Above:  Advert for the Creative Futures M.A. degree courses at Staffordshire University. Jan 2012 start!

"this could be the right thing for you. Depending on your skills you can join a beginners pottery class or if you have some basic skills in ceramics making you can enjoy free ceramics studio time to work on your own projects. And it gets even better as you will have all materials and firing free-of-charge."

"look at the future of arts programmes across all areas of healthcare"

"to explore how new or existing connections to and from Dartmouth Park to West Bromwich town centre can be established, highlighted and improved." [you] "will produce a set (or family) of potentially realisable ideas for permanent public works (presented through drawings and models) or a new visual language that identifies, signposts and waymarks routes from the town to the park."

"an intelligent piece of journalism which might be worthy of publication in The Sentinel."

"a half day 'Train the Trainer' course for those involved with the training of staff working in the field of Get ins, Fit ups and Get outs [in theatre]"

"This seminar will explore ways in which makers can work within historical contexts, through a range of invited speakers who will be discussing their experiences and highlighting the variety of opportunities for makers within the heritage sector."

"The hub of the route is Stoke-on-Trent, headquarters of the Stoke Division of the London Midland Region, within Stoke are Stoke Yard, Cockshute Yard and Cockshute Holding Sidings, all local freight traffic originates from the two yards and serves the Collieries located along the former Biddulph Valley line and the North Staffs Colwich to Macclesfield Line."

"a practical, hands on workshop on how to write a case study that effectively communicates your work and its benefits to potential employers. You will need to bring a laptop to write and upload your completed case study to the Praxis website."

"All of our tutors are very well qualified to both teach and perform at a very high standard. They are well-known and highly respected on the National Folk Circuit, and abroad. Many are teachers of music, or lecturers at colleges of music. The caller is also of national repute and is also a musician."

"Your route to growing your business is by developing great relationships with current and potential clients. Winning more work from your existing clients while gaining new clients – and keeping all of them happy – is the way to make your future secure and helping your business grow. And if you want to deliver bigger projects and more ambitious work - one great way is to work for the public sector on large scale projects. But how do you get started? And how do you maximise your chances of winning work when tendering to the public sector?"

"to develop a programme of exhibitions, a business and operations plan, investigate funding opportunities and make a funding application."

"This conference will be of interest to people working with communities and anyone concerned with issues of engagement and representation. Keynote speakers include Chris High (Lecturer in Communications at the Open University), Su Braden (Author of Video for Development), and Ray Johnson (Emeritus Professor of Film and Documentary at Staffordshire University). Speakers will outline issues in the use of participatory video, and set some questions for the participants to consider during the day."

"find out what it takes to become a film producer [...] The two day Producers’ Lab will offer participants the opportunity to learn all about the role of the producer and how to prepare, produce and distribute a short film [...]"

* The Development Fund is inviting applications from individual writers, writer/directors and/or producers based in the English regions for the development of all types of feature films, including animation and documentary. [...] Awards will range from £2,500 to £25,000.

* The £150,000 Film Networks Fund is open to networks and organisations whose work supports and promotes filmmaking activities in the English regions [...] Awards will range from £2,500 to £25,000.

"The intention is for an artist, architect or designer with a strong track record, to realise a new way of experiencing this incredible site for a period of four months, August to November 2012."

"A guide for anyone involved in the creation of an enterprise that will be owned by, run by, and supported by the community in which it operates."

"to work with identified community groups and children’s centres across the Borough to create bespoke artwork as part of the sub-regional Cultural Olympiad programme for 2012. The art form is open to interpretation and we are welcoming artist proposals as to which art form they would like to use in order to create a visual, movement based or audible interpretation of the concept."

"[encourage] locally-based emergent and established artists/companies build capacity within their practice and creative businesses" [and help] creative industries to consider business models and revenue generation" [and to] "deliver relevant training to creative industries driven by inspirational facilitators and speakers ..."

"the successful organisation will be required to work with partners to coordinate provision across the city and help prioritise investments and interventions that delivery across the six identified themes set out in the North Staffordshire Creative Industries Strategy and Development Plan."

^04.12.11    Shell's LiveWIRE Grand Ideas has four £1,000 awards to give away in December 2011, to the most innovative ideas submitted by new businesses. Entrants (and any business partners) must be aged 16-30, been trading for less than 12 months, and be based in the UK. Deadline: 31st December 2011.

"You’ll co-ordinate and deliver video production for Vodafone YouTube / social media channels. You’ll provide technical expertise in all areas of film and video production."

