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

Finance and Admin Manager - Writing East Midlands
Writing East Midlands is the writer development agency for the East Midlands region. WEM discovers new talent, creates new opportunities and works to enhance the region’s reputation for the quality of its writing as well as the diversity of its writers. Writing East Midlands is looking for a Finance and Administration Manager to ensure the smooth running of the organisation. This is a broad role within a small but vibrant cultural business that requires a safe pair of hands. We are a flexible employer. Please visit the website for the full job description.  A CV outlining your relevant skills and experience and a covering letter, setting out why you are interested in the post, should be sent by E-MAIL ONLY to Henderson Mullin CEO at henderson@writingeastmidlands.co.uk The deadline for applications is 5pm on 18 March 2015. If you have any queries relating to the post prior to submitting your application, please contact Henderson Mullin on 07903 187868. Interviews will be held in Nottingham w/c 23 March.

Creative Projects Manager - The Core at Corby Cube
You will manage, develop and lead our work with young people, children and families; developing successful education partnerships, maintaining a vibrant high quality venue-based creative projects programme, and providing practical and administrative support to the Arts Team as a whole. You will have experience in developing and managing creative workshop programmes, projects with schools and working with a range of communities, groups and individuals.  You should have an understanding of good practice in Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults and have excellent communication, interpersonal and project management skills. Two Year Fixed Term Contract - Full-time position. Up to £24k per annum. Closing Date: Wednesday 18th March 2015. Interviews to be held on Tuesday 24th March 2015. Apply here.

Marketing Assistant - Nottingham Playhouse
Nottingham Playhouse, one of the UK’s leading producing repertory theatres is looking for an efficient, creative and enthusiastic person to join our busy Marketing & Communications Team. The Marketing Assistant will be an outstanding communicator, with excellent IT skills, a clear and focused understanding of marketing, excellent attention to detail and a passion for theatre and the arts. They will work on a range of projects including print display and distribution, writing direct mail letters and e-shots, working with designers and printers to produce promotional material and provide general administrative support to the department. Closing date: Friday 20 March 2015 at 5pm. For more details, job description and application form please see the website.

Fundraising Officer - The Y
Imagine life without a home. Too many young adults are living traumatic lives and experiencing homelessness, family breakdown, bereavement, depression or abuse. Help us change the story; join our team so that homeless young adults in Leicester and Leicestershire have a safe place to call home and get help to create a positive future for themselves. The Y is a vibrant charity offering housing, education, advice, sports, theatre and arts. Over recent years we have successfully positioned ourselves as a preferred provider of services to young adults and have secured funding from national and local sources. It is an exciting time to join The Y! Sitting within the newly formed Business Development and Arts Team, you will support the generation of project specific and un-restricted income that will enable The Y to develop innovative services that change the lives of homeless young adults. As a dynamic fundraiser you will develop a range of exciting community events and build relationships with individuals, community groups and local businesses. You will have an impressive track-record in fundraising and a passion for the cause. An independent thinker who is able to generate fresh ideas, you will manage your own workload and be highly skilled at building relationships and inspiring people. Salary: £20,655 - £23,109 (pro rata) 20 hrs per week Closing date for applications 17th March, interview date 23rd March. Apply here.

Strategic Audience Development Manager - West Midlands Museum Partnership
The West Midlands Museum Partnership (WMMP) consisting of Black Country Living Museum and Culture Coventry is one of Arts Council England’s 21 Major Partner Museums. Through this investment across the next three years, the Partnership will deliver an exciting programme of activity celebrating excellence and building an ambitious and inspirational model of resilience for museums. We are looking to recruit part-time Strategic Audience Development Managers, at both Black Country Living Museum and Culture Coventry, to research, develop, deliver and evaluate multiple strategic audience development projects to help fulfil our audience development objectives, particularly regarding audience diversity and equality. Apply for the Strategic Audience Development Manager role based at Black Country Living Museum here. Apply for the role based at Culture Coventry here. Both positions are supported using public funding by Arts Council England. Closing date: 23 March 2015. 

Call out for artists and art tutors - Attenborough Arts Centre
Artists and arts tutors are invited to submit a proposal for a course(s) and/or workshop(s) for the forthcoming Creative Learning programme at Attenborough Arts Centre. For the forthcoming programme as well as our adult learning programme we have some exciting new opportunities for Creative Learning. They are as follows: Children, young people and family creative learning: Alongside our established adult learning offer, we are developing our creative learning programme and interested in receiving proposals that offer tailored sessions for one or more of the following areas, children, young people, families together, tailored for people with disabilities, weekends and/or school holidays. With our new gallery launching this autumn there is also the opportunity to propose courses and workshops specifically tailored to the exhibition programme. Find out more and apply here. The deadline for submission of proposals, preferably by email, is 5pm on Friday 27 March.

