thomas’s Chop House will be transformed into a gallery displaying a selection of work by both the region’s emerging and established talent.

The open brief will give artists the opportunity to showcase their work whilst being involved in an innovative, high-profile event to support the Charity’s essential research, campaigning and patient support.

Proceeds from each art sale will be equally split between the artist and The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, although artists will be given the option of donating their work fully to the cause.

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only charity in the UK wholly dedicated to defeating lung cancer, the UK’s biggest cancer killer. The Foundation funds research programmes to detect the disease in its early stages, provides guidance and support to those affected by lung cancer and campaigns to raise awareness of symptoms as well as dangers of tobacco smoke.

The event will be open to the public but also aims to attract representatives from some of the region’s biggest corporate names in search of something to make their offices more stimulating.

Submissions should be sent by email as a photo attachment (high JPEG, 72dpi, approx 500 x 500) against a plain background to Jo Oldfield: joldfield@webershandwick.com by Thursday 9^th October.

For more information about The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, visit www.roycastle.org

ENDS

Submission enquiries:

Jo Oldfield at Weber Shandwick: 0161 238 9400, joldfield@webershandwick.com

Background information

About The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only charity in the world wholly dedicated to defeating lung cancer – the biggest cancer killer in the UK.

The charity’s approach benefits current and future lung cancer sufferers alike:

· The foundation funds research programmes to detect lung cancer at a very early stage, which will save lives and is vital to the development of a future therapy.

· The foundation offers patient support, advocacy and an information network providing information, guidance and support relevant to the needs of lung cancer patients and their families.

· The foundation facilitates support groups across the UK that assist sufferers to come to terms with the disease and provide patient advocacy services.

· The foundation operates ‘Quit Smoking’ services for adults (Fag Ends);

· KATS (Kids Against Tobacco Smoke) educational programme for children which encourages young people never to start smoking;

· ATYC (Anti Tobacco Youth Campaign) which gives young people a voice, knowledge and skills to campaign about smoking and other tobacco issues;

· The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation runs fundraising events and charity shops, both of which help to generate much needed voluntary donations (public and corporate), on which it relies to continue its fight to defeat lung cancer.

For further information visit www.roycastle.org

Your post-AMA thoughts and opinions?

AdamAAM — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:01:08 GMT

With the dust now settled and a good time had by all, how do those of you who went (or even those of you who didn't, but have heard all about it) feel about this year's conference? I've had a good number of you reply to me by e-mail with your thoughts about the conference, the blog (such as it was) and of course, the dance awards but, in the spirit of the involvement, enhancement and participation message that you couldn't help but pick up on during the two days, why don't we discuss it here?

Here's a couple of questions to get you going;

1) What have you done / will you do imminently as a result of what you heard at the conference? Personally I think you'll be seeing lots of fancy embedded gizmos on the AAM websites / facebook pages from websites like dipity and issuu - anyone go straight home and done this already?

2) The Sultan's Elephant - anyone going to go crazy if they hear it held up one more time as a beacon of shining brilliance? Or is it clearly exactly the sort of thing that should be brought into every conversation about the arts?

3) The Wednesday night dance-off; who can argue about the top 3 declaration I so confidently made in the early hours of Thursday morning? Probably one for those who were really there that one...

The AMA Conference - Day 3

AdamAAM — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:33:21 GMT

Posting at 1.35 this morning is clearly a pretty good indicator that last night's social event went quite sucessfully. As a result this morning's keynote that focused on 'emotional responses' was spent trying to avoid too much of an emotional response myself...however it was again an engaging kind of session focusing once more on enhnacing your audience's interaction and investment in your product. A man who worked doing brand research for Moet Hennessy spoke and an entire room simultaneously hated, resented, and wanted to be him.

Following a swift and very welcome refreshment break Meg Pickard from the Guardian (and particulaly their website) hammered home how useful the internet now is as a tool for the public to curate and create. It's not about marketing or selling, it's about engendering co-operation.

By this point a series of very pleasant, well qualified and interesting people have spent a day and a half sending me the same message. My website mustn't sell anything, must encourage interactivity, but can't expect it because people are doing it elsewhere, but shouldn't create all the content itself, but has a responsibility to do just that otherwise why should people interact and respond with you? My head hurts but I feel strangely invigorated. I don't think it's a hangover but it's hard to tell.

One interesting point Meg Pickard makes is to not fear negative feedback on the website - it's not about reviews or criticism as tradiotinal media are, it's about a forum to exchange views between creator and consumer. It's be interesting to know what AAM members would think if, for example, we allowed user-generated content on artslist, next to your listing say, and someone from the public slated your show? Is this terrible, or a great opportunity?

The afternoon keynote quote article 27 of the UN charter of human rights and asks if we're doing enough to uphold our side of the bargain. I suggest googling it and having a wee think.#

Due to time constraints I'm signing off now, but it'd be great to hear anyone's thoughts who was here - I may put somethig more coherent up once I'm back in the real world...

The AMA AAM Member Venue Freestyle Dance Championships

AdamAAM — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:35:37 GMT

1st) Cornerhouse

2nd) RNCM

3rd) IWMN

All competitors emerged with great credit to themselves and did their region and their venues proud. No-one could argue with the winner though. Awesome scenes. You haven't seen a breakdancing throwdown until you've seen the RNCM and Bridgewater Hall's representatives go at it.

