^{New! 10.07.08}   Creative Stoke is now taking a summer break, as it did in previous years. Enjoy your own holidays; and please keep sending in information, new links, and ideas; the site will be updated with these toward the end of August 08.

Enter gallery...

"We are a creative company employing six designers working on a number of international exhibition projects. Annexed to our studio is a workshop with fifteen craftspeople creating bespoke displays for exhibitions and museums. Currently there is a vacancy in our projects office. This would suit a person who loves taking a design through to the finished item."

^{New! 19.06.08}    Added to the Directory: Aerial Eyes — specialist low-altitude aerial photographers, based in Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent.

"£30 million first phase of the 16ha scheme, a media centre ... four floors of offices and radio facilities on the top floor. ... a 200-seat auditorium to record live shows, and the TV centre"

"...act as a researcher for a TV Production, set within the last 100 years. You will have a hand in everything from researching the period to working on the scripts; from designing the costumes to dressing the set. All this within a buzzing university environment, where you can talk you our staff and students, see our facilities and find out what exciting opportunities are available for you. The event is open to post 16 students from across Staffordshire who have an interest in History and would like to study it at Higher Education level. Places are limited so book early to guarantee a place." Details from:   j.albins@staffs.ac.uk

"The fellowship is directed at artists at the beginning of or at a critical point in their professional career. Applicants should normally have a first degree and/or a postgraduate qualification in Fine Art. The Fellow will be provided with a studio in the School of Art and will have access to all of the Schools’ facilities. The fellowship lasts for 10 months commencing in October 2008 and culminates in an exhibition. The Fellow will receive a stipend of £9,000."

"to address challenges faced by mid-career [ crafts and textiles ] makers, exploring opportunities: financial, personal and educational. Speakers: Cas Holmes (Maker), Marlene Little (Course Director B.A. Textile Design), Beatrice Mayfield (Crafts Council), and Heather Rigg (Designer Maker West Midlands)"

"Currently the intention of the core group is to commission a range of projects; two projects up to £8,000 (two at £4,000), and a number of small projects in the range £500 to £1,000, and we will also be seeking to commission from students at the lower range of £250 to £500. It should be borne in mind that these are guidelines not ceilings and that value-for-money will be a consideration. Please note that these commissions are dependent on successful funding bids."

”..120-page photo diary containing over 200 black & white and colour photographs of bands including, Babyshambles, The Cribs, Bloc Party, Editors, Foo Fighters, Morrissey, Paul Weller, Ian Brown, Kasabian, We Are Scientists and many local Stoke bands.”

^{New! 06.05.08}      Added to the Directory: Steve Roberts Caricatures. Buy prints, or commission a caricature picture of your friends, family, workmates, or even your own fave celeb. Steve is a cartoonist based in Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent.

"Regional artists are invited to submit their work for the first Open West Midlands, taking place at Wolverhampton Art Gallery this summer. Deadline: 28th May 08." (DVDs and CDs acceptable!).

"381 pages with over 2,500 full colour reproductions ... This Staffordshire volume shows over 2,500 oil paintings from 34 publicly-owned collections in the county including those in the metropolitan boroughs of Wolverhampton, Walsall and Sandwell. Showing paintings both on display and in store, and ranging from Old Masters to Pop Art, this comprehensive catalogue offers a valuable insight into the artistic heritage and history of the county. Major collections such as those at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, and The New Art Gallery in Walsall are featured alongside collections owned by a wide range of smaller museums, Keele University and local authorities."

Explore ideas for public art, visual arts interventions, exhibitions and commissions and provide a business-plan for how to take the work forward;

Consult with schools, the people of Leek, Leek Historical Society and other individuals and groups;

Provide a shortlist of potential artists;

Develop grant applications to enable the work to happen.

“how using Serious Games can improve your business functionality. The key objective for participants will be to contribute to the development of a game that will ultimately be available on the commercial market.”

“you will not only receive business training through using the game but also be able to network with your peers and hear from Dan Jones, the Head of New Media at Maverick Television, one of the UK’s longest established regional indies. … On conclusion of the programme participants will receive a certificate from Birmingham City University to confirm their involvement as well as at least six months’ free trial of the final developed game, plus a free Nintendo DS loaded with the game Brain Training.