"ambitious companies that have been trading for 12 months or less and want to expand and create jobs".

"of organisations working in a local area, to create joined up music education provision for children and young people, both in and out of school. Hubs will be expected to form strong partnerships with local authorities, schools, music organisations, practitioners and communities, to provide quality music education"

"occasional news, chat and notifications on items of historical folklore and similar fantastical tales from Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire."

"The placement is aimed at those who live, or who are based, in North Staffordshire or South Cheshire with a demonstrable interest in radio and online [media,] and some knowledge of BBC Radio Stoke's output."

"we’re keen to shed our old, transitional branding and develop a whole new identity. We want a brand that really speaks to creative industries companies and talent, all around the English regions, and we’re inviting SMEs specialising in branding and design to pitch for a £5k contract to deliver our new style."

We would be interested in hearing from anyone interested in offering a talk or seminar at this [public] convention.

"free of charge stall for selling your crafts and artwork in exchange for your skills shared in a free drop-in workshop or demonstration during the event."

"Up to sixty successful applicants will have a chance to develop their programme-making ideas with experienced BBC producers at a series of dedicated workshops and, of these up to ten will become Radio 3's resident New Generation Thinkers."

"four day dip into the world of live radio with this fantastic four-day radio production workshop for 13-16 year olds. By the end of the four days, you’ll have recorded your own original short radio show for broadcast, utilising the library of pre-recorded audio you’ll have developed, captured and produced throughout the week. You’ll work in teams on elements of news, documentary, magazine, music, comedy and current affairs productions, while learning about the different markets for radio (commercial, public service, and community), scheduling, marketing and how to tailor your own show to listeners. Radio shows produced on Future Creative: Radio will be available for download online."

"explore the bus station and upstairs precinct with an introduction by Coffee Bar employee Carole, giving her personal account of the changing bus station over the last 16 years. [Also with] An introduction and dissemination of architects plans by Simon Hourihan, project manager for the new bus station development, and finally onto Peppers Garage for a tour by the owner Andrew Smith including footage of his extensive restoration."

"...leaders of established small businesses and social enterprises, who will benefit from targeted support and resources to help them define and achieve their business growth aspirations."

"innovative, collaborative training packages, that will meet a range of capacity issues in the arts and humanities. Institutions can bid for up to £60,000 of funding for each award to propose a mixture of activities and programmes that will respond to skills gaps or capacity issues in strategic areas of need. Awards will be for up to 18 months in duration. [...] must be in one or more of the strategic areas of [...] Heritage and Design..."

"Stoke-on-Trent pottery is expected to open next spring thanks to a £50,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant."

"Spode Museums Trust said it would be collaborating with artists, film-makers and photographers to capture the 'living history' of the site."

"the opportunity to learn all about the role of the producer and how to prepare, produce and distribute a short film. The workshops will be delivered through a series of interactive sessions, screenings of award-winning short films, and case studies."

"one-page document listing your experience to date, why you want to take part in this programme, and how you think it will help you in the future."

"The workshop will feature multi-media presentations, breakout groups, and interactive sessions. There will be networking opportunities during coffee breaks, lunch, and throughout the workshop. Everyone will have a chance to connect and lay the groundwork for future collaborations. The workshop will be taught by Sandi DuBowski, producer of A Jihad for Love and Outreach Director of The Good Pitch, and Peter Broderick, leading distribution strategist and President of Paradigm Consulting."

"emerging photographers and filmmakers who are based in the East or West Midlands, or who have recently graduated (in the last 2 years) from a Midlands university."

"existing photographic works and short films that broadly relate to the theme of heroes. This could be the super heroics of costumed heroes, or documenting simple or unnoticed acts of heroism that occur every day."

"...searching for exceptional new and emerging writers from the Midlands who want to write drama for television. [The] Heartands [scheme] will provide an industry training and development opportunity for writers with some of the most experienced producers in the country. A shortlist will be invited to a masterclass day."

"applied and performance arts specialists based in North Staffordshire. They provide poetry and theatre workshops throughout the West Midlands. Verbal Arts works with schools, college, hospitals and numerous other agencies and individuals."

"We have built a pottery with a 14c.ft. kiln in our skills centre in Freemnan Street Market (an acre of covered market, community hub and Skills Centre). Our potter has let us down. Is any capable potter, unemployed, who might like to live by the Coast — Cleethorpes is two miles from site — at The Freemens Lincolnshire Pottery. [...] We hope to have a training pottery, as well as one that can produce decent mugs, etc (not bought in biscs). [...] ERDF bid for £1.5m, which will receive the final OK within a month or so, to build a state-of-the-art Creative Hub [...] great opportunities to develop a regional pottery."