AMA Conference Blog - Day 2

AdamAAM — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:41:02 GMT

Newcastle's quayside provided a perfectly pleasant backdrop for the opening social event of the conference last night, at which everybody concerned was (as) respectable, upright, sober and deeply professional (as you'd expect them to be).

The area by the river, on the Newcastle side, has been 'done up' considerably, but with only a couple of bars by the water it avoids becoming too busy or noisy. It was the Gateshead side causing all the trouble last night, seeing as this is where the conference kicked off, in the impressive Baltic mill. Quite why a steel drum band was playing as people arrived was beyond me, but they were pretty good by steel drum band standards...I guess....I don't really know the benchmark for these things....

Anyway, house wine was dispatched as a welcome, dainty bowl food was wrestled from waiting staff before they even got out of the kitchen, the welcoming speech was agreeably brief for a room full of people who were now having to pay for drinks and keeping eagle-eyes on the dessert platters being ferried around by nervous, battle-scarred waiters. The appearance of a jazz band was enough to encourage many to head outside and sit with drinks by the water. An area that quickly became known as 'The Manchester Steps' developed, as a mini-aam member's meeting congregated in one particular corner. "These things don't happen by accident" said one of the more experienced of this gang - it isn't that everyone in the Manchester arts scene just knows everyone else anyway, it's through regular attendence at these things and the role that AAM plays in making people co-operate (or at least sometimes drink together) that makes it the way it is.

I like this idea.

Anyway, a full critical report of hotel breakfasts is to follow later, but for now I've got a keynote to attend...

The AMA Conference Blog - Day 1

AdamAAM — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:34:01 GMT

Afternoon everybody. As splendid and reliable a service as trans-pennine express provide they are yet to make Wi-Fi a standard feature of the surprisingly small trains they send up here to Newcastle. And, disappointingly, the budget of the average audience development agency doesn't quite stretch to First Class travel (I can tell already how your heart bleeds for us) so, for those of you who have just been chomping on the bit to find out what we've been upto; here's the day so far;

2.30pm - Our contact in Newcastle rings us to say it's throwing down with rain. We are undaunted as we remembered to bring some glorious Manchester sunshine with us and are quite sure it will appear here in the North East, in time for G&Ts by the water this evening. It's part of the dream for many of the travelling contingent here and local naysayers shall not ruin it.

3.12pm - Take a look at the seminars I'm actually attending over the next two days. It begins with 'Fads and Trends in New Media' and continues in a similar 'is the internet really all that good? It's certainly no sliced bread' vein...Hmmm...so perhaps what we're looking to learn is; can the internet really be useful in engaging new audiences, adding to the value of an offering and generating income, or is it just showing off a bit. I'm no technology expert myself but, seeing as most of my job revolves around it, I'm hoping to learn some useful ideas about how the intertube can help people basically have a bit of a natter about what's going on. This shoddy attempt at a blog is a case in point - if you know it's here, and want to add your own thoughts and abuse to it, you can, and in my mind, that makes the intertube 'a good thing'. I expect people to probably be saying this in a variety of ways over the next 2 days....

4.somethingpm - Arrive in Newcastle and immediately see Manchester arts bods embarking into a taxi at the station. Being in the company of a local guide we walk to the hotle with an immense sense of satisfaction, even though two German tourists have to give us directions in the end.

The train station, and the taxi our arts colleagues were entering, are emblazoned with adverts for taxi heritage tours. They're something that's been talked about as an idea for Manchester (and are perhaps being rolled out iminently?) and that I'm never sure if I like the idea of, but right here they look like a good idea and a nice welcoming gesture to the city - so surely that's good? Manchester taxi drivers are unpredictable creatures though....

Anyway, having wrestled with the hotel's internet upon arrival, and paid a frankly ridiculous £10 to get 24hours of access (I'll probably spend most of the time online trying to figure out if I can claim that particular expense back), I think it's time to visit a local hostelry. Good luck if you hunt me down, otherwise I'll see some of you familiar faces at the Baltic at 7.30!

Adam

(I haven't figured out a suitable sign-off yet, suggestions welcome on the back of a postcard or, perhaps, somewhere below this message)

Roam the Rows

Emily_chesterperforms — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:47:15 GMT

Roam the Rows

A spectacular and intimate festival on Chester’s Rows

Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th August 2008

www.chesterperforms.com 01244 409113

During shopping hours on Saturday 9^th and Sunday 10^th August, Chester’s artists and communities take to the streets to celebrate the famous Rows in music, performance, dance and art.

Eastgate, Northgate, Watergate and Bridge Street may never seem the same again.

Pick up a festival map from shops, information centres and our own Roam the Rows exhibition space on Watergate Row South, and wander freely for some serious, and not so serious, surprises.

· performances from 12pm – 3pm

· walk it quickly, walk it slowly – it’s up to you

· family friendly

· most areas pushchair / wheelchair accessible

For further information register online at

www.chesterperforms.com or call into the information space at 31 Watergate Row South.

Roam the Rows is created by Chester Performs and supported by: Arts Council England, Chester City Council and Cheshire County Council.