The workshops will be held on: —

Wednesday 19th March / Interactive Workshop 1 (9.30am – 4.00pm), Birmingham. Friday 4th April / Interactive Workshop 2 (9.30am – 1.30pm), Birmingham. Friday 25th April / Final Summary event (11.30am – 2.30pm), Coventry.

Places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and participants need to be able to attend all three of the events. If you are interested in being ‘one of the 10’ and would like to find out more email the programme coordinator, Rose Padmore rpadmore@opening-doors.org.uk

"Creative business start-up and development programme, approximately 60 hours over 2/3 months – leading to a level 3 award in Creative Business Start-up. Putting a business plan together can seem like an incredibly daunting task, but this programme brings together a formalized timetable delivery structure with peer to per support and personalized one-to-one advice and guidance with a creative industries business startup specialist, to support learners through the process in a non-alienating or scary way. Free to any West Midlands based creative business start-up or businesses within 12 month of trading. Location: the Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham. For more information call 0121 224 7308."

..."workshops, a behind the scenes insight into the development of the region’s latest online channel and a short lecture on what every Alton Towers visitor needs – the science of rollercoasters! [...] The conference is free to attend, with each ticket valued at £550, for businesses employing up to 250 people. To attend the conference, or for further information please email events@ideasforlife.tv"

^{New! 21.12.07}   Maple Court Primary School in Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent is working with Creative Partnerships Stoke-on-Trent on an exciting project, and the school is looking for "a Drama-in-Education practitioner with the ability to teach Investigative Science (AT1) within an imaginary context" by fully engaging children aged 3 to 6. Deadline 4th Jan 08. Creative Stoke has the full details in the brief (PDF, 18kb).

^{New! 15.12.07}   Added to the Directory:   Painter William Eccleston has a new website, and is "based in Hanley, in a purpose-built studio".

Crewe and Nantwich would like to hear from an artist or artists who can work with community groups to create visual art and flower/plant bed designs using natural products found in and inspired by two areas of the Borough, Queens Park in Crewe and Nantwich Weir Pool. Both projects will culminate in a sharing of work at the annual Cultural Festival in August 2008. Brief available from: Jocelyn McMillan at  jocelyn.mcmillan@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk

Congleton Borough Council seek a visual artist to engage with young people from both the settled community and the gypsy / traveller communities to create a sculptural garden using recycled and found materials. The 'garden' will be installed on a narrowboat as part of the Middlewich Floating Garden Festival. Brief available from: Julie Walker at  julie.walker@congleton.gov.uk

Macclesfield Borough Council would like to hear from a wood sculptor to work with a community group to create 'Taylor's Corner' in Knutsford, and a community artist working with willow to develop the 'Tree of Life' project at a medium-secure unit. Brief available from: Shelagh Malley, Senior Community Activities Officer at  s.malley@macclesfield.gov.uk

^{New! 25.11.07}   Added to the Directory:   Burslem Arts is a new website that profiles and sells "art and unique items all made in a 20 mile radius of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent". It also has a PDF catalogue/flyer for the Burslem Arts Festival.

^{New! 23.10.07}   Are you a budding storyteller with true-life stories about Port Vale Football Club between the 1950s and the 1980s? If so, the Lottery-funded Port Vale Tales is a project touring Stoke-on-Trent to hear people's stories. One of the future stops will be at the WRVS at King George VI Club, Hanley on 28th November 07, at 10am. Other events will be in Sneyd Green, Abbey Hulton, Burslem and Fenton. Interested? Contact Bill at  bill.cawley@stadiumcommunities.org.uk

^{New! 19.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   SMA Studios - a highly-experienced character-based animation studio, creating work for commercials, TV, and features. Based in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent.

^{New! 19.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Emily Campbell - a Stoke-based artist undertaking public art projects, including arts and health work. Her Love Ties work and other work can be seen on her web site and Love Ties is also featured on Creative Stoke.

^{New! 19.10.07}   Creative Stoke has a downloadable and A4-printable copy of the rather beautiful Dishinit poster (225kb), featuring hand-painting ceramics from this unique Stoke-on-Trent arts project...

