The jobs page at www.creativeleicestershire.org.uk is updated regularly & includes job ads with short deadlines that don’t make it into the ebulletin

Relationship Manager - Libraries
Location: Nottingham / Birmingham office. Contract: Fixed-term until 30 October 2015 to cover maternity leave, working 35 hours per week. We are looking for a Relationship Manager to join the Midlands area team on a fixed term basis. As this is a Midlands-wide role, the post can either be based in the Nottingham or Birmingham office. In this key role you’ll have a focus on building empowering and enduring relationships with library services across the Midlands area and a portfolio of funded organisations. This will include awareness of their performance of these organisations against their business plan, their funding agreement with Arts Council England, and of their artistic work to identify their investment needs. You will manage relationships with designated National Portfolio Organisations and specific projects supported by strategic funds. You will take a Midlands area lead on our relationships with the libraries sector, and work with other Arts Council colleagues as a member of the Libraries national team. Find out more here. Closing date: midnight on 18 February 2015.

Duty Manager - The National Centre for Craft & Design
Part Time, flexible hours from 8 up to 16 per week and will include weekends and occasional evenings. The National Centre for Craft & Design is the largest venue in England entirely dedicated to the exhibition, celebration and promotion of international craft and design. We are looking for a bright individual with a genuine enthusiasm for arts and culture, to join our operations team and support all areas of the Centre’s increasing activity. The Duty Manager will ensure the highest standards are met in the daily operation of The National Centre for Craft & Design and to provide a quality experience for all visitors to the facility. The post of Duty Manager will provide a broad overview of working within a contemporary exhibition venue. If you are passionate about craft, design and the arts, and would relish the opportunity to enrich the service of a leading cultural venue, we want to hear from you. Please read the personal specification and full job description before applying as this will aid your application. The post is employed through Leisure in the Community Trust who delivers North Kesteven District Council's cultural services contract. To apply for this position, please send a completed application and equal opportunities form by email to omnccd@litc.org.uk by Wednesday 18th February.  After this time applications will not be accepted. Please ensure that you complete all sections of the application form fully. CVs alone will not be accepted.  

Education Coordinator - Mouthy Poets
Mouthy Poets is a collective of 15 -30 year olds in Nottingham who write, edit and perform their own poetry as well as producing events, teaching poetry and helping each other to develop personally and professionally. A Community Interest Company, we educate and develop the vocabulary and skills of young people through the spoken word. Often hardship and isolation from the ‘norm’ gives young people a story and a need for catharsis: there isn’t vocabulary for their experiences, so they must develop their own. We are recruiting for an Educational Coordinator who will play a pivotal role in our Spoken Word Education Mission, an initiative that has been funded through ACE’s Grants for the Arts. Over the next 2 years, we aim to quadruple our Spoken Word Educator output working with thousands of young people in schools across the East Midlands. We also aim to make concrete our own pedagogy and model as an organisation enabling young people to write, perform and produce poetry. This position offers an aspiring artist/education practitioner the opportunity to step into an arts role with ongoing support, training and mentorship, with a remit to help develop a high quality, large scale education programme that represents the Mouthy Poets ethos and to generate income for the company. For the full Job Description and how to apply please email charlotte@mouthypoets.com or visit www.mouthypoets.com/job-vacancies The closing date for applications is midnight on 18th February 2015. Interviews will be held on 25th February.

Senior Theatre Technician – Stamford Arts Centre
With no two days the same, working a combination of day, evening and weekends, this is an exciting opportunity to undertake all aspects of technical duties at Stamford Arts Centre. This includes operating lighting, sound and other systems through to rig and focus lighting, preparing project films and doing get-ins and get-outs with touring companies as required. You will also manage live events and film projection. You should have previous multi-skilled experience in technical theatre, excellent communication skills and an enthusiastic attitude with a desire to achieve high standards even when working under pressure in our multi-purpose arts centre. If you think you have what we are looking for, please follow the link to our website where you can read the full job description and complete the application form. Closing date: 20 February 2015.

Festival Programme Manager - Loughborough Festival of Children's Illustrated Literature
Organisers of the Loughborough Festival of Children's Illustrated Literature wish to recruit a Festival Programme Manager to develop, programme and deliver the festival which will take place in October 2015. The position is a fixed term, part time contract and will be based in Leicester and Charnwood and will be responsible for working with key partners to develop the festival programme, explore and develop funding and sponsorship opportunities and deliver the festival alongside festival venue partners. The successful individual will have; proven track record in artistic direction proven track record in festival programming good knowledge of arts and literature sector good knowledge of existing and potential partnerships experience of funding bids experience of generating sponsorship proven experience in delivering projects on time and to budget excellent project management skills. Deadline for applications is Friday 20th February 2015. Find out more here.

Street Arts Commissions - Derby Festé
There is the opportunity for a professional company / artist to submit a proposal for either, or both, a £3,000 or £6,000 commission. Work to be presented the 26th September 2015. We are looking to commission a Static or Walkabout piece/s which meets the following criteria: A new piece of work; Innovative and engaging content; Pieces that are eye-catching, accessible and designed to capture foot traffic; Content that highlights the public realm; Work that demonstrates quality and excellence. The work should be between 20 – 30 minutes in length. The work must be presented twice in Derby City Centre as part of Festé 2015. Please note – In the six months lead in time to Festé 2015 the successful project/s will be assigned a mentor from the Festé Programme Group. Find out more here. Deadline for expressions of interest: 5pm, 20th February, 2015. Please send submissions to Stephen Munn: s.munn@deda.uk.com

Technical Manager - Nottingham Playhouse
Nottingham Playhouse, one of the UK’s leading producing theatres, is looking to appoint an experienced Technical Manager to lead the busy Technical Department in the planning and delivery of the technical operation of Nottingham Playhouse for in-house productions, Participation projects, visiting companies and all other activities, ensuring the safe, effective and efficient use of Nottingham Playhouse’s technical facilities and resources. The ideal candidate will have substantial technical theatre experience and will have managed a team. They will have a good knowledge of health and safety requirements including risk assessments.They will be an excellent communicator, confident working with creative teams on in-house productions, main stage, studio, and Participation as well as with a wide range of visiting companies including international dance companies, music events, comedy, amateur dramatic companies and hirers of the venues facilities. Closing date: Monday 23 February 2015 at 12noon. Interviews: w/b 2 March 2015 in Nottingham. For more details, job description and how to apply please see the website.

Head of External Relations - Readvertisement - Dance4
Dance4, internationally recognised, experimental dance organisation based in Nottingham and the strategic organisation for dance in the East Midlands, is seeking a Head of External Relations & Business Development. Responsibilities include: to lead Dance4’s strategy to diversify and grow investment and earned income, to ensure consistent high quality communications activity and to develop strong relationships internally and externally to enable Dance4 to achieve its business objectives. Candidates must have five years' strategic communications experience within the arts and cultural sector and a track record of securing investment. Please download an application form from the website. This is a re-advertisement and previous applicants need not apply. Closing date: 12pm, Thursday 19 February. Interviews: Wednesday 25 February in Nottingham.

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Product Design - De Montfort University
De Montfort University has recently formed a new School of Design which brings together the key subjects of Product, Furniture, Interior, Craft, Fashion and Textile design. The School incorporates undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD study with excellence in teaching, research and design consultancy. You will make a substantial contribution to the academic development and research activities of the Design Products Subject Area, where knowledge and experience of current industry practice and research in product design, technology integration and materials and manufacturing are crucial to the role. You will have particular expertise in industrial product design (BSc) and will be the main champion for BSc, Subject Area's Accrediting body - the IED (Institution of Engineering Designers). You will hold a PhD in the field of product design and be fully conversant with one or more 3D-CAD software packages – particularly SolidWorks, but also 3ds Max, Alias or Rhino. Specialist knowledge and skills related to the following are essential: 3D CAD modelling, mass-manufacturing materials and technologies (including additive manufacturing). Find out more here. Deadline: 26 February.

Head of Programme - readvertisement - Dance4
Dance4, internationally recognised, experimental dance organisation based in Nottingham and the strategic organisation for dance in the East Midlands, is seeking a Head of Programme. Responsibilities include: to take a strategic lead for Dance4’s programme, develop funding, presenting and commissioning partnerships for activities across the region and beyond and manage the financial and human resources to maximise opportunities to fulfil Dance4’s objectives. Candidates must have considerable experience of leading dance programmes and demonstrate entrepreneurial flair and the ability to inspire and motivate others. Please download an application form from the website. This is a re-advertisement and previous applicants need not apply. Closing date: 12pm, Thursday 19 February. Interviews: Friday 27 February in Nottingham. 

Manager - Wirksworth Festival
2.5 days / wk (18.5hrs) . 1st April 2015 until 31st March 2016. The main 2015 Festival will run from 10-20 September. The post is located in the Parish Room, Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Wirksworth Festival is now firmly established as a leading rural arts festival,  attracting artists and visitors from throughout the country to explore the fascinating Derbyshire market town. The Festival Manager will coordinate the planning, marketing  and delivery of the Festival, helping to shape the artistic programme and developing and managing a strong volunteer base. They  will manage all operational aspects of the Festival including finances, HR and office management. The successful applicant will have at least 3 years arts project management, with a proven track record in community engagement and participation in the arts.  They will be an excellent communicator, have effective administration skills and be passionate about the arts. In return we’ll offer a wonderful place to work, with a wide and varied range of experience to engage with, within the town, with Festival partners and Board. Please download an application pack from the Festival website or contact the Company Secretary, Carol Taylor on cazkinstaylor@gmail.com or the Chair of the Board, Jayne Falconer on J.Falconer@derby.ac.uk Deadline for Applications: Fri 20th February at 5pm. Interviews: Fri 27th February. 