Multi-disciplinary arts coaches/performance arts teachers - S.O...Academy
We are looking for a team of dynamic arts coaches with cores skills in singing / dance / drama for an exciting new multi-disciplinary arts education venture. However, we are not focused only on performance arts so the ability to lead projects and be comfortable collaborating / leading on other arts disciplines / mediums would be important as much of our work will be project based and may be initiated through master-classes led by visiting specialists. Initially this will be part-time at weekends but may potentially involve a team working on projects throughout the week. You should have experience working with children and young people and will be able to work with children of various ages.  We are looking for a number of people to take groups of children spanning from 4 - 16 years. Professionals who can teach performance skills across the disciplines would be ideal e.g. vocal skills and drama or dance/movement and drama.  An ‘all rounder’ would be ideal for our youngest age group. We are looking for professionalism, enthusiasm, energy and imagination and you will be willing to collaborate and enjoy working with children and as part of a small team. We would be keen to hear from you if you would be interested in getting involved, whatever your discipline, and also if you would be available to teach master-classes or lead projects on an ad hoc basis. Please email your CV and / or email to info@soacademy.co.uk by 28 March to discuss how you could work with us.

Marketing and Communications Manager - Mantle Arts
Mantle Arts in Coalville, Leicestershire, is looking for a new part time Marketing and Communications Manager. The post will start in April and will support our Word Factory creative writing and publishing programme. Further details and how to apply here www.mantlearts.org.uk/jobs Closing date: 30th March 2015.

External Evaluator - Pedestrian
We are seeking to commission an External Evaluator experienced in the fields of music, early years, and social and emotional development to monitor the impact of our 'Little Music Stars’ programme. Focused within the Wellingborough, Northamptonshire area, the External Evaluator shall liaise directly with Pedestrian’s Project Coordinator, Bob Christer. The External Evaluator will be expected to produce an Interim and Final written report, drafts of which are to be reviewed by the Project Board. Closing date: 30 March 2015. Visit the website for more information. 

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 thos 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. Closing date: 31 March 2015.

Trustees/Board Directors - LEVEL Centre Ltd
Exciting Opportunity for New Trustees/Board Directors at LEVEL (formerly known as First Movement) For 25 years LEVEL has pioneered in the power of arts and creativity to change the lives of people with learning disabilities. Based in Derbyshire, the charity’s work has a growing national and international impact. In 2008 we opened the doors of a stunning £1.8million purpose-built facility as investors including Arts Council of England, East Midlands Development Agency and Derbyshire County Council demonstrated major support for the long-term future of our work. By bringing together the unique creativity of learning disabled people with innovative artistic approaches, backed by digital research, LEVEL is positioned at the leading edge of practice within both the arts and learning disabled sectors. At this exciting time, we seek new Trustees to join our Board and our journey. We are especially keen to hear from people with experience and expertise in Finance, Health and Social Care, Learning Disability, Marketing, the Arts and Technology. If you are a community member, a professional or a carer and are willing to share your skills, knowledge and time to make a difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities we’d love to hear from you. Further information and application details can be found here. Or alternatively contact Alison Foote alison@first-movement.org.uk for an application pack or call her on 01629 734848 or 07702829985 to find out more. Closing date for expressions of interest is 31 March 2015. A Board recruitment event will be held on 21 April from 6pm

Lecturer in Art Museum and Gallery Studies, School of Museum Studies - University of Leicester
At Leicester we’re going places. Ranked in the top 20 universities in Britain our aim is to climb further. A commitment to high quality fused with an inclusive academic culture is our hallmark and led the Times Higher Education to describe us as “elite without being elitist”. The School of Museum Studies is one of the University’s leading research and teaching departments and is internationally recognised as a world leader in the field of museum studies. We work with museums, galleries, and related cultural and HE organisations internationally to develop creative practice through leading edge research and teaching. Building on its success, the School is growing and further developing its Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s Degree in Art Museum and Gallery Studies and is now seeking to appoint two dynamic and creative lecturers who will undertake world-leading research in the field of art curation, deliver high quality and creative research-led teaching, and work with colleagues in the School to establish the Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s Degree in Art Museum and Gallery Studies as a leader in the field. For further information please see the website. Deadline: 1 April 2015.