^{New! 12.10.07}   Pamela Wells, curator and artist of the Dishinit arts project in Stoke-on-Trent, writes to give us the dates for the exciting project. It will launch to the public on Tuesday 23rd October, 6:30-8:30pm, at the New Vic Theatre (continues until 17th Nov 07). Sure to be a good creative networking evening. Pamela is also interested in hearing from "any writers who'd be interested" in helping to "get some critical dialogue going", with the possibility of publication. Interested? Pamela Wells can be contacted on 07771 746383 or via the Dishinit website.

^{New! 12.10.07}   Barry Brown, of Stoke-on-Trent College, writes that he is... "interested in the possiblility of develop links between the local creative industries and the media/design department of Stoke-on-Trent College." Are you interested in putting your own firm or agency forward for such industry-education links? Contact Barry at: bbrow1sc@stokecoll.uk

^{New! 12.10.07}   The Staffordshire Dance Collective has a visiting guest workshop in late October. New Art Club – Tom Roden will be giving a workshop at 1pm-4pm, on Sunday 21st October 07...

"New Art Club was formed in 2001 by Tom Roden and Pete Shenton. The duo's inimitable combination of dance, theatre and comedy has been experienced by many through their repertoire of comedy dance shows. New Art Club believe that choreography is an easy, accessible artistic discipline that can be practised by all. They create a safe, supportive environment for artists to work in and with an inclusive and demystifying approach to skills-based sessions, their work aims to have a memorable and important effect on the creative and physical development of artists."

Cost: £6/£4 (with discounts for MMU 3rd Year Students). The venue is the Alsager Campus of MMU, near Stoke-on-Trent. For more information or to book a place please email: rachael@staffsdancecollective.co.uk Visit for more information about these workshops and the collective.

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Cosmic Studios is a professional recording studio, located in the heart of the beautiful and extensive grounds of Trentham Lakes and Gardens in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Catherine Murray writes from Newcastle-under-Lyme, that she is "a freelance translator specialising in French and Italian translations into English." If you can use her services, more information can be had from cd@murray2.eclipse.co.uk

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Chris Lees is a Stoke-on-Trent photographer who has recently launched an online portfolio at chrisleesphotography.com

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Les Jones is a Stone-based designer offering "Unique Graphic Art Based on your Name".

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   Tom Walker is a Stoke-on-Trent photographer who has recently launched an online portfolio at www.tomwalker.tw

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:   J.W. Hand & Partners Ltd, based in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, and providing... "a specialist service to the ceramic industry ... Design Visualisation, Rapid Prototyping, Modeling, Blocking, Casing, Ram Press and Die making, Silicone Rubber and Resin Master Moulds. We can also provide training and offer a consultancy service."

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:  Mark writes from Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, to say that he's set up... "a complete service to the creative and ceramics industry offering: film output, digital print, large format print, display and exhbition graphics, one-2-one marketing, vehicle graphics, photography and web design. Interested? Check out his cipher-graphics.co.uk website.

^{New! 12.10.07}   Added to the Directory:  Jo Robinson writes from Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, to say that she is a... "freelance music composer specialising in music for corporate video, documentaries and short films" and has recently moved to Stoke-on-Trent from London. Interested in using her services? Her company website is Poco a Poco Music.

^{New! 12.10.07}   Creative Stoke is now back from the summer holidays. The break involved a home-move, and then a six-week delay in getting the BT phone lines and internet hooked up again. Hence the delay in re-starting Creative Stoke's activities after the summer. Our apologies.

     ~~ Summer holidays ~~

^{New! 31.05.07}   Creative Stoke will be taking a summer break for the holidays, as it did last year. Enjoy your own holidays; and please keep sending in information, new links, and ideas; the site will be updated again towards the end of August. In the meantime, our news feeds page will continue running.

^{New! 02.05.07}   Do you make eccentric clockwork artworks, mechanical sculptures, functioning steampunk crafts, kinetic art, automata, or art robots? If so, the Shire Hall Gallery would like to hear from you, to take part in a show running from 17th Nov 07 until 6th Jan 08. They say... "The show will examine the movement and mechanics of the work, and will feature both large and small scale art work." Send up to eight images of the works you would like to exhibit, together with a C.V. and an artist's statement, to: Owen Hurcombe, Arts Development Officer (Visual Arts and Crafts), Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford, ST16 2LD, or e-mail to: owen.hurcombe@staffordshire.gov.uk   Deadline for submissions is 18th May 2007. Please send an S.A.E. if you need your images returning.