Mid-Weight Graphic Designer - Hyphen
Hyphen is a lively, creative branding and design agency based in Groby, Leicester. We are looking for a seriously talented, highly experienced graphic designer with strong branding and industry knowledge to join our studio. The role available will be a full time, temporary 12 month contract for maternity cover, however a permanent contract may be offered at the end if the studio continues to grow at it's current rate. You will be working within our friendly and passionate team of designers and brand strategists to develop and style brands for a range of clients from a variety of industries. You'll be an integral part of a talented team of like-minded people, whose main goal is to provide beautiful brands that are commercially savvy, strategically driven, and hand crafted. We are looking for an exciting, stylistically adaptable and keen artistic eye with the necessary technical competence to bring a clients brief to life. So do you have min 3 years experience working in a creative agency on clients rebrands and creative briefs? Are you looking to move to a small but growing team where your input really makes a difference? If so, we might be just what you're looking for. If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please send your CV with covering letter and examples of work to jason@yourhyphen.co.uk by 27 Feb. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview and if successful to complete a technical design test. Position Start Date: March 2015 Position End Date: March 2016 (TBC).

Director of Programmes - DanceXchange
Having completed a major transformation, we are now seeking an ambitious Director of Programmes for an exciting new role heading the Programme Team. This is a rare opportunity for a post is likely to appeal to individuals looking to progress to senior management in the arts sector. You will lead a small, highly competent team of specialists with a remit to ensure the cross fertilisation of ideas across the team and excellent relationships with artists. This role will direct DanceXchange and the International Dance Festival Birmingham (IDFB) programmes and projects to create high quality programmes and integrate performance, production and participatory activities. The successful candidate will have a strong artistic understanding of excellence in dance and the issues facing the dance sector. They will have five years experience of working in at least one aspect of programming, production or participation. This is a post that requires well developed leadership skills and an ability to inspire others as well as an ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines. To find out more please visit the website. Deadline: 27 February. 

Graduate Scriptwriter - BYG Systems Limited
The role offers you the opportunity to use your creative thinking and writing skills to progress in a career within the Instructional Design team at BYG Systems, one of theUK’s biggest providers of e-learning solutions. You will be joining a passionate team of creative individuals who work with a range of well-known global companies to develop bespoke, interactive training scripts in the field of learning and development. The work is varied with options to specialise in specific areas of interest throughout your career with us. This role involves using your initiative to create engaging and effective training scripts for a variety of industry sectors; collaborating with specialists in design and instructional design to create exciting, original learning solutions; working closely with subject matter experts to broaden your understanding of various training topics and also the opportunity to attend face-to-face client meetings across the UK and Europe to ensure a successful collaboration throughout the project lifecycle. We provide on the job training, dedicated group training sessions and mentor support to help our Graduate Scriptwriters continuously develop their skills and widen their commercial experience. Deadline: 28 February. Interested? Send your CV to jobs@bygsystems.com

Art Worker - BYG Systems Limited
The role is an opportunity for young designers to take their first steps into a commercial design environment. Working with a range of big brand clients across industry sectors, our Art Workers are exposed to a variety of projects from day one, creating design solutions for digital/mobile based e-learning and marketing communications. We urge our team members to be open to trying new things, whether it is getting to grips with new programs or gaining a deeper understanding of the processes & techniques that we utilise – it’s a great way to become exposed to a variety of new tools, practices & processes. To find out more, please download the full job spec here. Interested? Send your CV to jobs@bygsystems.com Deadline: 28 February. 

3 roles: Consultant, Intern and Office Manager - Spottydog communications
In response to continued growth at spottydog we're on the look out for some new pups to join our six strong team at our leafy Leicestershire hub just outside of Leicester. We're looking to bring in team members at a variety of levels, so if you're a seasoned PR, digital or social media practitioner, or you're looking to cut your teeth through a paid internship we'd love to hear from you. We're also looking for an Office Manager to help keep us on the straight and narrow, handling finance, office logistics and quality processes. A creative background is not essential for this role, but enthusiasm to roll up your sleeves, overcome challenges and flexibility is pretty integral to all roles at spottydog. For the Office Manager role we may consider part time or school hours working. So please get in touch to find out more and find out a bit more about spottydog at www.spottydogcommunications.com

Fundraiser - Chantry Dance Company
CDC is a theatrical contemporary ballet company and registered charity. Our mission is to explore how dance can operate as a liberating art-form, bringing freedom of expression, mind and emotion, and how it can have a meaningful, positive impact on life. CDC consists of a professional performance company, an education department and an outreach department working in care homes and prisons. We are currently seeking a fundraiser who is a genuine person, passionate about seeing our work develop, and believes keenly in CDC's mission. We are looking for someone who is/has: experience/skill in making applications to trusts, foundations and grant-making bodies; is willing to gain an in-depth understanding of the work CDC does, and to communicate this accurately and appealingly when making funding applciations; able to grow our pre-existing "Friends" scheme; proactive and motivated in seeking out/applying to grant-making bodies on CDC's behalf; orgainsed and disciplined, with the determination to dedicate a specific period of time each week to this position. The position is suitable for anyone based in the UK - you do NOT have to be resident in the East Midlands. To apply for this position, please send an email to rae@chantrydancecompany.org by 1 March explaining: why you are suitable for the post, your relevant experience, what you find attractive about working with CDC, why you wish to see CDC develop further. Please also send your CV, including contact details.

Associate Director - People Dancing: the foundation for community dance
People Dancing – the UK development organisation and membership body for community and participatory dance – wishes to appoint an Associate Director to help develop and lead its creative programmes. This is a unique opportunity for a highly skilled, connected and visionary individual to make a significant, positive impact on the diversity and landscape of community and participatory dance in the UK. We’re looking for an experienced, inspiring, passionate and engaging artistic leader, who is respected within the field, and who will bring creativity and innovative thinking in their approach to strategy, development and programming. The role is offered for a fixed term of two years on a part-time, self-employed basis with a fixed fee of up to £45,000. To find out more, download the brief from our website. Deadline: Noon, Monday 2 March 2015

Projects Assistant - Pedestrian
We're experiencing a great deal of growth in our activity here at Pedestrian. To help take that forward we are expanding our studio team. Fixed Term 6month paid internship with potential for permanent/ fixed term extension. This paid internship has been created as part of the Creative Employment Programme. There are certain criteria you must meet in order to be eligible to apply for a Creative Employment Programme funded internship. At the time of applying you must be aged 18 to 24 years old and you must be registered as unemployed with Jobcentre Plus for AT LEAST one day. View the full Job Description here. Deadline: 6th March 2015

Musical Theatre Teacher - Wildcats Post 16 Academy
Are you a Musical Theatre teacher looking for 1 / 2 days per week in a busy theatre school in the East Midlands?  We are looking for someone to teach BTEC Level 3 to our amazing Post 16 students in Stamford, Lincolnshire - singing and acting with lots of show preparation lessons.  We are interested in hearing from anyone with experience in the industry, ex or current west end cast or those who feel they can offer our students outstanding teaching. Hours are negotiable for the right person - we would be willing to arrange our timetable to put all the hours into one day (so that teachers could potentially travel from London). Train links from Kings Cross are direct to Peterborough and then one change to Stamford.  The school is 5 minutes walk from the train station and also opposite Stamford bus station. We are looking for someone that can become part of the Wildcats family - who understands our core values that "Every student is an individual' Start date: April 2015 for a ten week contract, then September 2015 for Autumn, Spring and Summer school terms. Day rates/Hourly rates negotiable for the right person. To apply please email CV and info to admin@wildcats-uk.com

Become a volunteer Gallery Assistant at CDS
An exciting opportunity at CDS has arrived and we're looking for a number of assistants to work at the gallery Monday  to Saturday 10.30am - 4pm. In return you will gain free access to the CDS studio and jewellery workshop and gain valuable work experience. Students, Grads & Artists welcome! Please email Claire at cdsgallery@live.com for further information and to apply.

Apex-Works Business Hub
Situated in the heart of Leicester Apex-Works Business Hub is an inclusive and collaborative working space for start ups, social entrepreneurs and growing companies. For just 10 pounds per year, you can get access to Apex's facilities & services including cafe, hot desk space, meeting rooms, administrative services and discounted city centre parking. Desk Space with Free Wi-fi - 5 pounds a visit, payable on arrival (or booked in advance via our web site) will secure you a hot desk or shared office space within Apex House for a day. Free Wi Fi included. And when your business is ready Incubator units are also available.

Apex Works Exhibition Space
Exhibition space, open to all, available within Apex Works -in the heart of Leicester's Cultural Quarter. Our gallery space is available to hire for 5 working days excluding Saturdays and Sundays. Our cafe will also be delighted to cater for any preview or launch events. Apex-Works is a charity that works with vulnerable and marginalised people including homeless people, individuals with learning difficulties, over 50's and ex-offenders. We change lives through support, learning and jobs.

K N ARTS Gallery now available to hire
K N ARTS Gallery is based at 68 Humberstone Gate in Leicester City Centre, situated just outside of the Cultural Quarter. This huge gallery space is available to hire throughout the year - either weekly, fortnightly or monthly to Creative professionals and Artists. The Gallery is open Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm. Get in touch for an application form. W: kylienortharts.wordpress.com E:kylienortharts@hotmail.com

Knighton Lane Artists studios
Knighton Lane Artists studios have available studio spaces. 70.00/month includes 24/7 access, bills, onsite parking and use of the workshop. We are a collective so membership will also entitle you to exhibit regularly as part of the KLA. To view the studios or to get more information please contact our membership co-ordinator timjfowler@hotmail.com http://www.knightonlaneartists.co.uk

Dock
Dock offers a wide variety of services for entrepreneurs, so you’ll find something that fits your needs. Dock is an excellent base to grow your business. Our quality office, lab and workshop spaces are professional and affordable. All our workspaces have 24/7/365 access, with a managed internet and telephony system so you can plug in from day one. All workspaces are unfurnished but furniture can be leased at competitive rates, if desired. Find out more here.