Development Manager - The Mighty Creatives
The Mighty Creatives are looking for a Development Manager to join the team. We want you to use your creativity to help children, young people and adults transform their lives, the services they use and the communities they live in. For this particular role, we’re also looking for someone who has significant experience of working in a direct development or creative role with children or young people. If you would like to find out more about this exciting opportunity please visit our website Deadline: Thursday 2 April 2015.

Artist Commissions, Transported: Creative People and Places Project
Artist Commissions: Refuse Freighter Commission (Haulage) Transported is seeking an artist or designer to create a series of six artworks that will be reproduced in vinyl wraps onto Boston Borough Council’s six Refuse Freighters (bin lorries). We are looking for inspirational and innovative designs that are inspired by, and a celebration of, the people, landscape or the ‘place’ that is Boston Borough. The deadline for all Expressions of Interest is 5pm on Tuesday 7 April 2015. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by 5pm Monday 13 April. Up to 5 artists or teams will be shortlisted for this commission. An honorarium of £500 per shortlisted party will be available to assist with the preparation of a more detailed proposal. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their proposals on Friday 22 May 2015. Budget: £20,000 + VAT. For more information and to download the full brief, visit the website.

Near Now Fellowship 2015 - 2016, Broadway
Broadway is proud to invite applications for the second iteration of its Near Now Fellowship, a national scheme to support three outstanding practitioners through a tailored sixteen month artistic and professional development programme. Running from May 2015 to September 2016, the Fellowship offers an opportunity to develop an ambitious single commissioned project or new body of work through a supportive programme and growing community of practice. We welcome applications from a broad range of creative practices including artists, writers, curators, designers, hackers, developers, architects, producers, technologists, publishers and arts professionals. To apply visit the website. Deadline: 10 April.

ESP and Public Programmer - Eastside Projects
Eastside Projects (EP) makes art public. We are an internationally renowned organisation based in a free public gallery that is being imagined and organized by artists, in partnership with Birmingham City University. We commission, produce and present experimental art practices and demonstrate ways in which art may be useful as part of society. We opened our doors in 2008 and now produce eight public projects each year, in the gallery and offsite, alongside a dynamic events programme. For more information about Eastside Projects see www.eastsideprojects.org Talent development is embedded in all aspects of our organisation from commissioning new work, to our highly influential Extra Special People (ESP) programme which supports over 170 artists, curators and art-writers from Birmingham, the West Midlands and beyond. EP provides vital infrastructure and supports best practice by establishing and exercising new models for artists and curators to research, produce and thrive. For more information about ESP see www.extraspecialpeople.org The Role As ESP and Public Programmer you will work with Gavin Wade and Ruth Claxton to devise, develop and deliver the gallery’s public events and manage the ESP programme; producing events, projects and opportunities for and with, members. For full job specification and application details please visit the website. Deadline: 10 April 2015.

Freelance Workshop Leader - Charnwood Arts
ArtHouse on Tour is a programme of art-based activities targeting children in rural villages across the Charnwood area. Coordinated by Charnwood Arts, this programme provides an opportunity for local artists to gain recognition and work within the community. Due to the success of ArtZone on the Move last year, the programme has returned under the new name of ArtsHouse on Tour. Funded by Rawlins Community Trust, workshops and activities will be held at a mixture of indoor and outdoor venues, including village halls, community centres and back by popular demand, The Green Place in Sileby.  The workshops will take place sometime between Mon July 20th and Friday 14th August. We are looking for artists to propose and lead workshops for children between 2-18 years in rural settings. The workshops should follow the environmentally friendly theme. This could involve recycling old materials, or foraging for leaves and berries to create outstanding artwork. We’d love to hear your approach to the environmental theme. The workshops normally run from 10 am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm, or they can be whole day projects. Surprise us with some great ideas! Submission Details: Name of the workshop; Brief description of the proposed workshop; Outcomes of the workshop; Age range the workshop is suitable for; Pictures may be included; Fee expected - Length of entry should be a maximum of one side of A4. Please email your submission to Rebecca Abrahams at rebecca.abrahams@charnwoodarts.com by 30 April 2015 and put ‘ArtsHouse on Tour Artist’ as the subject.

PHP Web developer with Cite The Digital Agency
We’re looking for a web developer to join our expanding technical team. The position offers the successful candidate a role packed with variety in the heart of a thriving digital agency. Our clients are regional or multinational, startups or FTSE listed. Whatever their size they’re always on the lookout for innovative digital solutions. View the full job specification here.