^{New! 02.05.07}   Added to the Directory: the Staffordshire Dance Collective.

^{New! 02.05.07}   The University of Keele has issued the call for a new Keele Poetry Prize, with a top prize of £500. Open to anyone aged over 16 and living in Staffordshire, Cheshire or Shropshire, submission for the Prize are being accepted until 3rd September 07.

^{New! 01.05.07}   Jobs: The University of Wolverhampton are currently advertising jobs for: a Reader in Digital Media; a Reader in Design & Applied Arts; a Senior Lecturer in Textiles; a Senior Lecturer in Architecture; and a Senior Technician in Digital Media.

^{New! 30.04.07}   Creative Partnerships Stoke-on-Trent has launched three rounds of professional development bursaries, titled Refresh, and aimed at artists or creative professionals seeking to develop their capacity to work in partnership with schools. Creative Stoke has the full details in the brief (PDF, 28kb).

^{New! 29.04.07}   Jobs: A Co-ordinator is required for a Music Mapping project in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. The project will aim to provide a contemporary map of music provision in the area; identifying venues, organisations, promoters, groups, networks and individuals. The Co-ordinator will plan and manage this mapping project between June 2007 and March 2008, for a fee of £14,000 based on a total of seventy days of work over that period. Deadline: 11th May 07. For a copy of the brief please contact Sheila Lee at: sheila.lee@staffordshire.gov.uk

^{New! 25.04.07}     Creative Partnerships Stoke-on-Trent is looking for a creative professional to work with a Aynsley Special School in Blythe Bridge. The deadline is 4th May 07. Full details are in the brief (PDF, 28kb).

^{New! 25.04.07}     Creative Partnerships Stoke-on-Trent is looking for a radio professional to work with Hollywall Primary School in Tunstall. Full details are in the brief (PDF, 28kb).

^{New! 23.04.07}   Added to the Directory: Playaway is an arts and crafts purchasing group for children's activities, and is based in Stoke and Stafford.

^{New! 23.04.07}   A Drama Worker is required for the Hidden Harm Project in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. Comic Relief is funding the project to create a short film about domestic violence. The Project is seeking an experienced drama worker to help create a storyboard and short performance-piece, which will draw from young people's experiences of this issue. The participants may have first-hand experience with the issue; therefore the appointed artist would have to be sympathetic to their needs. This piece will form part of the short film, and will be used in schools and other youth settings to raise awareness of domestic violence. You'll start with an introductory workshop to generate a storyboard, then a structured residential weekend with the young people to develop and perform the final piece. Project Wired have been commissioned to film the project during the residential, create the music and edit the film. Therefore the filmmaker will be working closely with you to support the development of the performance, and you will also have an opportunity to have a creative input into the film. You will be responsible for the following: Guide a storyboard workshop; Lead workshops at the residential weekend; Production of a final performance relating to Domestic Violence issues for the short film; Have a creative input to the film. The fee is for 3 days, negotiable depending on experience. Residence is due to take place in late May / early June 07, depending on availability of venue and artists. Interested? Send an up-to-date C.V. or for further details contact Paul Challacombe, Community Arts Officer on: 01283 508515 or at   paul.challacombe@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk

^{New! 19.04.07}   Wolverhampton's Light House is venturing up to the Stoke Film Theatre next week (Wed 25th April, 7.45pm), to showcase the best work of the West Midlands Screen Forum, which meets at the Light House. They say... "the forum will showcase a special selection of Light House produced shorts films and animations, including award-winning titles. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with some of the filmmakers, who will talk about their films and opportunities in the region. There will also be a short introduction to the PLOT project, a Light House-led scheme which offers business and project development support."

^{New! 19.04.07}   The Rural Education and Arts Project (REAP), based in Longnor in North Staffordshire, has a 'call for artists' for: i) musicians and live performance artists and ii) artists/ creatives,   to help REAP celebrate the Strawberry Moon Festival in Staffordshire. The Festival is a sequel to the 7,000-capacity Harvest Moon Fayre of 05, and will... "showcase the cream of local talent in music, drama, dance and many more art forms", on Saturday 30th June and Sunday 1st July 07, at... "a perfect and picturesque site near Leek". Can you offer services or skills in delivering creative workshops or exhibiting your work? There may be expenses or pay involved, and REAP should know around deadline-time about the exact package that they may be able to offer to successful applicants.