The Innovation Centre
De Montfort University’s Innovation Centre is a launch-pad for student, graduate and staff businesses which are either innovative by nature of their products or services or can demonstrate innovative working practises. We provide a physical hub in which local entrepreneurs and innovators can grow and develop their business. The Innovation Centre offers: A space for your business to operate from; 24 hour access to your unit; Meeting, boardroom and event space at no extra cost; Access to DMU expertise; your business could benefit from working with world class Researchers, Academics and Professional Services staff; A social hub for informal meetings and recreation. Because The Innovation Centre is part of De Montfort University, we are able to connect our residents with Researchers, Academics and Professional Services staff who can assist in the growth and development of the business. Find out more here.

Studio Spaces Available at Two Queens
Artist's studio spaces are available at Two Queens' studio complex in Leicester's cultural quarter. Prices start from £50/month inclusive of bills and rates and benefit from 24/7 access, natural light, Wi-Fi and the chance to take part in member's activities, group critiques and professional development sessions. Two Queens Membership is now also available to non-studio holders and is open to artists working in any medium, aged over 18 and living within the UK. 2q membership is aimed at those who wish to benefit from the critical dialogue and support that a peer group of fellow practitioners can provide, but do not require a studio space. For more information and to register your interest in studio space or 2q membership please email info@2queens.com.

Creative Leicestershire Business Surgeries
Book a one-to-one session with our business advisor, Fred Brookes.

• Leicester, 3 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available
• Blaby Library, 10 March, LE8 4DW. One hour slots available
• Leicester, 24 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available

 

 

These sessions are only available to residents of Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland. This is a Creative Leicestershire event

Free Range Shows 2015 Catalogue Cover and Branding Design Competition
Free Range is Europe’s largest graduate art and design show. Each summer, over six weeks, around 3,000 creative graduates from all over the UK exhibit their graduating projects within the disciplines of art, design, fashion, photography, interior design, and architecture. This year Free Range is giving IdeasTap members the opportunity to create the catalogue cover, which will be distributed and showcased during the 2015 season. The winning design needs to be eye catching, bright and applicable to all disciplines showcased at Free Range. The single successful designer will be credited in the printed catalogue, which will have a 10,000 print distribution to be widely circulated throughout the season. This brief closes on Monday 23 February 2015 at 5pm and is open to IdeasTap members aged 18 and over. Find out more here.

Exhibit at Clerkenwell Design Week London
Clerkenwell in London is home to a high concentration of creative businesses and architects per square mile, making it an important design hub. To celebrate this rich and diverse community, Clerkenwell Design Week has created a showcase of leading UK and international designers, brands and companies presented in a series of showroom events, exhibitions and installations that take place across the area. The 6th edition of Clerkenwell Design Week will take place from 19-21 May and will see the participation of partnership showrooms, studios, showroom partners and galleries who will open their doors to designers and the public. The organisers are currently inviting designers to apply to exhibit in one of five shows. Deadline: 1 April For more information and to apply visit Clerkenwell Design Week.

Oska Bright Film Festival open for Entries
The 7th international festival of short films made by people with learning disabilities invites submissions for the 2015 festival. The festival is looking for films and digital media that are under 10 minutes long. They can be in any genre, from live action or animation to documentary or dance-film. Films can be made by groups or individuals in the UK or abroad and they must have learning disabled people in control. The deadline for entries is Thursday 30 April 2015 and the Festival takes place over 3 days in November 2015, in Brighton. The website www.carousel.org.uk has full information on how to enter and an accessible on-line guide to film-making. Or you can call on 01273 234 734 or email oskabright@carousel.org.uk for an information pack.

Roca Jump the Gap Design Competition
Jump The Gap is an international design competition run by the bathroom company Roca offering a platform for students, young designers and architects to show off their talent. Running in its sixth year, Jump The Gap is looking for new, innovative and sustainable concepts for the bathroom. Roca is now calling students, young designers and architects who are under 35 worldwide to enter their designs. Jump The Gap will offer three prizes: two winning projects and one Special Sustainability Prize, presented by the Roca We Are Water Foundation. The two winning projects will each receive €4,000 in prize money, with the Sustainability prize winner receiving €1000. Deadline: 1pm (GMT + 1) Wednesday 25 February. For more information and to enter visit Jump The Gap

Belfast Photo Festival - 2015 Open Submission
Looking to get more exposure for your photographs? Belfast Photo Festival is offering between 20 and 40 IdeasTap members the chance to exhibit their work in the main gallery of a major festival alongside some of the biggest names in the field, with a number also having the opportunity to be featured in the arts magazine Abridged. The winners will be eligible for a number of awards, including a cash prize of £1,000. The theme for this brief has been left open; submissions must be photographic or lens-based but can include incorporations of other art forms with the photographic medium (i.e. performance, painting, sculpture, music, literature etc). This brief closes at 5pm on Friday 6 March 2015 and is open to IdeasTap members aged 16 and over, find out more here.

Photography Workshops at Cotesbach Educational Trust
Every fourth Tuesday 18.45-21.00 from April to September
A series of workshops with Tom Clark of Broughton Astley Photographic Society. Beginners & intermediate welcome.
Individual workshops £8, book all 6 for £40. Secure you place via our Centre Co-ordinator on 01455 558373. See what's on at www.cotesbachschoolhouse.org.uk Main Street, Cotesbach, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4HX

Training, Workshops & Events at Phoenix

• The New Incunable Print Shop - Free Workshop 17 Feb, 1-7pm Phoenix, 4 Midland Street, Leicester LE1 1TG. A free drop-in workshop where you can design and make your own 3D print block then use it to create original artworks and posters.  
• 8 Great Hollywood Directors Fridays, 6 Mar – 1 May, 2pm. Price: £52/£44 conc. This 8 week course will be led by Alan Seaman, examining one director a week in order to better understand the contribution these eight directors made towards Hollywood’s impact on the world.

 

• Distributing your Film Sat 7 Mar, 10.30 – 4pm. Price: £35/£30 conc. We follow the distribution journey all the way from initial concept through the stages of production to festivals, premiere and sales with insider information from distributors and sales agents.
• Make a Crystal Radio Set Workshop Sat 14 Mar, 1pm. Price: £25. Build your very own, fully-functional, crystal radio receiver based on the classic 100 year-old design. No batteries required, the Crystal Set is one of the devices that kick-started the modern world.

 

Contact Phoenix Box Office on 0116 2422800 or for more information go to www.phoenix.org.uk and look for ‘Short Courses for Adults’

Creative Leicestershire Business Surgeries
Book a one-to-one session with our business advisor, Fred Brookes.

• Leicester, 3 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available
• Blaby Library, 10 March, LE8 4DW. One hour slots available
• Leicester, 24 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available

 

 

These sessions are only available to residents of Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland. This is a Creative Leicestershire event

'Selected for the Top - 2015' - Made in Leicestershire at the top floor of Ferrers Gallery
Ferrers Gallery and Creative Leicestershire are teaming up to run an exhibition of selected artists on the top floor of the gallery throughout 2015. The exhibition will run from May to July, August to October and November to February giving 18 artists from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland the opportunity to sell their products at this prestigious gallery. Each exhibition will see 6 artists selected and one from each cohort will be selected to receive mentoring from the owner, Rachael Chambers. To apply please send a CV with a covering letter stating why you want to exhibit at Ferrers Gallery and stating whether you would also like to apply for a mentoring session from Rachael. Please include details of where we can see your work on line, a short biography of no more than 300 words and a high quality image that, if you are selected, will be used alongside your work in the Gallery. Application deadlines are Feb 28th, May 31st & August 31st 2015,  please email your application to creative@leics.gov.uk

BSR-Henry Moore Foundation Fellowship in Sculpture
Three-month Fellowship. The British School at Rome, with the support of a grant from The Henry Moore Foundation, is offering a new three-month Fellowship at the BSR in 2015-2016 and
the following two years. Applicants should offer projects that are rooted in an understanding of sculpture from any period, but which reference Italian practice, again from any period.
Specific areas of interest for the BSR include: Sculpture and the concept of the copy and the fake; Sculpture and spolia; Sculpture and the public arena. Applicants must be British or Commonwealth citizens; or must have studied at postgraduate level in a Higher Education Institution in the UK, having completed by October 2014 not less than four years of residence in the UK; or must hold a post in a Higher Education Institution in the UK. Deadline: 27 February. Find out more here.

Rutland Open Art Exhibition
The Rutland Open Exhibition 2014 is organised by a sub-group of Arts for Rutland, and takes place between Saturday 14 March and Saturday 25 April at Rutland County Museum, Oakham, LE15 6HW. The private view is held on Friday 13 March from 6 – 8:30pm. Artists and Designer-makers (painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography (including digital), ceramic, glass, textiles and jewellery) from Rutland, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire are eligible to enter. Prizes of £250 are available, and each artist may enter up to three works. All submissions are to be delivered in person on Saturday 7 March or Monday 9 March between 10am and 4pm. Find out more here.

Applications now open for Lustre
The contemporary Craft Market at Nottingham Lakeside Arts has announced that applications are now open for Lustre 2015. Each year in November, Lakeside is delighted to host Lustre, a prestigious event in the contemporary craft calendar. Featuring top quality work by selected UK designer/makers, this is a key diary date for anyone interested in discovering unique pieces. It's the perfect buying opportunity for festive shoppers and serious collectors alike. Apply online now or contact lesley.beale@nottingham.ac.uk for more information or to request an application form. Deadline for applications is 24 April 2015. Dates 6 - 8 November 2015

Sculpture at Bermondsey Square - Open Call
VITRINE Gallery is commissioning a series of outdoor sculptures to be exhibited in Bermondsey Square, south London. Each project will last around six months. The aim of this project is to give emerging/mid-career artists the opportunity to create exciting new work for a public space. Working in collaboration with local and national partners, VITRINE is inviting IdeasTap members to submit a proposal. There is no overall theme for this commission – and it is free to submit an application. This brief closes on Tuesday 31 March 2015 at 5pm and is open to IdeasTap members aged 18 and over who are resident in the UK. Find out more here. 