 

Leicester Print Workshop - Our Big Move
Leicester Print Workshop is planning its move to the cultural quarter later in the year.   We are currently raising funds and making plans to convert 50 St George Street, (next to Two Queens and round the corner from the Phoenix, Makers Yard, Curve and LCB Depot) into a two storey flagship for printmaking. The ground floor will be a printmaking studio with education and exhibition spaces, a kitchen and room for members to read and to have a cuppa. The upper floor will have LPW's offices, framing room and room for an artist in residence. This floor will also house Upper Floor Studios & Workspaces.

We are currently looking at options for the layout and arrangements for the studios & workspaces, and we are inviting expressions of interest from organisations and individuals who might want to share our space with us.  We are governed by certain criteria but essentially we are looking at a combination of private hire studios, common space, longer term rentals and day hire. If you are interested in finding out more please email info@leicesterprintworkshop.com. We will hold a meeting in late April at our current premises for everyone who is interested to talk through all the ideas so please do let us know if you are interested and we will be sure to invite you.

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 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, 24 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available
• Leicester, 14 April, 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

Wildlife Filmmaking Summer School
Three IdeasTap members will win fully-funded places on a summer wildlife filmmaking course at Leeds Beckett University. We’ve teamed up with Leeds Beckett University (LBU) to give three IdeasTap members fully funded places on a wildlife filmmaking summer school. Each place usually costs £1,500. Using state of the art cameras and sound recording equipment, the workshop will be led by Nick Wright, a renowned wildlife documentary filmmaker, previously Director of the Filmmaking MA at the Northern Film School at LBU. Nick will be leading the workshops both at LBU’s studios at the Northern Film School, and out on location in beautiful Yorkshire (including Spurn Point, Yorkshire Sculpture Park). The focus will be on the native wildlife, flora, and fauna. The course will include a special wildlife sound recording workshop led by Jez Riley French (please see our website for details). The course will take place from 29 June to 12 July 2015. Find out more and apply here. This brief closes on Friday 10 April 2015 at 4pm and is open to all IdeasTap members aged 18 and over.

Phoenix: My School Photo Competition
Run in partnership with Leicester City Council, the My School Photo Competition is open to young people aged 6-18 years old who attend a Leicester city school. We want you to take photos inspired by your school and learning experiences. Then let us know what your photograph is of and why it’s important to you for the chance to win some great prizes including: A DSLR camera, One of two iPads, Phoenix cinema tickets for you and up to nine friends plus the opportunity to exhibit your work at a VIP event later in the year. Teachers are also encouraged to take part and the five teachers who help the highest number of their students to enter will also receive a Film and Dine voucher to enjoy a free trip to Phoenix. The deadline for entries is Friday 8 May. For more information or to enter, e-mail bsf@leicester.gov.uk

Digital R & D Resources - Native
Native is the magazine site from the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts in England. The website showcases the projects supported by the fund, shares their insights and research as well as lots of other stories of what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to digital innovation in the arts and cultural sector. The site also hosts information about projects funded through the Digital R&D Fund for Arts and Culture in Scotland and the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts in Wales. Visit the Native website to access a range of resources including the DIY R & D guide - an exploration of sixteen key building blocks to successful Digital R&D projects and the R&D Fund Glossary - Words, concepts and tools that have been important to the R&D Fund projects so far. Defined.

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.

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

• Julian Oliver The Crystal Line Fri 6 March – Mon 30 March. Created by internationally renowned artist and critical engineer Julian Oliver, The Crystal Line recreates a WWI crystal radio and combines it with the latest digital technology to produce a unique installation that explores advances in combat systems and battlefield communication technology. 
• Talking Pictures (Spring) Tuesdays, 14 Apr – 30 Jun, 10.30am (Excl. 5 May and 26 May) 10 weekly tutor-lead group discussions putting the cinema week in focus. £80/£70 Conc. Share your love of film at Phoenix with a course designed to provide the fullest possible cinema-going experience, including weekly admittance to the Phoenix matinee screening, showing our usual high quality mixture of the best in independent, world and mainstream movies, a cup of tea or filter coffee and – best of all – a tutor-led discussion among fellow motion picture lovers about the film of the week, current film news, controversies, obituaries and everything in between.