Northern Outlet Theatre Company Presents Tape, a play by Stephen Belber

Northern Outlet Theatre Company — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:45:04 GMT

Northern Outlet is glad to announce that TAPE has been selected to feature as part of the Re:play festival at Manchester Library Theatre on [b]30th Jan (9pm)[/b] and [b]31st Jan 2009 (1.30pm and 8pm)[/b]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE.[/b]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]“Any new theatre company’s work is to be welcomed, especially when their debut production is as good as Walker’s Tape”[/b]
- WHAT'S ON STAGE
[p][/p]
[b]“consistently entertaining…
gripping production…
riveting…”[/b]
- BUXTON FESTIVAL FRINGE
[p][/p]
[b]Nominated for best production at Buxton Fringe[/b]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]PERFORMANCES:
Fri 30 Jan - 9pm
Sat 31 Jan - 1.30pm
Sat 31 Jan - 8pm[/b]
[p][/p]
Tickets are available in person, by phone or online from the Manchester Library Theatre.
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
Box Office: 0161 236 7110
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
Online: [url]http://www.librarytheatre.com/whatson/whatson_details.php/7/2009/1194/tape/[/url]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]Northern Outlet Theatre Company Presents:[/b]
[p][/p]
A North West Regional Premiere,
[p][/p]
[b]TAPE[/b]
[p][/p]
A play by Stephen Belber
Directed by Paul Walker
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
Jon, an aspiring filmmaker on the verge of hitting it big, hooks up for the weekend with his best friend from high school, Vince, a volunteer fireman who makes his money selling dope.
[p][/p]
Enter Amy Randall, whom they once both dated.
Accusations fly, resentment festers and sexual jealousies are exposed.
[p][/p]
Contains strong language
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]***JANUARY 2009 DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY***[/b]
[p][/p]
[b]BUXTON Dates[/b]
[p][/p]
A North West Regional Premiere as part of the Buxton Theatre Fringe.
[p][/p]
Mon 21st July: 1.30pm
Tue 22nd July: 1.30pm
Wed 23rd July: 1.30pm
[p][/p]
Tickets: £7.50/ £5.50
[p][/p]
Tickets sold via Underground Venues on 07980 292978 and online [url]http://www.undergroundvenues.com[/url]
[p][/p]
[b]BOLTON Dates[/b]
[p][/p]
Wed 30th July: 8pm
Rumworth Hall, Prescott Street, Bolton, BL3 3PP
[p][/p]
Sat 2nd August: 2pm
Bolton Central Library - Lecture Theatre, Le Mans Crescent, Bolton, BL1 1SE
[p][/p]
Tickets: £6.00
[p][/p]
Tickets sold via Bolton Albert Halls Box Office on 01204 334400 and online [url]https://www.ticketsatbolton.com/[/url]
[p][/p]
[b]MANCHESTER Date[/b]
[p][/p]
Fri 1st August: 6pm & 10pm
[p][/p]
Downstairs Theatre, Taurus Bar, 1 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3HE
[p][/p]
Tickets: £6.00
[p][/p]
Tickets sold via Quay Tickets on 0870 428 0785 and online [url]http://www.quaytickets.com/[/url]
[p][/p]
Quaytickets Salford outley is at - The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ.
[p][/p]
For further information see us on facebook or contact [email]northernoutlettheatrecompany@gmail.com[/email]
[p][/p]
Thank you for your support :)
[p][/p]
Clare Heath, Stage Manager.
[p][/p]
[b]Reviews:[/b]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]Below is a write up of TAPE by a Buxton Festival Fringe[/b]
[p][/p]
Northern Outlet Theatre Company - Tape
[p][/p]
About a year ago, a work colleague handed me a copy of a DVD. 'Take a look at this,' he said, 'I reckon it would make a good fringe play.' It was a film starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Robert Sean Leonard - just a three-hander, directed by Richard Linklater - and it was called Tape.
[p][/p]
Well, my colleague was right. Tape does make a good fringe play, as Northern Outlet Theatre Company prove admirably in this gripping production.
[p][/p]
Vince is a volunteer fire-fighter-cum-drug-dealer dwelling on the turns his life has taken and continually looking back to the more certain days of high school. His boyhood friend Jon is an independent film maker of worthy, socially conscious films, looking to make his break into the big time. They meet at a film festival in Lancing, Michigan, where Vince insists on revisiting what he sees as the source of their strained relationship.
[p][/p]
Thus, the scene is set for a David Mamet-esque dissection of male friendship, as the charismatic but troubled Vince badgers the complacent Jon for stealing his high school girlfriend, Amy. As the play progresses, this pivotal moment in their lives is revealed as possibly being something altogether darker and the slacker Vince starts to take the upper hand. The arrival of Amy on the scene is the final piece of the jigsaw in this riveting drama.
[p][/p]
Stephen Belber's script is full of the requisite twists and turns as each character vies for control of the situation - occasionally it covers the same ground more than once and the three final codas slightly dilute what has gone before, but these are small faults in a drama that is consistently entertaining.
[p][/p]
Undoubtedly this is a play which stands or falls on the credibility of its actors, and all three bring committed performances that more than do the play justice. Ryan Cerenko captures the slightly smug nature of Jon's success and also the rationalisations he has used to justify his past. Marie-Louise Cookson likewise brings enormous focus to the role of Amy, her guarded reactions to these two men from her past helping in the misdirection that masks the revelations that follow. Unquestionably, though, it is Ric Ward as Vince who is the intense, sweaty heart of this play - an obsessive loner scratching at the scabs of his past.
[p][/p]
Tape is on at 1.30pm in the Paupers Pit so take a long lunch break and don't miss its remaining performances.
[p][/p]
Robbie Carnegie
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]Reviews Gate:[/b]
[p][/p]
TAPE
by Stephen Belber.
[p][/p]
Northern Outlet Theatre Company Tour to 2 August 2008.
Runs 1hr 15min No interval.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 23 July at Pauper’s Pit Buxton.
[p][/p]
Past actions rewound to tie people up.
[p][/p]
If something’s been taped, it’s recorded, a reference point for life, there to reinforce the recordist’s opinions, confirming them by repetition. Or, to have something “taped” is to have it sorted, dealt with, under control. Yet life’s something that can’t be taped in the present or future tenses. By the time something’s recorded it’s already becoming the past, and few people have their lives so sorted there aren’t messy problems, dilemmas, unresolved emotions.
[p][/p]
Once, as students, life might have seemed ‘tapable’ to Vince or Jon, when they knew each other as in the first scene of Stephen Belber’s play. And Jon went on to his own sort of taping, as a film-maker, while Vince has dodged along on the fringe of crime. Years later they meet at a film festival.
[p][/p]
Which might be all-right if they left the old times to gather dust in their box. But Vince insists on unspooling the past, and the two men’s relationship with Amy, who, of course, turns up on the scene.
[p][/p]
Vince is the unpredictable one, giving off the increasing whiff of danger, unsettling both of the others. Paul Walker’s production for Northern Outlet Theatre Company plays in Buxton in a tight space, around two beds that provide seating places but also a reminder of the sexual context of what’s up for grabs.
[p][/p]
There’s a directness to the performances that carries conviction in the heated situation that develops, the fit-up theatre’s confined space in the summer heat adding its own intensity. Yet, having decided on each character’s nature and the direction it’ll take them, there’s only limited detail beyond self-evident mannerisms (vocal or physical). And what we learn about the characters comes from what they tell us, without the sense of experience having helped determine their manner, movement and so on.
[p][/p]
Still, that’s true of plenty that comes from Hollywood (Tape’s been successful on celluloid) and a young company lives up to its name by providing an outlet for this tense drama in the north of England with direction and a trio of performances that give a complex plotline clarity and conviction.
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
Jon: Ryan Cerenko.
Vince: Ric Ward.
Amy: Marie-Louise Cookson.
[p][/p]
Director: Paul Walker.
Lighting: Aaron J Dootson.
Sound: Paul Anderton.
Fight director: Renny Krupinski.
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
[b]Whats on Stage:[/b]
[p][/p]
Venue: Taurus
Date Reviewed: 4th August, 2008
[p][/p]
[p][/p]
The Northern Outlet Theatre Company are taking Tape their first-ever production to a range of fringe venues and places at which plays are not normally performed. No mean feat, but they cope admirably with the challenges that this can create.