British Ceramics Biennial - Applications now open
The British Ceramics Biennial is returning to Stoke-on-Trent for a fourth time from the 26 Sept to 8 Nov 2015 and applications are now open for the prestigious AWARD and FRESH exhibitions. The celebrated AWARD exhibition will sit at the centre of the fourth British Ceramics Biennial. You are invited to apply for the BCB AWARD 2015 - a prestigious exhibition that celebrates the vitality and standing of contemporary British ceramics, in the context of its long history in Stoke-on-Trent. Deadline for applications: Monday 30 March 2015. The acclaimed FRESH show will be one of the main exhibitions at the fourth British Ceramics Biennial. Graduates (BA, MA) of UK higher education universities and colleges who graduated in 2014 or 2015 are invited to apply for the BCB FRESH 2015 - a prestigious exhibition that celebrates the emerging talent in contemporary British ceramics, in the context of its long history in Stoke-on-Trent. Deadline for applications: Monday 6 July 2015. Find out more here.

Calling All Crafters, We Need You - The Enchanted Garden
The Big Knitting Group are heading up a project entitled Our Knitted Story which culminates in an exhibition at Charnwood Museum in June. The term 'knit' also refers to connectedness and the bonds that tie us together. We are asking the public to contribute to an installation entitled The Enchanted Garden, which will be a storytelling environment. Details of what we want you to make can be found via project coordinator Sarah Greens Super Crochet Girl blog. Deadline for your lovely crafted creations is Friday 1st May 2015.

Artist Commission - Transported Creative People and Places Project
Transported is looking for an experienced and innovative artist to undertake the first of a series of public art commissions in Spalding town centre. Transported is working with Spalding Civic Society to undertake the first of a series of public art commissions, the first completed and installed during 2015, as a catalyst and inspiration for the other pieces.  This commission and the collection would take the history of the town’s historical market as its theme, exploring a range of techniques, materials and approaches to create high quality, innovative and stimulating artworks.  The selection process is through open submission in response to a commission brief, leading to a shortlist of artists selected by the lead partners being commissioned to create a small number of maquettes (small scale models) of their proposals, that would form a small exhibition for display in the town (and elsewhere). Deadline for Expressions of Interest is 5pm on Friday 20 February 2015, shortlisted applicants will be notified by 5pm on 2 March 2015. For more information visit the website.

Calling Designer-Makers: Applications now open for Handmade in Britain 15
Handmade in Britain supports and promotes designer-makers who create their work in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. We provide a platform of support and promotion for design and craft talent through fairs, events and popups alongside workshops and mentoring. We increase accessibility, create market opportunities and maintain high standards in the craft sector whilst providing a comprehensive support programme for new graduates and up-coming design talent. Applications are now welcome from makers who produce their work in England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland, and who work in the following disciplines: fashion design & accessories, interior design & accessories, glass, jewellery, furniture, stationery, metalwork, ceramics, sculpture, woodwork, prints and etchings - please check the application pack for details. Deadline 31 March.

Do you have what it takes to become Landscape Artist of the Year 2015?
This new competition is an evolution of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year and is being filmed in association with the National Trust. Painting from some the most iconic locations around the country you could win a £10,000 commission for the National Trust’s permanent collection. The competition is open to professional and amateur artists, and whether you choose to paint a city, a lake or your garden, your entry can be in any style and any material (excluding photography, video, sculpture and all forms of digital media). Even collage and mixed media are allowed - so don't limit yourself! Apply at sky.com/landscape The closing date is 12pm Friday 20th March.

Ceramics Workshops
Come along & create your own unique gift this Mothers Day; a ceramic rose, a heart... a special something that will be treasured for years to come! Ceramics workshops are great for anyone looking to learn a new skill whilst creating something beautiful and unique. Whether there's a specific item you wish to make or simply just to have a play and explore the world of clay, we have a range of workshops available designed around you. Available for: one-to-one's, groups, childrens activities, parties, Hen parties, schools, after school clubs, craft groups, care organisations and more. We are also able to come to you! From £15 - £109. Ceramics Workshops do not run on specific dates, date and time availability is flexible- weekdays, evenings, weekends, to check availability just enquire with your desired date.

15 knoll street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9QR
www.katherinefortnumceramics.com / kfortnum@hotmail.co.uk / 07732789997

Simply Drawing Exhibition
16 January – 21 February 2015 New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, New Walk, Leicester LE1 7EA, open Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5.  An exhibition of drawing in all its forms at New Walk Museum by members of Leicester Society of Artists. The exhibition starts next to the cafe, and continues with more drawings on display next to G6 Victorian gallery. www.leicestersocietyofartists.co.uk

Workshops from Emily Found a Thing

• Professionally Rolled Edge No Sew 30cm Drum Lampshade Thursday 9th April, 7-9.30pm £35 Turn your own choice of fabric into a distinctive table lampshade or pendant for your home.
• Mosaic Garden Table Top June 4th, 11th and 18th  6.30-9pm £105 for 3 sessions Make an old garden table more inviting with a decorative top made from broken china shards and other finds.
• Call out for new makers we will consider anyone specialising in working with recycled, reclaimed or vintage materials. Send images of your work or a website link to Rachelgrevatte@gmail.com

http://www.emilyfoundathing.co.uk/

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Art/Craft Courses & Events at Cotesbach Educational Trust

• Cotesbach Educational Trust is a registered charity centred around a unique Marriott family archive dating back over 400 years. We host and provide learning opportunities focusing on Heritage, Environment, and the Arts and between 1st and 9th August 2015 we are having a Pop Up Wool Week. If you are an artist working with wool and would like a stall 10 - 4pm on 1st, 2nd, 8th or 9th August for £15 please call our Centre Co-ordinator on 01455 558373.
• English Paper Piecing Workshop Saturday 28th February 10am - 4pm. Join local retired teacher Lynda Hill and learn how to preserve copies of letters into a patchwork suitable for a cushion or table runner. Letters will be scanned onto fabric and used as backing to add extra interest. Preserving documents creatively! £12 inc tea & cake (bring your own lunch) Book now: 01455 558373. 

 

• Cotesbach Educational Trust are looking for heritage crafts stallholders
  to join our Saturday March 7th and Saturday April 4th markets, which
  also take place in the Stableyard. Spaces are available for £15 for the
  day. Please contact our Centre Co-ordinator on on 01455 558373.

See what's on at www.cotesbachschoolhouse.org.uk
Main Street, Cotesbach, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4HX

 

 

 

Art & Craft Courses at Embrace Arts

• Life drawing - Diane Hall. Wednesdays, 18 February – 18 March – Catching vitality, 6.30pm – 8.30pm. £60 / £30 for 5 sessions. Tutor: Diane Hall. Emphasise the muscles and tensions of the body as the model takes up poses for simple tasks, such as lifting, holding and reaching for items.
• Abstract watercolour Tuesdays, 24 February – 31 March, 1.30pm – 4.30pm. £70 / £40 for 6 sessions. Tutor: Lois Gardner Sabet. Work with the basics of colour theory, using watercolours to develop varied expressive brush strokes that will lead to compositions and completed paintings.

 

• Art and ideas - From Picasso to pop art Wednesdays, 25 February – 25 March, 1pm – 4pm. Number of Sessions: 5. £55 / £30. Tutor: Peter Clayton. Create exciting paintings inspired by modern artists such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, George Braque and William Blake.
• Life drawing for absolute beginners Saturday 28 February, 10am – 3.30pm, £40 / £22. Tutor: Scott Bridgwood. Gain the know-how and confidence to create your own life drawings, using a variety of media and having one-to-one teaching.

 

Embrace Arts, Richard Attenborough centre, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 7HA. www.embracearts.co.uk

 

Upcoming printmaking courses at Leicester Print Workshop

• Teachers Print Lab Tuesday 24th February 5.30pm - 8.00pm Teachers’ Print Lab is a series of regular CPD print sessions that take place one Tuesday a month for the duration of the 2014/15 school year (Sept – July).
• The Leicester Print Workshop / DMU Fine Art Lecture: Clunie Reid, Thursday 26th February 5.00pm - 6.00pm We’re happy to be working with Leicester DeMontfort University once again to present another FREE fine art lecture.
• Linocut Saturday 14th March 10.00am - 4.00pm Discover the versatility of this popular relief print technique.This course will introduce the basic skills of linocut from designing your image to cutting your block and printing.
• Artist Talk: Kate Da'Casto Wednesday 18th March 6.00pm - 8.00pm Kate Da’Casto was Leicester Print Workshop’s Artist in Residence in 2014, where she nurtured her passion for etching, screenprinting, collage and digital print

 

Leicester Print Workshop,  50 Saint Stephens Road, Leicester, LE2 1GG. All courses can be booked by calling Leicester Print Workshop on 0116 255 3634, emailing info@leicesterprintworkshop.com or visiting www.leicesterprintworkshop.com/courses

Creative Leicestershire Business Surgeries
Book a one-to-one session with our business advisor, Fred Brookes.

• Leicester, 3 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available
• Blaby Library, 10 March, LE8 4DW. One hour slots available
• Leicester, 24 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available

 

 

These sessions are only available to residents of Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland. This is a Creative Leicestershire event

Write Stuff in Loughborough
The new Charnwood Arts space at 29 Granby Street. Loughborough, is hosting a new writers group, 'Write Stuff'. A series of six writing workshops to promote 'Good mental health and well being'. Initially the project will run for 6 weeks from Thursday 12th February 2015 from 3pm-5pm, all welcome, sessions are free however a £1 donation is requested towards tea, coffee and biscuits. Contact: 01509 822558.

The Asian Writer Short Story Prize
We’re looking for new and original fiction under 3000 words. There is no set theme. Published writers are welcome but your story must not have been submitted elsewhere. £10 per entry, one per person. 1st PRIZE  – £100 Email entries to editor@theasianwriter.co.uk with Short Story Prize 2015 in the subject heading. Please include a short biography of no more than 100 words. Deadline: 1 March 2015. Find out more here.