The Strawberry Moon Festival also has training opportunities for starting artists; starting from late April 07 there will be a two-month period of educational workshops and training which will work toward the creation of new music, artworks, live performances etc to be featured at the Festival. REAP are on the lookout for budding artists to come along to a series of workshops ahead of the festival.

REAP is currently awaiting funding results, but in the first instance all interested people should write to -- music enquiries to: Clive Leighton, Entertainment Manager,
reapmusic@public-i.org.uk     and artists / creatives / training enquiries to: Tina Ball, Project Director  tinaball@reapweb.org.uk

Deadline for all opportunities is: Tuesday 8th May 07.

^{New! 16.04.07}   Rose Sutton writes from the Reach pupil referral unit in Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent. Rose would like to contact an artist to work with Key Stage 3 & 4 pupils (ages 11-16) in the pupil referral unit. Hopefully you'll be an artist who works with environmental art and materials, making recycling-related or recycled art or similar. This would be for the school term between now and the next half-term in May. "Even a couple of sessions would be good and funding is available" says Rose. Interested? Contact Rose Sutton on: 01782 235646  or  email rsutton@sgfl.org.uk

^{New! 13.04.07}   Added to the Events Diary: The new Spring/Summer 07 programme of free talks from North Staffordshire Arts & Architecture.

^{New! 10.04.07}     www.bogusartfair.info is a useful weblog that makes visual artists aware of art fairs and international arts events that may not be legitimate.

^{New! 10.04.07}     Added to the Directory: Georgina Vinsun, a painter who has recently moved to North Staffordshire, and is now based at Biddulph Moor.

^{New! 10.04.07}     Job: Staffordshire University has a vacancy for a Lecturer in Media Production.

^{New! 04.04.07}     The Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft is holding a selling exhibition titled "Gorgeous", at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum on 13th & 14th October 07. The Guild is seeking makers to demonstrate/lecture, for £150 per day.

^{New! 02.04.07}     Arts Derbyshire has just launched their new web-site.

^{New! 02.04.07}     Digital Central is offering digital media and music companies from across the West Midlands free and subsidised use of the Birmingham W1 offices in the heart of central London at Piccadilly Circus. This could increase your profile in the capital, and allow you to communicate more easily with London-based clients and decision-makers. There will be a launch at Birmingham W1 in London on April 13th 07, from noon. Free return travel will be provided by Digital Central. Interested? For further details and to book a place, contact:  dave.harte@uce.ac.uk

^{New! 02.04.07}     The web-site for the 2007 Leek Arts Festival has just launched, and the 07 programme includes an "Arts Trail includes all of the town’s art galleries showing a variety of work, with artists on hand to explain their work", as well as hands-on workshops in playing the traditional fiddle, cartooning, and choral singing.

^{New! 02.04.07}     Added to the Directory: Potters Connection - based in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. Potters Connection offers a large variety of supplies for ceramics makers.

^{New! 30.03.07}     A new arts & crafts selling gallery called 'Burslem Arts' is shortly to open, next to the Burslem School of Art in Queen Street, selling local creative products. It will be run by Burslem Arts Festival Group (shortly to be a charitable company), and all products will also go onto a specialist web-site which will be launched at the same time as the shop opens in April 07. Are you a designer maker or artist who has work that could be considered for display & sale? If so, please send basic info and .jpg photographs only, at this stage, to: festival@jellifish.co.uk

Also in Burslem: the next Burslem Arts Festival will take place on Saturday 23rd June 07. If you are interested in taking part, either as an exhibitor, performer or a volunteer, please contact Angela & Amanda at festival@jellifish.co.uk

^{New! 30.03.07}     Creative Partnerships Stoke-on-Trent is looking for a Theatre Company to put together a 10-month long full-school theatre project. Full details are in the brief (PDF, 28kb).

^{New! 30.03.07}     Creative Partnerships Stoke-on-Trent is looking for an Outdoor Artist to deliver cross-curricular projects at a primary school. Full details are in the brief (PDF, 28kb).