For instance, a pillar in the Downstairs Theatre at the Taurus Bar is incorporated into the set of a shabby hotel room and Aaron J Dootson lights the limited space so as to indicate changes in time and place. However, the lack of a raised area for the cast and the presence of yet another pillar limits audience sightlines. More significantly the nature of the play requires that the cast members spend time avoiding each others gaze and the intimate space compels them, on occasion, to address their lines direct to the audience which gives the play a bit of an artificial atmosphere.

Tape, is by American playwright Stephen Belber, and we follow two friends Jon (Ryan Cerenko) and Vince (Ric Ward) who, whilst at college, both dated Amy (Marie-Louise Cookson.) A decade after college the two men re-unite to celebrate Jon’s success in securing a release for his first film. Vince has been less successful and, although he volunteers as a fireman , makes his income by selling drugs.
[p][/p]
He holds a torch for Amy and resents that she slept with Jon but not him. Elements of double crossing, sex lies and taped confessions make up the thriller element of the plot. But the play doesn’t convince as a suspense vehicle nor as an assessment of gender politics but it works very well as an examination of how memory shapes lives and can be distorted to support arguments or, more positively, be a source of comfort in times of stress.
[p][/p]
All of the cast are newcomers, yet deliver credible and consistent American accents. Cookson gives Amy a detached, faintly amused, air that contrasts well with the highly-charged emotions of her co-stars. She seems less certain , however, in how to convey silent involvement on those occasions when she is on-stage but not directly participating .

Cerenko has the same difficulty but is able to convey Jon’s concern for his friend. Ward is more confident, striding across the the stage as if it is a hotel room - wandering around in his underwear, chain-guzzling beers, and wordlessly conveying the dissolute lifestyle into which Vince has drifted.
[p][/p]
Director Paul Walker conveys the themes of the play and, at the same time, draws surprising humour from the work. A fight between Jon and Vince is less of a masculine confrontation and more of a childish scrap and shows how little either have progressed from adolescence. He needs, however, to support his cast in those areas where they have yet to develop full confidence.
[p][/p]
Any new theatre company’s work is to be welcomed, especially when their debut production is as good as Walker’s Tape.
[p][/p]
-Dave Cunningham
[p][/p][p][/p][/p][/p][b][/b][p][/p][/p][/p]

Black Arts Alliance needs your support

Admin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:07:43 GMT

THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE BLACK ARTS ALLIANCE STARTS HERE

Before the axe falls on BAA, there is still the energy and determination to continue.

Wednesday May 28th BAA received notification of ACE’s intention to disinvest in the organisation with a July 4th deadline of confirming this decision. This did not even allow the amended budget to be presented. The letter does include a paragraph stating clearly that should there be a change of opinion then the disinvestment process will be withdrawn.

With a short window of 6 weeks BAA cannot simply stand idle: we need to voice our value and for this, we need your support.