Save the date - Edge-Lit 4, QUAD, Derby
Saturday 11th July, 10am-10pm approx, QUAD, Market Place, Derby. Edge-Lit returns for its latest instalment with the biggest year yet! An essential day out for any writer or reader of science-fiction, fantasy or horror, Edge-Lit 4 brings together a superb range of UK writing talent for a heady blend of panels, readings, workshops and booksales, as well as the now infamous Edge-Lit raffle and the devilishly difficult Edge-Lit quiz. Edge-Lit 4 is your chance to get an insight into the worlds of writing and publishing, hear from some of the biggest and most talented names in the field, gain inspiration and ideas in our workshop sessions (expanded for 2015 due to popular demand) and get yourself an incredible book haul to take home with our freebies, bookstalls and phenomenal prizes! Tickets £30 available here.

Make Friends with a Book at your local library
A new shared reading group started at Coalville Library on 6th January. This group is the latest development in an innovative project set up by Leicestershire Libraries in partnership with The Reader Organisation and Leicestershire Public Health, which has seen the launch of eight such groups across the county. Each group runs weekly, and is free and open to all. The reading groups follow a model pioneered by The Reader Organisation, an award winning charitable social enterprise whose aim is to connect people from all communities and backgrounds with great literature for improved well-being. There is no need to book a place – you can just turn up, groups run at Birstall, Blaby, Coalville, Glenfield, Hinckley, Melton Mowbray, Oadby and Wigston, visit your library to find out more. New members are welcome! 

Re-Writing the Archives - tea parties at Cotesbach Educational Trust
14.00 – 16.00, Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd & Sunday 10th May,
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th July, Thursday 6th & Friday 7th August. Hear five captivating radio plays, written by established UK writers, each based on archive discoveries. Aired at vintage inspired tea parties, together with a mini talk. £10 includes a cream tea. Tickets via our Centre Co-ordinator on 01455 558373. See what's on at www.cotesbachschoolhouse.org.uk Main Street, Cotesbach, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4HX

Intermediate Creative Writing Course
Mondays, 23 February – 30 March, 10.30am – 12.30pm
£50 / £25 for 6 sessions. Tutor: Fiona Linday. For those writers embarked on a current creative writing project. Share, discuss and get feedback on your narrative to create a polished piece of fiction. Find out more and book here.

The Purple Breakfast Review is Open for Submissions
We invite writers and illustrators to submit their work on the theme of ‘Beginnings’ to be considered for publication in the first issue of our 2015 online journal, The Purple Breakfast Review. The first issue will be published in March 2015, with submissions for this issue closing on Friday 20th February 2015 at 5pm. You can enter up to 3 pieces of creative work or 3 illustrations for FREE, to be considered for any one issue. Subsequent submissions will be at a small fee. We are accepting written submissions in the form of prose, poetry, drama and non-fiction. Illustrations are to be sent in PDF or jpeg formats and written submissions attached as a Word document. Maximum Word Limits are as follows: Poetry – 600 words, Prose – 2000 words, Drama – 2000 words, Non-fiction – 1000 words. To enter your work, simply send your submission/s to pbr@thestudentwordsmith.com. We look forward to receiving your entries. The Student Wordsmith team.

Submit a Play to HighTide 2016
If all the world’s a stage, who’s writing the script? Well, you are. HighTide Festival are giving you talented bunch of scribblers the chance to have your play read at their brilliant theatre festival in Aldeburgh in September 2016.
Up to two winners of this brief will each receive feedback from Steven Atkinson, HighTide Artistic Director, and Stephanie Street HighTide Literary Associate, and a public reading at HighTide’s London offices. If a play is deemed to be exceptional, there may then be the chance to have the reading remounted at the HighTide Festival 2016 in Aldeburgh.
The HighTide Literary Department exists to discover and nurture exciting new plays by exceptional emerging writers and has quickly become an engine room for new writing in the UK. Find out more at Ideastap. Deadline: 23 Feb.

Courses & Events from Writing School Leicester

• More Magic of Fairy Tales Following on from The Magic of Fairy Tales, this short course will deepen our understanding of this timeless genre through examples of familiar and less well known fairy tales. Mondays 23 Feb - 16 March, 11am – 1pm, at LCB Depot, LE1 1RE. £64, £52 conc.
• Writing Workshop 2 Picking up from Writing Workshop 1, this course with Maxine Linnell will encourage you to experiment with a wide range of writing styles and genres - fiction, poetry, drama, memoir and more. Wednesdays 25 Feb - 18 March, 10am – 12pm, at LCB Depot, LE1 1RE. Cost: £64, £52 conc.
• Writing Poetry for Performance Join poet and performer LYDIA TOWSEY for this short course focused on writing poetry for performance. Thursdays 26 Feb - 19 March, 6.30 - 8.30pm at The Y, LE1 6EY. Cost: £64, £52 conc.
• Special Event: Line Breaks in Free Verse Workshop with Mimi Khalvati The line break is the sine qua non of free verse. Not only does it establish a poem as poem but, being the most precise of instruments, defines its very nature. In this workshop, led by Mimi Khalvati, we will explore how we can refine that instrument, empower and employ it, both as writers and readers. Sunday, 15th March 2015, 11am - 5pm, Phoenix Arts Centre, Leics. £45, £35 conc.

All courses have a 4% PayPal fee if booked online. More courses are available on the Writing School Leicester website

 

Creative Leicestershire Business Surgeries
Book a one-to-one session with our business advisor, Fred Brookes.

• Leicester, 3 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available
• Blaby Library, 10 March, LE8 4DW. One hour slots available
• Leicester, 24 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available

 

 

These sessions are only available to residents of Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland. This is a Creative Leicestershire event

Curve Breakthrough Companies
Curve is proud to present a new round of its Breakthrough Companies Programme, a development programme for East Midlands-based artists. Now in its second year, the Breakthrough Company Programme offers local artists the opportunity to take the next step in developing their artistic careers. The programme includes training, mentorship, in the rehearsal room support and the chance to be programmed into Curve’s Inside Out Festival 2016; a festival dedicated to showcasing emerging artists from across the East Midlands. Over the course of the year, up to four East Midlands' based companies/artists will join Curve’s existing Breakthrough Companies to receive regular masterclasses and training sessions at Curve led by the world-class theatre and performance practitioners. Previous examples include BBC Writers Room, Royal Court Theatre, Coney, Fuel Theatre, and Aakash Odedra. This brief closes on Thursday 19 March 2015 at 5pm and is open to all IdeasTap members aged 18 and over. Find out more here.

Discover Dance: Dance4 CPD Workshops for Teachers and Dance Artists
Workshop Tuesday 24th February 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Cost £35. Sir Jonathon North Community College, Knighton Lane East, Leicester LE2 6FU Discover Dance explores ways for Key Stage 3 students to watch, explore and critically engage with dance through activities that combine dance learning with content from other curriculum subjects. Dance4 is offering four fantastic CPD workshops for teachers and dance artists. These sessions will explore themes from the performance and working methods of the company giving you fresh ways to connect your practical sessions with the production that your groups can then go and see with the discount ticket deal for participants. For full details of all the workshops click here.

RASAA 2015 South Asian Arts Showcase
28 February, The Peepul Centre, Leicester, LE4 6DP. The South Asian Showcase is the first public event delivered by the Leicester based Regional Association of South Asian Arts (RASAA). RASAA look forward to welcoming you to their inaugural event and hope that you will enjoy the programme of taster workshops and music and dance performances from Project 12, Anusha Subramanyam and Kajal Sharma. Find out more here.

A brand new online learning programme
People Dancing and Dance for PD®, with the assistance of the Dance for Parkinson’s Network UK, have created the Dance for Parkinson's online learning programme. Aimed at dance practitioners interested in working with those with Parkinson's, the course aims to give the background knowledge needed before embarking on practical learning associated with the safe delivery of dance sessions for people with Parkinson's. Find out more here.

Blurring Boundaries: Urban Street meets Contemporary Dance
Call for Papers Serendipity and De Montfort University are collaborating to hold a conference which will reflect on the current state of Hip-Hop, B-Boying and Urban Street dance with a particular focus on its presentation in theatres. It aims to embrace the myriad of influences and the continued global developments in this sector which is leading to a flourishing mix of diverse dance styles. We are invite submissions of abstracts of no more than 500 words for 20 minute talks or performative lectures which address the conference focus. Go to the website for more information and to apply. Deadline: Friday 27 February 2015, 5pm.

The BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers' Competition 2015 is now open!
The BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers' Competition provides what most composers only dream of; the chance to have your music performed by professional musicians at the BBC Proms and broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Winners also receive a BBC commission for a high-profile performance and are mentored throughout the process by a professional composer. All competition entrants will be given priority booking for Inspire Days during the 2015 Proms season: free workshops where you can create music alongside professional musicians and like-minded young composers from all over the UK. Previous workshops have explored electro-acoustic composition, film music and everything in between. Best of all, it’s all free! If you’re aged 12 to 18 and write your own music, what are you waiting for? Enter the competition and see where it takes you…

Music Education Seminar, Nottingham Community Music
Nottingham Community Music invite you to a seminar on Thursday, 5 March from 16:00 to 17:45 celebrating the launch of our new music software and 'Mr Mangle Magical Music Factory' Project.  'Mr Mangle's Magical Music Factory' is an exciting new music software application for Key Stage 1 & 2, Early Years and SEN that enables children to record their voice (or anything else) and turn it into an amazing, film- like sound.  Watch our short promotional film to find out about Mr Mangle and and recent pilot. We would like to invite you to try it yourself at our seminar at Forest Way School, Warren Hills Road, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 4UU, where you can hear all about the pilot study which took place in Special Education Needs and Early Years settings. There is also a 10% discount on purchasing for all those who come along. Refreshment provided.  We hope you can make it! 