 

• Film School Thursdays, 7 May – 25 Jun, 7pm. Open up the world of filmmaking. £96/£80 conc. A week by week look into the process of filmmaking.
  During this 8 week course we will be studying: Using the camera and which shot types cause which effects within an audience; Capturing good audio and treating it; Editing, edit pacing and the effects it has; Music, and how it can change the mood of your film completely.
• The Fading Afterglow of Creation Fri 10 Apr – Fri 8 May Cube Gallery. The Fading Afterglow of Creation brings together the work of Leicester-based artists Dave Briggs and Jack Squires, and explores the ways fact and fiction combine to shape how we see ourselves in an increasingly technology-driven world. The exhibition presents a collection of inventions inspired by obsolete visions of the future, along with unearthed artefacts from a long-dead race who fell victim to their over-reliance on machines.

 

Phoenix, 4 Midland Street, Leicester LE1 1TG. Contact Phoenix Box Office on 0116 2422800 or for more information go to www.phoenix.org.uk and look for ‘Short Courses for Adults’

 

Interact Labs - Workshops & Events
Interact Labs provides a space at Phoenix in Leicester for people to be creative with digital technology and run workshops, skill sharing sessions, artists residencies & talks and generally encourage digital making in Leicester.

• Solar Panel Build Night Wed, 18 Mar 2015, 18:00 - 23:00 Leicester Hackspace, Makers' Yard. Going solar powered with 5V 1A (so 5W) solar panels. Get yourself one of the free 5 solar panels we have to use in one of your projects. This 5W panel weighs only 225g, with mounting holes so that it can easily be attached to a backpack, tent, car, whatever really. 5W is enough power to charge a typical smartphone in 3-4 hours (in direct sunlight). To get one of these free solar panels, all you need to do is come along to the build night, with a project in mind, and post about it on instructables. 
• Introduction to Arduino Sat, 21 Mar 2015, 13:00 - 17:00 Leicester Hackspace, Makers' Yard. Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. Our Introduction to Arduino Workshop will get you up an running with this exciting technology, showing you how to program the device and make simple electronic circuits. 

 

• Open Lab: 20 Years of Virtual Reality Tue, 24 Mar 2015, 19:00 - 21:00, Interact Labs, Phoenix. Come along and see what Interact Labs is up to. There will be an opportunity to find out more about our projects, make use of our equipment, meet other digital makers and get help with your projects. Free entry, just report to the main desk at Phoenix at 7pm and you will be shown up to the Lab. Free entry. This month's focus will be Virtual Reality technology - both past and present.
• InstaMorph Build Night Wed, 22 Apr 2015, 20:00 - 21:00 Leicester Hackspace, Makers' Yard. InstaMorph is an non-toxic, lightweight polyester thermoplastic which becomes mouldable after it has been warmed up (typically in hot water). It is reusable, so if you make a mistake you just need to warm it up again and remould it. Come along to our build night and get to use some InstaMorph for free.

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

• Leicester, 24 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available
• Leicester, 14 April, 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

Artist Opportunity - Leicester Print Workshop – Our Big Move Residencies
Leicester Print Workshop is excited to announce its new project, Our Big Move, a call for proposals to create ideas-led new work to mark Our Big Move from the Highfields area of Leicester into the city’s Cultural Quarter. LPW invites artists to propose an idea that relates to print but in the widest of senses. The idea can be as traditional, extreme, alternative, innovative or as conceptual as desired. The call is for artist to explore notions of print, incorporating and/or subverting the wide range of print techniques and presentations. Artists are free to work in any medium, working either individually or collaboratively with the studio users, the staff, the architects, and the contractors. 3 commissions will be awarded. Each selected artist will be given a fee of £500, plus twelve months of studio time during open access hours, which can be used in the old studio, the new studio or both studio spaces, a materials budget and a budget allowing for one to one time with an LPW tutor including any materials for that purpose. All commissions will be complete by September 2016. The closing date for this opportunity is 31 March 2015. Please download an application pack here. Applications should be marked ‘Our Big Move Residencies’ and sent to info@leicesterprintworkshop.com.