"The 2011 Derbyshire Creative Innovation Expo will take place on Tuesday 8th November 2011. The event will link the Derbyshire Creative Industries Sector with both public and private suppliers of business innovation services"

"It is the year 1869 in the pottery town of Burslem, where a new age of industry and learning struggles to be born. A young graduate has arrived to teach the workers, but finds himself on the trail of a deadly evil."

"The box should respond to the festive season, love it or hate it, think Alternative, Conceptual, and Eyecatching. Each day of December one of the boxes will be opened — and the contents revealed"

"can then share with partner organisations to help promote the positive youth work taking place across the region".

"[match-]funding and market expertise to [high potential ... SMEs in ... Birmingham and the West Midlands] working in cross-platform content and services [in respect of] new market propositions and content"

"The successful film can be delivered in any format and embrace any genre — however must be filmed entirely on location within the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and as a minimum [will] have a full theatrical trailer ready for public viewing as part of the Festival programme in February 2012."

"Drop in to Artwaves between 12 noon and 4pm. Tell is about any problems you face as a creative, and share your successes! View the building, meet the team, get a second opinion."

"join leading practitioners to explore creatively how we can develop a future for contemporary circus in the region."

"Ideal for rehearsal space for drama or dance groups. Potential for a photographic studio."

"private giving investment programme aimed at helping cultural organisations diversify their income streams and access more funding from private sources."

"aim to ensure audiences have access to a wide and diverse range of film content, to deepen and enrich audiences' experience through education opportunities, and to integrate the unique resources of regional screen heritage into wider film provision."

"support for organisations and networks working with talent on a local/regional level"

"The legacy of Susie Cooper" is the subject of the Friends Lecture on 25th September 2011. Susie was always surprised that her cups and saucers should find themselves in museum showcases as well as on the table. Miss Cooper also has a few surprises for us when we take a look at her technical prowess using the trials and prototypes which she so kindly donated to the museum before she left for the Isle of Man in 1986.

They also have a session on "Tender Writing: Changes in the NHS" (artists will be invited to tender for health based work in future) on 8th November 2011 (6pm–8.30pm, Pie and Ale House, Stafford).

"to receive high-level mentoring advice and guidance from industry experts across finance, business affairs, sales and distribution, and creative producing skills during Summer/Autumn 2011."

"recruiting the best talent from across the West Midlands to assist them with starting up their company. We are able to support a total of 30 people within the interiors and lifestyle products and service sectors [with an] intensive 6 months of mentoring & business development workshops builds business confidence, entrepreneurial skills and develops focused business ideas."

"This studentship will develop connections between research in textiles focusing on the physical realisation of innovative designs, integrating technical enquiries with creative design work situated in fashion."

"regional surgeries delivered in your area by the Outside In team and 'artist ambassadors'. These surgeries will provide support and advice to local artists who want to create their own online galleries and who wish to submit their work for the 2012 Open competition."

* Sat 11th June, Sun 12, and Saturday 18 June — 11am – 4pm
* Mon 13 and Wed 15 June — 10am – 8pm
* Tues 14, Thurs 16 and Fri 17 June — 10am – 6pm

"We the undersigned believe that clear national policies need to be developed to ensure that the UK can remain at the forefront of digital culture, globally, and that these must take account of the key role creative practices play in driving digital innovation. Whilst we appreciate that digital technologies have created exciting opportunities to engage with audiences, and to disseminate and distribute arts programmes in new ways, it is critical that funders and policy-makers understand that this is not the extent of digital culture. If we are to make the most of the digital opportunity, it needs to be recognised at a national policy level that digital culture is about more than extending the reach of existing arts practices. It is about entirely new forms of production, expression, practice and critical reflection that digital technologies have made possible. We are concerned about the place of art, creative practice, criticality and risk-taking in current and future funding policies."

"develop and create a documentary film that explores issues about living independently and becoming active, positive and confident members of society. The film will be developed as a tool kit [ which ] can be used in a variety of settings [ and will be ] designed to be relevant and 'accessible' to a wide range of youngsters."

"The first of the SSSSMS's will be taking place at The Royal Exchange in Stone this coming Monday 16th May [today].

"unite researchers, visual artists, writers, students, dancers and all others with an interest in the arts, for two days of productive discussion and collaboration all around the theme of colour"

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