Without your support, BAA might be yet another Black-led organisation axed.

For 23 years, BAA has strived to present quality art produced by the Black sector.

Many past members are now regarded as being at the top of their career.

The planned new arm of BAA: PROJECTS BAA consists of initiatives for which (yet), no funder has reached a decision. ACE considers this a failure of BAA’s

ACTS OF ACHIEVEMENT

The BAA led Acts of Achievement has brought together mainstream venues alongside community based events. Three years ago, BAA tried to get grant aid to assess the work of AoA; this was refused. This in-house devised event was later made a requirement of BAA’s revenue funding. BAA decided therefore to include it as an “add-on” to the organisational review ACE regards this section of the report as lacking.

BAA hosted 2007 solely on the income raised through your partnership fees. No AoA staff received payment.

The Business Plan includes no details on AoA. It was omitted because the submission deadline did not allow for an AoA partners meeting, to discuss how to go forward for 2008. ACE considers this omission as further proof that BAA is not focused on the future.

BAA believes that when the organisational review was imposed it was not ACE’s intention to axe the organisation. It is unfortunate that BAA’s review fell within the timing of the Arts Council’s reorganisation so that we now sit uncomfortably alongside other viable organisations and venues that have already seen the door of revenue close.

BAA needs to convince the Arts Council that;

BAA’s is a valuable asset to the arts in the region.

BAA’s work in education, the community, prisons and its targeted work with Black men must continue

You can help profile that BAA does not work in isolation but over the years has collaborated with many of you not just in project delivery but also in informal and formal consultation as well attending your conferences and seminars as delegates and panel presenter.

If Black Arts Alliance is axed it may take many years for another Black-led organisation to establish itself. You may not know that it was 14 years before BAA received revenue funding and moved from a private house to Swan Street offices

BAA needs your support.

Please log onto www.blackartists.org.uk and hit the orange box

WE’RE GREAT BECAUSE WE’RE UNITED

This will take you to the petition link page THE REST IS UP TO YOU.

Black Arts Alliance is not entering into open combat with Arts Council but if we wait until July 4th BAA’s future could become history.

May I personally thank you for any support that you are able to give

SuAndi

Hysteria@Victoria Baths - New Site-Specific Performance

BarryCONTACT — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:54:29 GMT

[b]Contact & Grupo XIX De Teatro (Brazil) present
[i]Hysteria[/i][/b]
19-21 June 2008, 7.30pm
Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Manchester M13 0FE

[b]Contact[/b] are presenting a new show next week in a truly atmospheric locale – Manchester’s [b]Victoria Baths[/b].

[b][i]Hysteria[/i][/b] follows five Brazilian dames who were wrongly imprisoned in the Pedro II Mental Institute, Rio De Janeiro, between the 19th and 20th centuries. These feisty femmes will bring the audience up-close-and-personal with misconceived female “hysteria” and make us think about contemporary attitudes to gender and sexuality.

[b][i]Hysteria[/i][/b] is presented by Brazilian site-specific theatre company, [b]Grupo XIX[/b]. They always work with distinctive locations and construct each performance in response to their setting and audience. This is a unique theatrical experience tailored to the surroundings of Manchester’s Victoria Baths - a listed Edwardian swimming pool and Turkish Baths complex - the only chance to see the show outside London.

Expect to witness the suffocated lust, flashes of vivacity and fragmented memories of those wrongly incarcerated.

To book tickets please call Contact on 0161 274 0600 or online via [url=http://www.contact-theatre.org]www.contact-theatre.org[/url]. Tickets are £10 (£6 concessions).

[i]Hysteria[/i] takes place from Thu 19 – Sat 21 June, 7.30pm at Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, near Longsight, Manchester M13 0FE.

For more information please go to [url=http://www.contact-theatre.org]www.contact-theatre.org[/url]

CALLING ALL PERFORMERS!

Louisa — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:16:02 GMT

[b]CALLING ALL PERFORMERS TO ‘ROAM THE ROWS’[/b]

Chester Performs is looking for Artists and Performers to take part in a two day summer street festival. Roam the Rows is a celebration of the city, its retailers, the cultural heritage and the people of Cheshire. It will take place on the Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th of August in Chester City Centre.

We are looking for:
• Street artists and performers
• Musicians and singers
• Comedy acts

We will also welcome ideas and suggestions for other ways to animate the city centre and enhance the event...

Chester Performs will cover expenses up to the amount of £100, and pay a bursary of £200, on the receipt of an invoice.

If you would like to take part in this year’s Roam the Rows, or discuss your ideas please email louisa@chesterperforms.com or contact the Chester Performs office on 01244 409113.
[b]Please get in touch by 18th June 2008.[/b]

For further information on Roam the Rows please visit our website: www.chesterperforms.com .

We look forward to hearing from you!

Breakthrough UK Open Day Invitation

Admin — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:30:50 GMT

Breakthrough UK Open Day Invitation
Thursday 5th June
10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m

Breakthrough UK
B.E.V.C.
Aked Close
Ardwick
Manchester M12 4AN

Information: Find out about our work and take away valuable free resources.

Sharing: Find out about our innovative government funded work putting disabled people in control of service delivery.

Participation: Take part in discussions, workshops and our prize quiz.

Expertise: Disability, employment, the law and government support – get your questions answered by the experts.

Partnership: Explore how we can work together.