Research focused Residency - Acting Out Nottingham in collaboration with Rampton Secure Hospital and Primary
Acting Out Nottingham 2015: Rampton Secure Hospital and Primary - Research focused Residency April and May 2015 Call now open for artists living in the Midlands, UK Deadline for applications 20 March 2015. Acting Out Nottingham 2015 is the first themed programme created from the success of Anxiety Arts Festival London 2014 from its new base at UAL. It presents a curated programme of performance, exhibition, moving image, music and discussions – bringing together the arts and mental health. This new part time residency, conceived by Rampton Hospital, Primary, and Acting Out Nottingham 2015, will support an art research project engaging with the discourses that surround art within psychiatric contexts, projects looking at the history of how artists have engaged with the politics of closed institutions, and conversely how closed institutions have engaged with art and artists, specially in light of previous and existing experiments with art and performance ranging from therapeutic, socially engaged and expressive work. The residency comprises: - Access to Rampton Secure Hospital - Opportunity to interview selected staff from Rampton Hospital - Access to spaces at primary for the duration of the residency (to be agreed with artist) - A platform to present research at Primary and Rampton Hospital as part of Acting Out Nottingham 2015. - Administrative and curatorial support from Primary and Acting Out Nottingham 2015. - A total budget to cover all costs of £1200 See full description here.

The Heritage Crafts Association's Annual Conference - Save the date
A Place for Craft is the theme for this year's HCA Annual Conference - which will place makers and craftspeople at the heart of the conference and the discussions. The conference will highlight the relationship between crafts and location - focusing on those crafts which have developed in particular regions or locations, and why craftspeople have chosen to live and work in areas with a special tie to their craft. Speakers include Sir Christopher Frayling and Genevieve Sioka, artisan buyer for the National Trust, and makers and craftspeople will again be able to bring and exhibit the tools of their trade at the conference. The conference will take place on 9 May at the Victoria & Albert Museum, and falls during London Craft Week, 6-10 May. For more information and to book your place on the conference please visit the website.

Open Summer Exhibiton 2015 - Ten2 Gallery
The Ten2Gallery is again offering the exciting opportunity to artists in the area to submit up to 3 pieces of their work for consideration to be included in the open “Summer Exhibition” to be held at the Ten2Gallery during June 2015/July 2015. The aim of this is to identify and introduce new artists and their work to the public and the local artistic community generally. If
selected, it also gives artists the chance to sell their work and to broaden their networking opportunities. This year we have decided NOT to have a theme to our open. If you wish to include an artist’s statement with your of work, please do, but it is not a requirement, however it does encourage viewers to look closer at the pictures displayed and also hopefully conveys where your inspiration etc. comes from. An entrance fee of £4.00 per item, or £10.00 for three will be charged (non- refundable). The work for exhibiting will be selected by a panel of representatives from the The Art Studio, Ten2Gallery, and Art Cafe. Find out more and download an application form here. Deadline: 30 May. 

Call for Two artist team - Yorkshire Sculpture Park
We invite a joint application from an established artist team or arts company. The artists will work with families as part of Learning Together, a fascinating three year action research programme funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, which aims to enrich, inform and help develop the existing YSP family programme. The successful applicants will assist the Head of Learning and Family Learning Coordinator in developing a programme of activity based family research days alongside developing resources to engage family audiences. These are exciting opportunities for committed and experienced artists to work together to help investigate and build relationships with intergenerational participants at YSP. For an application pack, please see our website www.ysp.co.uk/jobs or contact Emma Spencer, Family Learning Coordinator on 01924 832535 or email: emma.spencer@ysp.co.uk Closing date for applications 23 March 2015.

Artist's Brief, artsNK
‘When in Sleaford …’ artsNK is seeking an experienced artist to create a series of small artworks for Sleaford in Lincolnshire. The artworks, to be sited in the pavements and / or on walls around the town, will do three things; act as way-markers, map out pathways through and around the town and inform residents and visitors about existing public artworks, key attractions and other places of interest. The programme will be developed in partnership with a local school and will be delivered through a programme of high quality community engagement. The budget is £19,000 (funding pending). Applicants can download the brief, application form and equal opportunities monitoring form from www.artsnk.org.uk. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 23 March 2015. Applications received after this time will not be considered. Interviews will take place on Monday 20 April 2015. Please contact Lucy Lumb at artsNK for more details email: lucy.lumb@litc.org.uk or phone: 07834 520 958.

Jerwood/FVU Awards 2016 ‘Borrowed Time’
Our idea for the Awards has always been that their curatorial theme should both resonate with the post-student experience, and have meaning in the wider world. The student experience these days is one of ever-more-precious creative time secured from the everyday pressures of the world, usually through borrowed money and lingering debt. These are some of the nuances in the title ‘Borrowed Time’ that we think artists might draw out in their response to this year’s theme. Two selected artists will each receive a £20,000 award to create a major new work over a 10-month period. Each recipient will also receive full production support from FVU, as well as access to the extensive moving-image facilities of University of East London, School of Arts and Digital Industries. Finished works will be exhibited at Jerwood Space, London, and at CCA, Glasgow. For more information and to apply visit the website. Deadline: 27 March 2015. 