Calling Musicians, Dancers and Vocalists
Drum and Brass brings Leicester's communities together through music-making. The first event  resulted in the performance, just before Christmas, of a brand new piece of music - "East Meets West" which will soon be made available in video and as sheet music. The second event in our Arts Council-supported project is coming up soon and the time to book a place is now! 'Exploring Street Rhythms' will be a high energy weekend of collaboration between samba drummers from Sambando Drumming Leicester and other artists. Guided by American composer Mark Polishook we'll be looking at rhythms and melodies based on conversations, rhymes, chants and other street sounds which will be combined into an overall work. This event is for all performers - instrumentalists, dancers, vocalists and artists; level of experience is not important. The workshop will be held at St Patrick's Church on Beaumont Leys Lane on Friday 20th, Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd February with an informal performance at the end and the cost is £20 for the weekend. Register online www.drumandbrass.co.uk

The Fosse Music Collective
A group of mental health service user musicians and songsters meeting on Monday afternoons to play music and enjoy themselves with an option to record and perform - and it's free. Monday afternoons 12.30 - 2.30pm at Fosse Arts, Mantle Road, Leicester, LE3 5HG. To find out more contact Tim Sayers, Arts in Health Coordinator at LPT Tim.Sayers@leicspart.nhs.uk tel: 07795475806

How Can You Improve Your Workshop Techniques?
As a freelance Music Practitioner have you ever felt isolated in your work and thought it would be great to have the chance to talk to like-minded, experienced, contemporaries about your workshop techniques and working practice; or to get a personalised outside perspective on what you do and how you do it, to discuss on a 1-2-1 basis how you may develop or enhance your musical offer? soundLINCS is offering up to 10 Music Practitioners the chance for a peer to attend their workshop for FREE. This unique learning and development opportunity is designed to help inspire, energise and develop your delivery by way of an accessible approach to observational practice. Telephone us on 01522 510073 or email info@soundlincs.org to let us know what your needs are and how we can help and support you on a confidential 1-2-1 basis! Get in touch for more information and book an appointment for an informal observation and reflection on your session and working practices.

People Dancing Summer School - Save the date!
People Dancing have announced that their annual Summer School will take place from Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 July 2015 at De Montfort University's Performing Arts Centre of Excellence building in Leicester. More information will be available on the People Dancing website shortly.

National Student Drama Festival 2015
The National Student Drama Festival empowers and inspires young talent and ambition. NSDF15 will take place in Scarborough next spring. It will feature performances, workshops, discussions, masterclasses and entertainment in venues across Scarborough, including the Stephen Joseph Theatre, University of Hull Scarborough Campus and the Scarborough Spa. It will run from Saturday 28 March 2015 to Friday 3 April 2015 inclusive. If you are aged 16 to 25 (inclusive) and involved with a UK-based theatrical production taking place between now and 20 February 2015, and think that it might be something that deserves being part of NSDF15, find out what they’re looking here. This brief closes on Friday 20 February 2015 at 5pm and is open to IdeasTap members aged 16 to 25.

Emerging Perspectives Programme
Developing the next generation of East Midlands theatre-makers and performers: As the East Midlands leading touring theatre company - the single largest provider of theatre specifically designed to tour to rural community venues - we produce 4 productions per year, in addition to running a range of participatory and training programmes.Training and skills development are central to our work. The Emerging Perspectives programme provides a range of opportunities for emerging theatre-makers living, working and studying in the East Midlands including Emerging Performers and Practitioners: an opportunity for emerging actors, directors, designers (set, costume, lighting or sound) composers, stage managers or writers aged 18+, to take part in a company of emerging East-Midlands theatre-makers - beginning on Monday 6 April 2015, with a short tour of East Midlands venues from 6 July 2015. Deadline: 20 February 2015. For more information visit the website.

Performing Arts & Music Events at Embrace Arts

• Yo Tabla! Fridays, 20 February – 27 March, 6.30pm – 7.30pm, £40 / £25. Tutor: Rishii Chowdhury. Focused on wellbeing, Yo-Tabla! Provides an all-round approach to learning this beautiful Indian classical hand drum. You will also practice basic yoga, breathing and meditation to complete your learning.
• Beyond a Joke presents Funny Bones Discussion Sunday 22 February at 3pm FREE Part of Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival. It has been said that comedy thrives on breaking taboos but are there any limits as to what comedians can talk about, and specifically what language they can use when discussing issues linked to disabilities. Our panel discuss language and comedy, and whether it matters who is telling the joke. 1 hour. For 14+ years.
• Tetrad presents Us and Them Sunday 15 March and 3 May at 7pm £6 / £4 A performance platform for emerging artists from the midlands area to showcase scratch work and engage in networking opportunities as well as sharing work with peers and wider audiences. 3 hours. For 16+ years.

 

Embrace Arts, Richard Attenborough centre, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 7HA. www.embracearts.co.uk

 

 

Events from Dance4
Dance4 is an international centre for the development of extraordinary 21st century dance.

• Two Destination Language presents Near Gone Saturday 28 February at 8pm £10 / £5, Embrace Arts. A heartfelt story about survival… Two performers have a difficult story to tell. They come on stage and attempt to put into words the utterly unspeakable. Delivered in English and Bulgarian, with pounding gypsy inspired music, this beautiful performance fills an empty space with two performers, hundreds of fresh flowers and a storm of emotion. 1 hour. For 14+ years. In Partnership with Dance4.
• Workshop with Two Destination Language Saturday 28 February, 10am - 12 noon, £8 / £6
  Two Destination Language (Katherina Radeva and Alister Lownie) lead a two hour intensive workshop which will explore performance presence, devising techniques, choreography and visuals within contemporary theatre. Come in comfy clothes and be prepared to engage. We will dance, move, speak, be in silence, look and be looked at. No performance experience necessary. Age suitability 16+.
• Quick Shifts Sunday 26 April at 6pm £6 / £4, Embrace Arts. Adventures in improvisation continue as Quick Shifts return for another series of impromptu dance performances. Led by a pioneering group of dance explorers, these evenings navigate the unpredictable terrain of improvised performance, asking questions, breaking new ground and excavating the endless potential of the spontaneous moment. There are frequent opportunities for you to engage in discussion with the artists and participate in a range ways including online and even occasionally onstage (but this is not compulsory!).

 

 

Creative Leicestershire at Cultural Exchanges
Join the Creative Leicestershire team on Thursday 26th February for our one day programme of events as part of De Montfort University's Cultural Exchanges Festival. Book a one –to –one business advice session with Kate Cowan, Director of Spring to Action, or a focussed one to one coaching session with expert Julia Damassa of Storyshapers. Take part in professional development planning sessions and join our marketing and web design seminars. Then join us for a glass of wine and experience a fast moving and fun PechaKucha event with our guest speakers including Brian Lisowy, Operations and Business Manager at De Montfort Hall, international  visual artist Khush Nubian and Birmingham based graphic designer Sam Jones. Book now for each of the events to secure your place.

A festival of ideas, insight and inspiration; Cultural eXchanges features a variety of guests and speakers from the cultural and creative industries, see what else is on during the festival here.

Get Creative
Get Creative is a major celebration of the nation's arts culture and creativity. Led by the BBC and What Next? in collaboration with a huge range of arts organisations, it invites everyone to have a go and share their creative talents. Get Creative aims to boost creativity in the UK, as well as celebrating the millions of people already doing something artistic and creative everyday. Get Creative’s aim is to encourage as many people as possible to engage even more deeply and widely with the arts. And for those who don’t yet see the arts as part of their lives, it will offer an irresistible invitation to get involved. Want to find out more? Email getcreative@bbc.co.uk

Creative Coffee
Creativity, Coffee & Conversation. We're a free fortnightly networking meet-up for creative people and those looking to meet creatives. See www.creativecoffee.org.uk

Writers Meet Up Leicester
Writers Meet Up is  a relaxed and informal meet up for writers living in and around Leicestershire. You'll find plenty of advice and inspiration or just a listening ear amongst this friendly group. The format: Buy a drink, introduce yourself and talk about writing and see where the conversation leads... . 

Open Coffee - Leicester Tech Startups
This is a networking and community event for existing and aspiring tech startup entrepreneurs. Aimed at geeks, techies, scientists, coders, students, entrepreneurs and innovators who are serious about turning great tech ideas into money via startups, spin-offs and joint ventures. See http://www.leicesterstartups.com/

FSB & Network Midlands - Networking in Leicester’s West End
FSB & Network Midlands bring SPICE to Networking in Leicester’s West End (First weds of each month) at the NEW Chef & Spice Restaurant. Meet people who can help you within your business or help get you in front of your customer. Talk directly to business people who have resolved business issues which you may be having. Venue: Chef & Spice 1 Andrewes Street, Hinckley Road, Leicester, LE3 5PG,  Date: first Wednesday of each month. Time: 6pm to 9pm, Price as stated (includes networking, food and a drink) Places must be booked via the Eventbrite booking system. 

C.E.M.E.N.T
C.E.M.E.N.T is an online space for Creatives and Artists to connect, collaborate and create. We’ll be platforming inspirational Artists and Creatives through our monthly Creative Profiles. Linking Artists with an interest in kickstarting collaborative projects through our Lonely Heartists section and sharing a wide range of Events and Training all of which can be found on our site, or in our easily digested monthly newsletter. Click here to register as a CEMENT member,  gaining free access to all content online, as well as signing up to the newsletter.

Creative Leicestershire at Cultural Exchanges
Join the Creative Leicestershire team on Thursday 26th February for our one day programme of events as part of De Montfort University's Cultural Exchanges Festival. Book a one –to –one business advice session with Kate Cowan, Director of Spring to Action, or a focussed one to one coaching session with expert Julia Damassa of Storyshapers. Take part in professional development planning sessions and join our marketing and web design seminars. Then join us for a glass of wine and experience a fast moving and fun PechaKucha event with our guest speakers including Brian Lisowy, Operations and Business Manager at De Montfort Hall, international  visual artist Khush Nubian and Birmingham based graphic designer Sam Jones. Book now for each of the events to secure your place.

A festival of ideas, insight and inspiration; Cultural eXchanges features a variety of guests and speakers from the cultural and creative industries, see what else is on during the festival here.