^{New! 30.03.07}     Creative Partnerships Stoke-on-Trent is looking for a Textile Artist to work with a primary school on work related to textiles in Victorian Britain. Full details are in the brief (PDF, 28kb).

^{New! 30.03.07}     Birmingham's NetInfinity project is running a series of workshops around the Midlands, under the title Designing Demand. There is to be one on 11th April 07 at Stoke Business Village (Leek Rd, Stoke-on-Trent), and another on 15th June 07. These are part of the Design Council's national Designing Demand programme aimed at helping businesses use design to add value to their activities. By participating in the workshop a business may also be eligible to apply for a £2000 design award to "support design projects that bring identified benefits to your business" as well as the possibility of "up to five days mentor support from a design associate (worth £2,500+), from development to delivery". Creative Stoke has a flyer (PDF, 240kb) for the first event.

^{New! 27.03.07}     ShortCuts is to be the second Airspace show of 07, held at the AirSpace Gallery in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. The launch event / preview (sure to be a good networking event) is on 2nd April 07 (7pm–9pm). This free show by four AirSpace artist members then runs from 3rd – 7th April (11am -5pm). For more details contact: Sara Austin on 01782 777788 or 07771 662552 or e-mail sara@airspacegallery.org

^{New! 23.03.07}     Making It Happen in Community Arts is a short three-day course at Staffordshire University, spread over April-June 07. Creative Stoke has the flyer here (PDF, 20kb). There is also a new post-graduate degree, the M.A. in Community and Participatory Arts, which starts in September 07.

^{New! 23.03.07}     Projecting Stoke is a city-wide film-making initiative which has been running for the last 12 months. Supported by Hi8us Media, Screen West Midlands and Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Community Arts team, groups of young people in communities across Stoke-on-Trent have been helped to devise, write, shoot and edit their own films. The films cover a broad range of subjects and styles and some are available online. The films will be screened on Saturday 24th March, at the Victoria Hall in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent from 2pm to 5pm. Anyone wishing to go along can "just turn up", but large groups are asked to first phone Paul Bailey, Community Arts Officer, on: 01782 232548.

^{New! 23.03.07}     Added to the Events Diary:
Exciting Minds 2 is a networking and professional development opportunity for creative practitioners who are interested in working in creative programmes in Stoke-on-Trent schools. The special guest will be Richard Hayhow, Artistic Director of Shysters Theatre Company; you'll hear about the cutting-edge work that Shysters have undertaken through Creative Partnerships. The event will be on 30th April 07, at the Sponsor Room, Victoria Hall Theatre, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent -- from 6pm to 8pm. Numbers are limited, so to book your place at this free event, please contact Iain Perry at Creative Partnerships Stoke by 27th April 07, on: 01782 337 440   or
stokeontrent@creative-partnerships.com

^{New! 23.03.07}     Added to the Directory: Mother Media.

^{New! 21.03.07}     Rowena Beighton-Dykes writes from Staffordshire University, to say that she is working with F.E. colleges in the region on the development of new Creative and Cultural Industries degrees that will be delivered through F.E. colleges. Rowena would like to contact people working in these industries in the Stoke-on-Trent region, to see if they would like to become involved in supporting the qualifications - particularly in relation to taking students for work experience in their firm. Creative Stoke has a downloadable 'expression of interest' form (Word .doc, 50kb) for employers and SMEs/self-employed creatives to fill out.

^{New! 19.03.07}     Added to the Events Diary:   Pushing Boundaries is a one-day event for crafts makers interested in developing their practice and finding markets for their work. It will take place at Staffordshire University on 16th June 07. You'll hear crafts makers talk about their own experiences of: developing their practice through new ideas and practice; disseminating their ideas; collaborating and exchanging with other creatives; working internationally, through residencies and developing international markets for their work. In the afternoon there will be breakout discussion groups. The fee for the day is £30, and includes lunch and a delegate pack. There is a subsidised fee of £15 for fifty crafts makers based in the West Midlands (subject to eligibility). For a booking form please contact Lennie Ashwell on:  01782 294828 or e-mail:  l.ashwell@staffs.ac.uk   For more information please e-mail  j.e.grayson@staffs.ac.uk

^{New! 15.03.07}     Added to the Directory: Stagecoach Theatre Arts: Congeleton.