Call For Work: Performance. Movement. Sound. - Gallery 202
Call for submissions. We invite to you participate in the selected call for submissions for our next bi-monthly exhibition. All artists are invited to submit for a digital-based exhibition. This means that works are submitted electronically and therefore can include aspects of most practices. A maximum of 3 submitted images per applicant along with an outlining piece of text (no longer than 150 words). The text should convey the thinking/philosophy behind the submission and submitted as an attached document. Images are to be 1000 along the widest edge and at a resolution of 300dpi and emailed to gallery202@hotmail.co.uk with the project title in the subject box – performance. movement. sound. If video or sound is submitted these should last for no longer than 3 minutes. Video works via Youtube or Vimeo urls only, sound works can be submitted preferably via Soundcloud or mp3 format. Please make sure content supplied via third parties is available to share and embed. Selected works will be collated and will form a temporary exhibition on the Gallery202 website. Along with any image based files sound or video and text, we will include any URL's you send linking your websites, blogs or other forms of social media. Deadline 01/05/15 www.gallery202.co.uk

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.

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.

Ten2 Gallery - Summer Programme Workshops & Classes
At the Ten2 in Hinckley we run a comprehensive range of workshops and classes covering a wide range of creative interests, even singing! Whether you are a beginner or someone with experience, these classes will provide the opportunity to develop your skills or learn new techniques over a 10 week schedule. We also plan to run some short courses over the Summertime. For details about our Summer Programme of workshops and classes and to make a booking visit the website or call us on: 01455 636339

Crafty Sew&So
We host and teach workshops and lessons from our bright and welcoming Studio in Sileby, Leicestershire. We also run workshops at venues around the county, regular monthly Sew Sociable Meetings and Unique Crafty Parties. Take a class with us, get advice on your sewing projects, or drop in to one of our BYO sessions for a friendly sewing cafe experience. Visit our website to find out more.

Fun Easter holiday activities - with Ceramics Workshops. 
Fun‬ ‎Easter‬ ‪‎Holiday‬ ‪‎Activities‬ with Ceramics‬ ‪Workshops‬! Why not come along and book a family session, everyone can create something! Great family activity! Or if you fancy a break just drop the ‪‎kids‬ off for a quiet afternoon break! 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, families, Hen parties, schools, after school clubs, craft groups, care organisations and more. We are also able to come to you! Prices start from just *£25 Ceramics Workshops do not run on specific dates, date and time availability is flexible- weekdays, evenings, weekends, to check availability just inquire with your desired date.

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

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.

• Call for heritage crafts stallholders to join our Saturday April 4th market, which take place in the Stableyard. Spaces are available for £15 for the day. Please contact our Centre Co-ordinator on on 01455 558373.
• 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

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

 

Art & Craft Courses at Embrace Arts

• Life drawing: Shapes and proportions Saturday 21 March, 10am – 3.30pm, £40 / £22. Tutor: Diane Hall Focus on observing the proportions of the body and how the shapes, mass, solidity and energy of the human form can be expressed in exciting ways.
• Inspirational silk painting Saturday 28 March, 10am – 3.30pm, £40 / £22. Tutor: Andrew Wynne. Use the traditional decorative textile techniques on silk with contemporary materials and processes. You will create several inspiring samples using resists and dyes.

 

• Painting problems: Windows & reflections Wednesdays, 10am – 3pm, 15 April – 13 May. Tutor: Jenny Wright, £100 / £50 for 5 sessions. Using the theme of windows and reflections, experimental paintings will be produced in various media in a supportive environment.
• Experiments in sculpture Mondays, 6.30pm – 9pm, £100 / £50 for 10 sessions. Tutor: Austin Orwin. Mondays 20 April – 6 July (not 4 or 25 May). Develop ideas and experiment with form, initially through drawing and maquette making, before scaling up to create a finished sculptural piece. Learn a range of sculptural techniques through an ambitious approach to object making.

 

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

 

Courses & Events at Leicester Print Workshop
Leicester Print Workshop is planning its move to the cultural quarter later in the year.   We are currently raising funds and making plans to convert 50 St George Street, (next to Two Queens and round the corner from the Phoenix, Makers Yard, Curve and LCB Depot) into a two storey flagship for printmaking. The ground floor will be a printmaking studio with education and exhibition spaces, a kitchen and room for members to read and to have a cuppa.  The upper floor will have LPW's offices, framing room and room for an artist in residence.   This floor will also house Upper Floor Studios & Workspaces.