Networking: Relax and meet new people from a wide range of organisations over free refreshments

* Free car parking
* Fully accessible building
* Free light buffet

Programme

10.00 onwards: Exhibition of services and resources from Breakthrough UK and partner organisations. Speak to advocates, information workers, and experts in policy, training and employment. Enter the disability quiz.

10.45 – 12.00: Workshop: What ‘Independent Living’ means for disabled people and recent developments in this area of government policy (pre booking not necessary.)

12:30-12.45: Launch of User-Led Organisation project funded by Department of Health - Lorraine Gradwell, Chief Executive, Breakthrough UK.

1.15 – 2.30: Workshop: Developing a User Led Organisation (pre booking necessary.) Please contact Jeanne Grant: j.grant@breakthrough-uk.co.uk

Participating Organisations

Access to Work, Body Positive North West, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, Manchester Disabled People’s Access Group, Talbot House and Trafford Law Centre.

RSVP:
Please reply to Esther Frank, stating access or dietary requirements

Telephone: 0161 273 5412 Text phone: 0161 273 5727

Email: e.frank@breakthrough-uk.co.uk

www.breakthrough-uk.com

Heartbreak Production

clairelrcowell — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:18:47 GMT

:cool:

Wythenshawe Park

Peter Pan - Thu 10 - Sun 13 July at 6.30pm

(Sat mat at 2.00pm)

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Wed 23 & Thu 24 July at 7.30pm

The events at Wythenshawe Park will be held at the back of the Hall.

Entrance is opposite the Games Pavillion and through the Rose Garden.

Fletcher Moss Gardens

Henry V - Sat 26 at 7.30pm & Sun 27 July at 6.30pm

Charley’s Aunt - Thu 7 - Sun 10 August

Sat at 3.00pm & 7.30pm/Sun at 6.30pm

Performances at Fletcher Moss Gardens are held on the grass tennis

courts. All three entrances to the Gardens are open with road parking

available nearby.

Tickets:

Box Office The Library Theatre - 0161 236 7110

or www.quaytickets.com - 0870 066 6843

Advance - £10 (adult) £7.50 (conc) £5.00 (under 16)

On Gate - £12.50 (adult) £10.00 (conc) £7.50 (under 16)

Covered Seating + £3.00 per ticket

Further details and information are available from our website. www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk

Digital Media and Filmmakers Wanted - Call for Submissions

Emily_chesterperforms — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:18:39 GMT

Chester Performs is seeking submissions of both new and existing work by filmmakers from Cheshire and the surrounding region (work by North West and North Wales filmmakers also accepted).

We are looking for films no more than 30 minutes long to screen at a specially curated event in June. The event forms part of a new and exciting festival for Chester, Screen Deva, taking place Monday 9th – Sunday 15th June.

Submissions should be in DVD format, work must be no longer than 30 minutes. All submissions must be sent in with a completed submission form. Please visit www.chesterperforms.com for further details.

Deadline: Friday 2nd May 2008

For further information visit www.chesterperforms.com or contact us either by email info@chesterperforms.com or call 01244 409113

M-Cast audio podcasts

Admin — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:37:00 GMT

Just wanted to up-date you all on the M-Cast project that has been delivered by Radio Regen and the Creative Industries Development Service (CIDS) on behalf of the NWDA.

We are a pilot project designed to produce collective audio podcasts for professional sectors in Manchester. And over the last 6 months we have trained and supported contributors from the Performing Arts sector to do just that. Our m-casters have discussed key issues and hot topics affecting your sector and now we want your feedback on the audio they have produced.

All you need to do is visit www.m-cast.co.uk and click on the Performing Arts Icon. Here you can listen to a taster of the audio on offer. If you like what you hear and want to listen to more you can sign yourself up for a free m-cast account where you will have access to all the Performing Arts M-casts. It's a free specialist need-to-know channel that only covers your profession in your city - so what are you waiting for?

And don't forget to tell us what you thought of it all. Was it interesting, useful a real insight in the sector? Please feel free to comment on the forum and feedback to us on what you've heard. The project is coming to an end now so the more feedback we get the better.

Enjoy listening!

Sarah Leech
M-Cast Development Worker
info@m-cast.co.uk

Think Big: Maximise your PR potential

Admin — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:40:09 GMT

Audiences Yorkshire would like to invite you to our first Industry Briefing of 2008:

Think Big: Maximise your PR potential
Monday 3 March 2008, 10.00am – 4.15pm
Bradford 1 Gallery, Centenary Square

Public Relations is more than just sending out a press release and a follow up phone call - it is about building your reputation and profile with your markets through a variety of platforms including media, events and sponsorship.

Think Big: Maximise your PR potential will explore the challenges facing you in positioning your message in a continuously changing and fragmented media world. It will give you the opportunity to hear from PR professionals, as well as journalists about how PR can be strategically and tactically used to reach your key stakeholders and help you maintain a competitive PR profile.

Join us for the opening debate chaired by Shirley Beresford (Senior Public Relations Lecturer, LMU), which will discuss the challenges and decisions facing you as an arts professional in which media platform to focus on. Is on or off-lone media the best channel for your message? Nick Ahad (Arts and Cultural Correspondent, Yorkshire Post) argues the case for the continued importance of the traditional newspaper in your PR mix, while Rob peacock, Manager of digyorkshire.com highlights the benefits of focusing your PR towards an online audience.

The morning debate session will be followed by a key-note presentation (speaker TBC), a recent PR case study from the arts and cultural sector as well as the opportunity to attend a PR surgery with either Nick Ahad or Shirley Beresford. There will also be plenty of opportunities to network and share learning with your peers.