^{New! 14.03.07}   The Light House in nearby Wolverhampton is running free training courses in animation in 2007 and 2008. Courses include: Traditional Animation Levels 1 & 2 / Photoshop Level 1 / Animation & Design Skills Using Flash Level 1 / Interactive Multimedia Level 2 Character Animation Level 1 / Foundation in Computer Graphics Level 1 / 3D Computer Graphics (Advanced) Level 2. Courses are open to those aged 19+, unemployed, and living in the West Midlands. The project team will be at Light House to offer advice and guidance on these courses and other training opportunities within the region on Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th April 07, 10am-4pm. If you are particularly interested in the animation courses, the tutor will also be available to answer your queries on Wednesday 11th April, 10am-1pm.

^{New! 13.03.07}     There will be a free "Pensions for Artists" seminar in Stoke-on-Trent, on 21st March 07. The venue is the Regent Theatre in Hanley. The organisers say... "this half day seminar will examine the likely needs and the various options for artists/creative practitioners pension provision, which will provide delegates with simple, basic and useful information to assist them in this area." To book a place at this seminar, e-mail:  peter@euclid.info  with your name, job title and organisation, e-mail address, and indicate whether you would like to attend the morning or afternoon session. The seminars are limited to two delegates from the same organisation.

^{New! 11.03.07}     Labyrinth Arts of Stoke-on-Trent would like to invite film fans to preview the new environmentally-themed trailer for their horror zombie film outofspace (Flash-only site). The trailer can be viewed on their site. Members of Labyrinth Arts are also running raku pottery workshops at the Gladstone Pottery Museum in late March and April 07.

^{New! 07.03.07}     100% inspiration is a free event to be held at Staffordshire University on 28th March 07. It aims to help business to become creative, and to develop new and profitable products and services. Creative Stoke has the full flyer (PDF, 260kb) with further information.

^{New! 07.03.07}     The UK-wide Networking Artists Network is brings its roadshow to Staffordshire University in Stoke-on-Trent, on 24th March 07. Speakers include: Birmingham artist Ruth Claxton; Tom Godfrey, curator of Nottingham's Moot gallery, Susan McNally, co-producer of New Art Birmingham; and Ian Vines, programme co-ordinator at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery. Places are strictly limited, and the deadline for applications to attend is March 10th. To apply for a ticket (£15), send your up-to-date C.V., along with a short statement on why you would like to attend "Roadshow West Midlands: Ecosystem" to nan@a-n.co.uk

^{New! 07.03.07}     Added to the Directory: Steve Russell of Alsager is an architect, working at Stoke-on-Trent architects Hulme Upright Manning; and he's just launched www.steve-russell.co.uk as a personal site for his projects, photography, paintings and videos.

^{New! 07.03.07}   Gareth Mayer of comedy group Egg writes, to ask if anyone would like to help with the making of a comedy film about killer vegetables! The film will be premiered at Stoke's Film Theatre, to raise money for cancer research, and a trailer for it can be viewed on the Egg MySpace page. Also on the page are three other comedy videos from his comedy group, Egg. Gareth is based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and has already had a sketch show featured on BBC Staffordshire TV. Gareth is now looking for new people to joining the Egg comedy team, and especially anybody willing to help with making the film. Interested? Contact Gareth Mayer at:  gazmayer2003@hotmail.com

^{New! 07.03.07}   Jigsaw Arts for Health is looking for a caricaturist for their exhibition day on the 25th March 07 (see below for details). They say they... "may be able to provide a small fee or the artist could charge for their work on a piece-by-piece basis." Interested? Contact Sue Thomas at  jigsaw_admin@hotmail.co.uk

^{New! 02.03.07}   Jigsaw Arts for Health are holding their 7th Community Arts Festival, titled 'iNTERfACE'. There will be an exhibition of masks, paintings, drawings, photographs with demonstrations, and also music and performances. We will also have some 'creation stations' for hands-on experience. It will be on 25th March 2007, from 10am to 5pm, at Ash Green Primary School, Brough Lane, Trentham. Admission is free. If you're an artist interested in getting involved with Jigsaw, this should be a good networking and taster event.

^{New! 02.03.07}   The Shrewsbury Open 07 is... open. £4,500 of prizes are on offer to artists who respond to the 2007 theme, "Batteries not included: mind as machine".