Professional development workshop, a-n The Artists Information Company
Thursday 26 February 2015 at 10.30am - 4.30pm. A full-day workshop empowering artists and individuals to fundraise effectively and create a financial strategy for their projects. The session looks at: Approaching galleries and funding bodies with a great proposal; Minimising rejection when applying for funding; How to create a financial support strategy for your projects; Writing about your practice effectively; Finding out about the best sources of funding for your activities. This workshop offers feedback sessions for funding proposals in progress in a friendly, supportive environment. Participants are asked to bring copies of a fundraising proposal they are working on. Each proposal will be examined and suggestions will be made to improve chances of success. The session is aimed at practitioners with little to no experience of fundraising, or those who need a refresher course in current strategies. Dodge the shredder is created, developed and delivered by Emilia Telese, an Italian artist working with performance, visual, site-specific and video art. Her practice spans several art forms, from interactive and body-responsive technology, film and live art to installation and public art. Cost: £40 (full price) £20 (discounted price for a-n members or members of Creative Greenhouse) To book a place click here

Idea Coach: Creativity coaching
Are you facing challenges when trying to manage your creative spark with the rest of your world? Would you like to take a more focussed approach to managing creativity from the point of inspiration, right through to the realisation of your idea? If this sounds like what you need, then creativity coaching may be a helpful option for you. Please visit our website to get in touch.

Get Nifty with a Fifty - LOROS Accumulator Challenge 2015
Get involved with the LOROS Accumulator Challenge this year and compete alongside other local companies, organisations and groups in a bid to win awards for the "Most Innovative Idea”, "Most Engaging Idea" and "Most Money Raised". The last year's Challenge was succesfully completed by 20 teams. To celebrate LOROS' 30th Anniversary this year we are aiming for 30 teams to join our Accumulator Challenge! The challenge is straightforward: LOROS kick off the campaign on 18th March 2015 and provide you with £50 and a pack full of inspiring ideas to make the challenge even more entrepreneurial. You have three months to "grow" that £50 in any way you like as long as it is legal and ethical. The challenge finishes on 18th June with an Award Party, where competitors will learn who wins this year's LOROS Accumulator Challenge whilst indulging in lovely canapés and fizz. It's the perfect opportunity to network with likeminded individuals and local organisations in an informal setting. This challenge is fun, flexible and suitable for groups of all sizes, so what are you waiting for? Leading participants will feature in press releases generating excellent PR for your organisation. LOROS will also feature your fundraising activities on our webpage and social media. 

Training from Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy
The Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy programme has 26 fundraising training courses taking place across England between January and March 2015. Find out more and download a copy of the training leaflet here.

EM Regional Arts Award Conference: Plan, Play and Celebrate!
On 12th March TMC will be hosting our annual Arts Award Conference. This year we will be reflecting on the successes of the past three years of Bridge, celebrating the achievements of our many Arts Award Advisors throughout the region, and looking ahead to what Arts Award support in the East Midlands will look like in the next three years. Date: Thursday 12th March, Venue: Kelham Hall, Nottinghamshire, Time: 10am – 4pm, Cost: £125. Book by 28th Feb and pay only £35. With performances from young people, an exhibition of artwork from children and young people throughout the region, creative workshops, consultation and networking opportunities, this event is not to be missed! Find out more here.

Cultural Hubs - Arts In Libraries Conference
Thursday 19th March, St Helens Town Hall, WA10 1DY. Over the last year St.Helens network of 13 libraries have been energised with a whole host of quality performances, exhibitions, digital engagement projects, commissions and activities, all made possible through Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts Libraries Fund. To mark the end of St.Helens Cultural Hubs Phase One we would like to invite you to: share our learning from this experience, look at best practice from other library services, discuss integrating arts into the library offer and network with others interested in arts in libraries. Find out more and book here. 

Family Arts Conference - Save the date
Friday 13 March 2015. Cadogan Hall & Royal Court Theatre, London. A major event to introduce important new research, share learning and launch the next exciting stage of the Family Arts Campaign. Come together with colleagues from across the visual and performing arts sectors and beyond to explore family arts and their audiences. Join us for a day which will capture the key lessons from the Campaign to date, promote peer learning and start to plan the exciting next phase of the Family Arts Campaign. Early Bird offer ends 31st Jan: from £95+VAT. This is available to Family Arts Standards holding organisations, find out how to sign up here. Book now here.

Creative Dementia Arts Conference - Save the date
Creative Dementia Arts Network welcomes everyone with an interest in the use of the arts to improve the health and wellbeing of people with dementia to its fourth annual conference: The contribution of creative arts to building dementia friendly communities Thursday 16 April 2015 at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. The conference programme includes plenary sessions and workshops offered by leading practitioners and researchers in the field, a poster competition, Jessica Kingsley Books, exhibition stands and a sharing space for literature brought by conference delegates. All booking details available here.

Thrive: Continuing professional development (CPD) programme for creative practitioners
Delivered by experienced and knowledgeable facilitators, the sessions cover a wide range of topics tailored to meet the needs of creative practitioners. The Feburary to May programme also includes monthly portfolio review sessions. All sessions will take place at The National Centre for Craft & Design unless stated otherwise. Find out more www.nationalcraftanddesign.org.uk

AMA Training and Resources
Founded in 1993, the AMA is a not-for-profit organisation with over 1,800 members, providing a community of knowledge for arts professionals passionate about bringing arts and audiences together.

• Digital fundraising Online workshop
  Thursday 5 March, 2.00pm- 4.00pm Discover your organisation’s potential for online fundraising and how to approach it. Technology is being celebrated as a way to increase individual giving but how can you use it in your organisation? Andy Hamflett of AAM Associates will explore digital fundraising and share case studies from inside and outside the arts sector, pulling together top tips on how your organisation can make the most of this opportunity.
• AMA Conference 2015
  STAY CURIOUS  - Redefining, reimagining and reinventing our relationship with the public. 21 Jul 2015 to 23 Jul 2015, Birmingham. AMA conference 2015 will bring together 600 inquiring minds working across the arts, culture and heritage sector to share ideas, insights and inspiration about our future relationships with audiences. Our speakers will include those who have been deeply curious about evolving public needs, desires and values and are using this insight to adapt their approach and to grow their audience.  Join them to hear their stories, share your own, and inspire new solutions.
• Culturehive is an online knowledge hub, jam-packed with free innovative arts marketing and audience development resources. Who knows which new ideas might spark your interest?

 

Find out more and become an AMA member: http://www.a-m-a.co.uk/

 

Training from Voluntary Action Leicestershire

• Funding Fair 24 February  - 10:00am to 1:00pm. Come along and meet funders who are actively investing in community groups in your area at our Funding Fair.
• February Volunteering Network 25 February - 9:30am to 12:30pm The Volunteering Network provides a support and networking opportunity for managers of volunteers.
• February Economic Inclusion Forum
  26 February  - 9:30am to 1:00pm. The Economic Inclusion Forum is your opportunity to engage with large-scale economic development processes.
• Demonstrating Social Impact Webinar
  26 February 11:00am to 12:00pm. In this hour long web conference you will learn about different methods of measuring social impact and the tools that can assist you to start measuring this more effectively.

 

For further information & training visit the Voluntary Action Leicestershire website. 

Creative Economy of Leicester and Leicestershire: Survey
The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) is working with Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy (TFCC)  to establish a Creative Industries Growth Action Plan for the city and county. This will shape investment priorities for the next few years. We need the help of creative businesses like yours to ensure we fully understand the sector and set the right priorities. Your views are vital, so please complete this short survey. It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes. If your business is a creative business, please click the here.

LLEP Funding Gateway - New Funding Call
Due to the phenomenal success of the LLEP Regional Growth Fund grant scheme LLEP have been successful in securing some further ERDF Catalysing Growth funds. If you have a business expansion or training  project that  needs support to deliver and which will create or safeguard jobs you may qualify.  Please respond by 5pm on Friday 20th February 2015 by submitting an Expression of Interest. You will have until 27th February to submit a full application and the project must be completed by the end of May 2015.

Red Nose Day Community Cash
This year Comic Relief is distributing a £50,000 Red Nose Day Community Cash fund to communities across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland and South Kesteven. Red Nose Day Community Cash grants of £500-£1,000 are available to small organisations in the Derby & Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire & Rutland and South Kesteven area, that are doing great work to help local people living tough lives, click on the link below to see if you are eligible to apply for a Red Nose Day Community Cash grant now. The closing date is Tuesday 3rd March 2015 at 12pm. For more details visit: rednoseday.com

New Arts Council England Research Grants
ACE has launched a new Research Grants Programme to help build collective knowledge and deepen understanding of the impact of arts and culture; and to also promote greater collaboration and co-operation between the arts and cultural sector and research partners. In the first round (2015-16) organisations can apply for funding of between £50,000 and £100,000 for projects that last for up to three years. A total of £700,000 is available for 2015-16, with indicative budgets of £900,000 available for 2016-17 and 2017-18.  The deadline for applications is 5pm on 12th March 2015. Find out more here.

LCB Depot Business Development- Grow your creative business for free
TALK through your business problems with an expert, LEARN the skills you need to improve your business, MEET future customers and collaborators, and access hotdesk facilities- for FREE!* Whether you’re a startup or an established business, based at LCB Depot, Makers Yard or Phoenix Square Workspaces or part of the wider creative community in Leicester find out how we've helped businesses like yours and get in touch here *Funded by ERDF. Conditions apply

The Ernest Cook Trust Grants Programme
Schools, charities and not for profit organisations wishing to encourage young people's interest in the countryside and the environment, the arts or aiming to raise levels of literacy and numeracy can apply for funding to the Ernest Cook Trust (ECT). The Trust operates two grant making programmes. The small grants programme (under £4,000) supports state schools and small registered charities which would like to undertake projects which meet the Trust's objectives and require a small amount of pump-priming in order for such projects to take place and a larger grants programme for grants in excess of £4,000. Meetings to consider applications for the small grants programme take place bi-monthly throughout the year. The full board of Trustees meets twice a year, in April and September, to consider grants in excess of £4,000. Applications to the small grants programme can be made at any time. The next closing date for applications for the large grants programme is the 31st July 2015. Read more here.