Cost: £40 + VAT

For more event details and to book, click here.

Invitations for live performance proposals

Admin — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:28:14 GMT

BLUE 6
17-19 July 2008

Be part of The Studio’s sixth annual showcase of new and emerging work from artists based in the North West

If you are developing some new live performance ideas and would like to share your work in progress with our Studio audiences in a professional performance setting then go to royalexchange.co.uk/blue and download an application form.

Successful proposals will be supported by The Studio's technical and creative team to be part of an exciting three-day festival of emerging work staged in our intimate 100 seat Studio space.

There are no restrictions on artform - anything goes! - but all live performance samplers presented must be at least 10 mins and no longer than 30 mins.

Interested?
Send a completed proposal form to BLUE 6, Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7DH no later than 26 April 2008.

Professional Development Workshops

Admin — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:23:16 GMT

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE CROSS-CULTURAL CONTENT

In partnership with the Manchester Museum, local historian Dominique Tessier will deliver a series of 4 professional development workshops aimed at anyone involved in the Arts, Education or Heritage. The workshops will present innovative ways of using Natural History collections to develop sustainable cross-cultural content.

Workshop 1: FROM SLAVERY TO THE OLYMPICS
Monday 18 February 2008
2.00 – 4.30
Cost: £5.00
First presented at the 2007 Black Environmental Network (BEN) annual conference, this practical workshop will show you how to easily develop sustainable content, ideas and produce resources relevant to ALL audiences, traditional and new.

Workshop 2: THE DIVERSITY SURVIVAL KIT
Monday 25 February 2008
2.00 – 4.30
Cost: £5.00
Also known as the English Heritage Survival Kit, the Diversity Survival Kit consists of a selected number of items found at the Manchester Museum commonly associated with Englishness. This workshop will show you how to you use English Heritage as a tool to build bridges between communities.

Workshop 3: BOMBAY MIX
Monday 3 March 2008
2.00 – 4.30
Cost: £5.00
Inspired by Bombay Africans – an exhibition produced in 2007 by the Royal Geographical Society, BOMBAY MIX will explore hidden stories embedded in our collective scientific heritage. In the process this workshop will also look at the history of selected number of Natural History museums established throughout the British Empire with a special emphasis on Manchester and Bombay.

Workshop 4: COMMUNITY BLUES
Monday 10 March 2008
2.00 – 4.30
Cost: £5.00
Its universal symbolic significance and its role in the history of international trade make BLUE one of the best colours to discover Manchester’s multicultural scientific heritage. COMMUNITY BLUES will take on an amazing journey around the world and give you the opportunity to review our understanding of local heritage.

To reserve a place for one or more workshops, please contact Phyllis Stoddart at 0161 275 2643 or email museum@manchester.ac.uk

All workshops will take place at the Manchester Museum, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PL

For directions see museum website www.manchester.ac.uk/museum

Arts debate overall findings now available

Admin — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:14:09 GMT

Arts Debate Findings

The overall findings of Arts Council England’s recent arts debate are now available on the arts debate website www.artsdebate.co.uk

Public value and the arts in England: Discussion and conclusions of the arts debate brings together the findings from all the different stages of the arts debate research, providing an account of how people think and feel about the arts in England and their priorities for public funding.

The report draws on the hundreds of responses ACE received to the open consultation stage of the debate in spring 2007. A separate and detailed analysis of these consultation responses is also now available on the site, entitled The arts debate: Summary and analysis of consultation responses.

Over the coming months the Arts Council will be sharing and debating the findings widely and developing a detailed response, incorporating some immediate actions in their next corporate plan as well as publishing a long-term policy paper in spring 2008.

Final SUBSTANCE Contemporary Craft Fair at Altrincham Market

Poterie — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:49:53 GMT

SUBSTANCE was set up to give local people the chance to meet craftspeople and purchase truly original gifts. SUBSTANCE features unique handcrafted creations in a variety of media, such as glass, ceramics, textiles (vintage fabrics, knitwear, felt-making, weaving...), jewellery and paper art (printmaking, collages...).
The final show will take place at Altrincham Market on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th December 2007 between 9:00 and 16:00. The farmers’ market takes place on Friday morning. Entrance is free.

For more information, please contact Mathilde on traffordcraft@googlemail.com or visit http://www.myspace.com/traffordcraft

Altrincham Market, Greenwood Street, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 1SA

AN AUDIENCE with WILLY RUSSELL

Admin — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:06:31 GMT

NORTH WEST PLAYWRIGHTS
proudly presents

AN AUDIENCE with WILLY RUSSELL
including readings from his work, and opportunities to ask the author about his writing

The Studio, The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ
Wednesday 28th November 2007 at 8pm

Willy Russell is well known as the writer of plays and films such as Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine, Our Day Out, and the musical Blood Brothers. His work has attracted huge and appreciative audiences all over the world and his plays and musicals have won countless awards.

His first novel, The Wrong Boy, was published in 2000, has been translated into fifteen languages and is currently being adapted for a major television series.

What is perhaps less well known is that Willy has been writing songs since the early 1960s. He wrote not only the book and the lyrics but also the score for Blood Brothers (in continuous production for the past twenty-odd years). Add to this the fact that he has provided the scores for the feature films Shirley Valentine, Dancin' Thru The Dark and Mr Love as well as for the TV series Connie and the television play Terraces and you might start to wonder how he's managed to keep this side of his work such a closely guarded secret. Willy's first CD release – Hoovering the Moon - has received favourable reviews and been picked up and played by radio stations across the country.