^{New! 02.03.07}   Lichfield School of Art is now recruiting students for a Summer School in 2007. Courses include calligraphy, trompe d'oeil painting, portrait sculpture and casting, among others. Details from:  enquiries@lichfield.ac.uk

^{New! 27.02.07}   Job: Creative Partnerships Stoke-on-Trent is looking for a Schools Co-ordinator (Broadcast Journalist). This is a one-year full-time contract based at BBC Radio Stoke in the city centre. You'll share your skills with students and teachers alike during the academic year 2007-2008. Full details are in the brief (PDF, 30kb).

^{New! 22.02.07}   Staffordshire Moorlands District Council would like to offer a small commission to a local or regionally-based artist, who has experience of working with young people and who uses materials and techniques that relate to the medieval period. You'll work with local young people to share skills and inspire during the summer of 2007, based out of Westwood College with the remit to visit and work with the local schools within Leek, over a 10-week period. The overall fee (including all materials and the artist's fee) will be £3,000. Interested? Submission deadline is 5th March 07, with interviews on 16th March 07. A full brief and submission details can be had from:  arts.development@staffsmoorlands.gov.uk

^{New! 15.02.07}   Creative Partnerships Stoke-on-Trent is looking for five creative practitioners or agencies, and a filmmaker who can document the "How Science Works" projects in which the creatives will be involved. Full details are in the brief (PDF, 28kb).

^{New! 23.02.07}     Added to the Directory: April Young, a ceramic artist based in Stoke-on-Trent.

^{New! 19.02.07}   Making Connections: Creative Arts Networking Event is an event for creatives in East Staffordshire, happening at the Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-on-Trent on the 6th March 07 (6pm - 8.30pm). Artists, creative practitioners, craft makers, teachers, workshop leaders, creative enterprises and people connected with arts venues are all welcome. It's a free and informal networking and social event that will bring together people who work in all areas of the arts and creative sectors in East Staffordshire. You'll also learn about opportunities and funding schemes available to arts practitioners in the borough. More details from: Paul Challacombe on 01283 5085151 or e-mail:  paul.challacombe@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk

^{New! 15.02.07}   Creative Partnerships Stoke-on-Trent is looking for a partner agent or agency to devise, deliver and evaluate a package of skills development, communication and support activities for children and young people involved in the core Creative Partnerships programme, so they can actively participate in partnership work. The contract will be for approximately 75 days of work, between the end of March 2007 and end of July 2008. The funding for the programme will be in the region of £28,500; to be divided between practitioner's fees (approx. £13,750) and the programme budget (approx. £14,750). Full details are in the brief (PDF, 28kb).

^{New! 12.02.07}     Are you a male living in Cheshire / Crewe / Congleton / or Alsager area, and eager to get into TV production in the area of Costume, Hair and Make-Up? Media Training North West is running training schemes help men enter such roles in television production. They're also looking for men who want to be TV researchers or production co-ordinators. You have to have had less than 12 months' paid experience in broadcast media, and be able to demonstrate commitment to entering the TV industry. Interested? Simply complete and return the Training Support Questionnaire (Word .doc) to Media Training North West, along with a copy of your up-to-date C.V.   More information from Simon on:  0161 244 4637.

^{New! 10.02.07}     Arts & Business has announced a new scheme that will run from April 07. "Reach" will have a national pot of £2.25m in 2007/8, administered by the 12 regional offices, that will allow businesses to try a new partnership with arts organisations, or to deepen an existing partnership.

^{New! 07.02.07}     Indefinable City is to be the first Airspace show of 07, held at the AirSpace Gallery in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. The launch event (sure to be a good networking event) is on Friday 23rd Feb 07 (7pm-9pm). The 11-artist international show then runs from 24th Feb – 16th Mar 07 (Tues–Sat, 11pm-5pm). The show takes as its theme "the human consequences of our changing cities".

^{New! 05.02.07}     Job: Staffordshire Moorlands Council require a new Arts Officer/Arts Events Co-ordinator. Deadline: 23rd February 07.

^{New! 01.02.07}     The English Folk Dance and Song Society has a good page of Staffordshire listings of dance and music workshop events in the county.

(Older "What's New?" entries are archived here.)