The Radcliffe Trust – Music Grants
The Radcliffe Trust has announced that the next deadline for applications to its Music masking grants programme is the 31st August 2015. Through its grant making programme, the Radcliffe Trust supports classical music performance and training especially chamber music, composition and music education. Particular interests within music education are music for children and adults with special needs, youth orchestras and projects at secondary and higher levels, including academic research. Read more here.

New Arts Award Access Fund
Grants of between £100-£1500 are available to Arts Award centres in England working on Arts Award projects with young people for whom access and inclusion is an issue. Priority will be given to centres that will use the grant to support them to pilot, embed or develop their Arts Award work with these groups. The deadline for applications for Round 1 funding is 5pm on the 27th February 2015. Read more here.

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust are striving to make a difference to the lives and careers of crafts people whilst maintaining the very highest standards in craftsmanship. They fund talented people, whether at entry level in to the industry via the QEST Apprenticeship Scheme, or when they are trying to reach a level of excellence further in to their career, via the QEST Scholar awards. Every single recipient of a scholarship, over the past twenty-four years, acknowledge that QEST provided the essential turning point in their careers. Applications are now open for the Spring 2015 round of funding. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 20th January 2015 at 2pm. Interviews, should your application be successful, will take place on the week commencing 13th April 2015. For more information visit the website.

Epic Awards
From singing to knitting, theatre to painting, across the UK and Republic of Ireland over 60,000 volunteer-led amateur groups provide regular opportunities for people to take part in local creative cultural activities – the Epic Awards celebrate their achievements. The Epic Awards are run by Voluntary Arts, the UK and Republic of Ireland organisation set up to promote participation in creative cultural activity, with support from the Spirit of 2012 Trust. Epic Awards partners, who provide mentoring, training and capacity building support for winning groups, include Making Music, People’s Voice Media, Arts Development UK, Sue Isherwood and Rosemary Curtis. Nominations for the 2015 Epic Awards will open on Monday 12 January and close at 5pm on Monday 16th March 2015. A Winners’ Reception will take place during Voluntary Arts Week, the annual celebration of creative cultural activity taking place from 15 to 24 May 2015. For more details on how to nominate your group, visit www.epicawards.co.uk.

DONATE - Mobile giving for arts & culture
The National Funding Scheme (NFS), a registered charity, operates a mobile giving platform called DONATE. The NFS provides this platform for free to the arts and heritage sector, thereby totally transforming the way that the public can give to cultural and heritage organisations. DONATE combines SMS texting, QR code and web apps into one simple platform meaning that people can give to the organisation of their choice through one recognised brand - it is a very, very easy way of donating. Given the fact that many local councils are no longer in a position to support the many heritage and cultural organisations within their areas, this may offer a solution to some of the funding difficulties that many organisations are facing. Since March of last year over £83,000 has been raised using the DONATE platform with nearly 3000 donations being made (60% of all donations are gift aided). Visit www.nationalfundingscheme.org to find out more.

BBC Children in Need Small Grants Programme
The next deadline for applications to the BBC Children in Need Small Grants programme is the 1st March 2014. Through the Small Grants programme, funding up to £10,000 is available for projects that combat disadvantage and improve children and young people's lives. Read more here. 

City Health Care Partnership Foundation Small Grants Programme
The City Health Care Partnership Foundation has announced that the next deadline for its small grant programme is the 1st March 2015. The programme provides grants or donations of up to £1,000 to local voluntary and community organisations, schools and/or other not-for-profit organisations to carry out activities, projects or one-off events that contribute towards the health and wellbeing of people throughout the UK. To be eligible, groups and organisations needs to have been in existence for at least one year, have an annual income of less than £30K, and work for the benefit of the local community in which CHCP CIC operates. Read more here.

Women Make Music Grant Scheme
The Performing Right Society (PRS) has announced that its Women Make Music grant scheme is now open for applications. Through the programme, financial support of up to £5000 is available to women musicians to create new music in any genre. This can range from classical, jazz and experimental, to urban, electronica and pop. The next application deadline is the 27th April 2015. Read more here.

Awards for Young Musicians
If you are aged between five and seventeen you can apply;  we give awards of between £200 and £2,000, in total up to £100,000 per year; in 2014 we made Awards to 125 young musicians, some of whom we’ve been helping for several years, assisting with all the major costs of a young musician’s training, such as extra tuition, buying an instrument, travel and specialist courses. The deadline for 2015 applications will be Friday 13 March 2015. For more information and to apply visit the website.

Fidelio Charitable Trust
Fidelio welcomes applications for grants up to £5,000 in support of the Arts, in particular the dramatic and operatic arts, music, speech and dance. Institutions, colleges, Arts Festivals and other arts organisations in the United Kingdom, may seek financial support as follows: for individuals or groups of exceptional ability, whom they have been responsible for selecting, to enable them to: 1.to receive special tuition or coaching (e.g. in the case of musicians to attend Master Classes) 2.to participate in external competitions. 3.to be supported for a specially arranged performance. 4.to receive support for a special publication, musical composition or work of art. Applications from individuals or groups seeking support for themselves will not be accepted. See the website for more information.

Cultural Commissioning Toolkits
The Cultural Commissioning Programme has collated a range of resources on cultural commissioning for those wanting to engage in public service commissioning and for commissioners such as local authorities, clinical commissioning groups, NHS and others wanting to work with arts and cultural providers. A range of toolkits are available on specific areas, find out more here.

Third Sector Loan Fund to offer unsecured loans
Charities and social enterprises are set to benefit from an innovative new £30 million fund launched today, which paves the way to attract game-changing levels of commercial finance to grow the sector. The Third Sector Loan Fund is pioneering a model designed to encourage banks and other mainstream institutions to invest in funds which finance charities and social enterprises. Santander has committed £13.5 million, believed to be the biggest single investment by a mainstream UK financial institution into a third party fund lending to social ventures. The fund enables financial institutions to invest on a commercial basis, which in turn makes more money available for charities and social enterprises to borrow, providing finance they need to grow, deliver better services and create jobs.
It is the UK’s largest fund investing in a wide range of charities and social enterprises across all social sectors, and will make loans of £250,000 to £3 million, both secured and unsecured. It is due to announce its first investments in the next few weeks. More information here.

Sky Academy Arts Scholarships
Sky Academy invites IdeasTap members to apply for one of five £30,000 Arts Scholarships. These life-changing bursaries, which include a programme of expert mentoring, allow each scholar to focus exclusively on their creative practice for an entire year. Get ready to give up that day job... The scholarships are open to artists aged 18-30 and are designed to help emerging talent from a range of disciplines to develop their work and take their careers to the next level. In addition to financial support, winners are paired with business and creative mentors from Sky and their industry to support them along the way. Applications close at 5pm on Thursday 26 February 2015, but judges will be reviewing entries as they come in. Find out more and how to apply here.

Create: A journal of perspectives on the value of art and culture
Create is a new journal from Arts Council England that aims to stimulate discussion about the true value of art and culture to our society. Watch the interactive culture matters film online and join the discussion on Twitter by following @ace_national or using the hashtag #culturematters.

Funding to Develop Smarter Cities
Web entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMEs) have the opportunity to apply for funding to develop future internet applications to make cities smarter, more sustainable and more cohesive. The fund is open to both web entrepreneurs and small and medium sized businesses that wish to turn novel concepts (new apps and services) into a proven business proposition. The next closing date for both Round A and Round B applications is the 28th February 2015.
Find out more here.

Sir Thomas White Loan Charity
The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity has been in existence since 1542 and was founded by one of the City’s most generous (but least well known) benefactors, Sir Thomas White. Although he never actually set foot in Leicester, Sir Thomas is honoured by being included as one of the four statues around the Clock Tower in the Leicester city centre. We are an Equal Opportunity organisation providing loans for new business ideas and young businesses needing investment. Eligible candidates may borrow up to £15,000 for business and up to £6,000 for education, to establish themselves in their chosen career. Loans are interest free for 9 years, repayable by equal instalments after 3 years. Find out more here.

Music Grants for Older People
The registered charity, Concertina which makes grants to charitable bodies which provide musical entertainment and related activities for the elderly has announced that the next deadline for applications is the 30th April 2015. The charity is particular keen to support smaller organisations which might otherwise find it difficult to gain funding. Since its inception in 2004, Concertina has made grants to a wide range of charitable organisations nationwide in England and Wales. These include funds to many care homes for the elderly to provide musical entertainment for their residents. Read more here.

New India Cultural Exchange Fund
A new £1.5million lottery fund will be available in early 2015 to build creative connections between the people of England and India. The new funding will provide English artists and arts organisations with opportunities to develop collaborations and cultural exchanges with their Indian counterparts. The scheme will be run by British Council and the Arts Council England and will give grants of £15,000-£100,000 to support projects that:
Promote creative collaborations & Showcase the best of UK and Indian arts across a range of art forms and activities; etc. Applications open in January 2015 and there will be a second round of funding in 2016 with activity expected to peak during 2017 to mark the 70th anniversary of Indian independence. Read more here.

Dock - Business Development
The Business Development Team are here to help your high tech, low carbon, or knowledge economy business be profitable and sustainable, whether you’re based at Dock or part of the wider community in Leicester. The Business Development Team currently offers: grants, one to one coaching & workshops. For more information visit the website.  

Are you looking for funding?
Fund My Venture specialise in securing grant funding for charitable and social organisations. We have raised over £1,400,000 so far working with over 50 organisations through grant bid writing, fundraising strategies, impact evaluation writing, social organisation formation and project development services. For more information visit www.fundmyventure.co.uk, or call: 0116 251 9899 or e-mail: info@fundmyventure.co.uk

Accelerator
Accelerator is IdeasTap's new commission-free crowdfunding platform. As an arts charity and funder, we've been helping creative people to get their ideas off the ground for years. Now we're offering our members a way to raise project funding themselves - without the commission fees other crowdfunding platforms charge. What's more, we're putting our money where our mouth is. Every month, we'll select up to two Accelerator projects and pledge £500 to help each of them reach their target. To find out more visit the website.