Tickets: £10/£8 from The Lowry box office (0870 111 2000) or on the website www.thelowry.com

Free Web-based seminar on data-cleaning

Admin — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:06:46 GMT

FREE Webinar: How Clean is your data?
Thursday 15th November, 10.30am

Each year, the UK population shifts at a rate of up to 11% - which means your database will do the same, so in a mailing of 10,000, more than 1000 could be wasted.

How much money could you save if your data were clean? Attend this free session to find out how arts organisations are getting the most from their customer data.

Purple Seven are running this FREE webinar on data cleaning, which will be presented by Sarah Cartland of CCR Data. As the name suggests, the session is entirely web-based so ‘attendance’ is from the comfort of your own desk! The session will last approximately one hour and on signing up you be sent full instructions on how to join the event.

Please note that places are limited. To sign up to the event, click this link. http://www.purpleseven.co.uk/dcweb.html

Wonder Women Networking Event

Admin — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:04:35 GMT

Wonder Women Networking Event

Thursday 15th November 2007
12pm - 3.30pm
Waterside Arts Centre, Sale, M33 7ZF.

Creative Industries Trafford is delighted to present Wonder Women, a special networking lunch celebrating female creative entrepreneurs and designed to inform, support and inspire.

Speakers Fee Plumley, director of The Phone Book Ltd (an innovative creative media agency focusing on mobile phone content) and Rhonda Wilson MBE, (Creative Director of the Rhubarb-Rhubarb photography organisation) will give insights into the obstacles and opportunities facing women working in the creative sector. Also available, information and advice from agencies providing business training and support to women.

To book, contact Sale Waterside Box Office on 0161 912 5616
Tickets £10.00 (Full) / £5.00 (Conc)

Interpreting Interreg IV

RMK — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:50:33 GMT

Interpreting Interreg IV, 21 November
The Point, Eastleigh

This seminar, hosted by EUCLID, examines the Interreg IV funding programme and will be the first time an Interreg seminar has focused specifically on the cultural sector. It will provide background information on the new programme, examples/case studies of previously funded cultural projects, and information on the deadlines, the application process and finding partners.

Interreg IV follows on from the previous EU Interreg III programme but the key change is that it has been upgraded to be the new Objective 3 (European Territorial Co-operation) of the Structural Funds 2007 – 2013. Interreg IV has three strands and sub-strands within two of the main strands - everywhere in the UK is eligible for at least two of these strands or sub-strands.

Interpreting Interreg will be presented with input from various representatives from the Interreg authorities, like Carsten Westerholt an expert from the sub-programme IVB North Sea Region. In addition there will be presentations from Geoffrey Brown, Euclid’s Director and freelance consultant Carole Bemant who has experience in Interreg III. Other speakers are to be confirmed.

Given the success of cultural projects under Interreg III, Interreg IV is an exciting opportunity for the arts and cultural sector.

This seminar is one of the only occasions to hear how the cultural sector can gain from Interreg IV. Taking place at The Point in Eastleigh (nr Southampton) from 1000 - 1630 the seminar is priced at £80 (+VAT) , bookings can be made online at www.euclid.info or via email to info@euclid

Tribute Acts Wanted!

Admin — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:42:05 GMT

The Ultimate Tribute (working title) is coming to Manchester

Presented by Graham Norton, The Ultimate Tribute (working title) is a brand new talent show that will leave viewers amazed… and wondering if seeing is believing.

We’re looking for tribute acts who think they’re the best. Performers don’t have to just sing like a superstar, they have to look like them, dress like them, and act like them. In fact they have to live, breathe and actually turn themselves into the superstar of their dreams. The tribute acts we are looking for are Elton John, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Robbie Williams, Rod Stewart, Freddie Mercury, Tom Jones, Cliff Richard, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Cher, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, and Dusty Springfield.

Auditions will be held in Manchester on Tuesday 6^th Nov and Wednesday 7^th Nov 2007.

Each week, our tribute artists will be put through their paces as they try to capture the performing essence of an established superstar. They’ll be given performance tips by a host of top professionals, from vocal coaches to choreographers, make-up artists to costume makers.

And it all leads up to weekly live shows on BBC ONE, in front of a studio audience of friends and their icons’ Superfans, to win those all-important viewers’ votes. Who can combine their looks, voice and acting talents into a complete package that suspends the audience’s disbelief and perform as a star? Who will the nation choose as their greatest superstar double?

For the winner there’s a once in a lifetime opportunity - a three month performing contract in Las Vegas with the renowned "Legends in Concert", one of the longest-running celebrity impersonator shows in the world.

To have the chance to be uniquely showcased on national television please go to www.bbc.co.uk/ultimatetribute where you can download an application form, or else you can call 09011 27 27 27, and an application form will be posted out to you. The deadline is midnight Thursday 1^st November 2007.

For further information please contact:

Freddie Foss-Smith, Endemol UK, 0208 222 4379 freddie.foss-smith@endemoluk.com

Manchester Craft Mafia Markets

SallyFort — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:18:28 GMT

[img]http://tinkeringtimes.typepad.com/photos/tinkeringpics/craft_mafia_final_web_logo.jpg[/img]
[url=http://www.manchestercraftmafia.com/]Manchester Craft Mafia[/url]