We are currently looking at options for the layout and arrangements for the studios & workspaces, and we are inviting expressions of interest from organisations and individuals who might want to share our space with us.  We are governed by certain criteria but essentially we are looking at a combination of private hire studios, common space, longer term rentals and day hire. If you are interested in finding out more please email info@leicesterprintworkshop.com. We will hold a meeting in late April at our current premises for everyone who is interested to talk through all the ideas so please do let us know if you are interested and we will be sure to invite you.

• 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.
• Lithography Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd March 10.00am - 4.00pm. £125 / £112.50 concessions. This weekend workshop will introduce participants to the various techniques of lithography. The course will include drawing and printing directly from stone, working on transfer paper, and a basic introduction to photo-plate lithography.
• Introduction to Screenprint Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March 10.00am - 4.00pm. A two day course for those that want to learn screen printing onto paper. This weekend course introduces the main principles of the technique. You will learn how to transfer an image to a silkscreen and print onto paper, in addition to exploring layering, colour, registration and stencils. This course is ideal for beginners or those wishing to refresh their skills. £130 / £117 concessions
• Experiments with Textile Screenprinting Saturday 4th April until Monday 6th April 10.00am - 4.00pm. This three day course over the Easter weekend will include a full introduction to screenprinting onto textiles along with a range of techniques designed to develop your creative ideas, including: creating interlocking designs for repeat, using drawn and photographic imagery, heat press techniques, foiling, flocking and puff binder. £185 / £166.50 concessions

 

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, 24 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available
• Leicester, 14 April, 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

Leicester Writes Festival
June 26th-28th 2015 Leicester Writes: a festival of new writing is the go-to event for new and emerging writers across the East Midlands. A superb line up of authors and experts will take you through all you need to know about becoming a writer and getting published. Whether you're interested in poetry, writing novels or short stories, screen writing or blogging - you'll find a panel of insiders who really know their stuff. Network with writers and publishers over lunch. Learn the art of writing and how to keep going til you make it. Filled with inspiration and advice, Leicester Writes is dedicated to showcase regional literary talent and helping you to fuel your creativity. Tickets from £25 per day will go on sale mid-March. Early bird discount and concessions will be available. Viw the draft programme here.

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: 31 March 2015. Find out more here.

Teaching Creative Writing at post-16
Following the success of last year’s course, the Centre for New Writing will be running Teaching Creative Writing at Post-16 on 6 & 7 July 2015 at the University of Leicester. This will be highly relevant to those teaching A level English and/or A level Creative Writing and writers who tutor at adult level. The course includes a dinner with the poet Daljit Nagra (author of Look We Have Coming to Dover!) so numbers are limited. More info and booking here. If you have any queries, please contact Elizabeth-Anne Grummit in our School of English Administration office e: eg205@leicester.ac.uk

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2015 - Open for entries
With acclaimed poets Liz Berry and Michael Symmons Roberts at the helm as judges, Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is once again on the search for the world’s most exciting new poets aged 11-17. Deadline for entries is midnight GMT on the 31st July 2015. The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is now firmly established as the key competition for young writers. Last year the Award recieved entries from 7,603 young poets from a total 78 countries, cementing its position as the world’s largest literary competition. Amongst last year’s winners are poets from France, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Canada and the USA - and from right across the UK. Find out more about the award here. 

Hidden Stories Book Launch
Tue 31 Mar, 6.00pm – 7.45pm Phoenix, 4 Midland Street, Leicester LE1 1TG Hidden Stories is a new illustrated collection of original, award-winning writing inspired by the history of Leicester’s Cultural Quarter and the mills of the North Derbyshire town of Glossop. The launch event will feature live readings from the writers and an opportunity to meet them over a glass of wine or local beer. The book includes work by Sarah Butler, Mark Goodwin, Divya Ghelani, Pete Kalu & Fereshteh Mozaffari, Kevan Manwaring, David Devanny, Irfan Master and Carol Leeming FRSA.  Places are limited – booking details are available here.

2015 V.S. Pritchett Memorial Prize- Royal Society of Literature
This prize was founded by the Royal Society of Literature at the beginning of the new millennium to commemorate the centenary of an author widely regarded as the finest English short-story writer of the 20th century. We are looking for unpublished short stories of 2000-4000 words. The winner will receive a £1000 prize and have their story published in the ‘RSL review’ and ‘Prospect’ online. This year’s judges are Philip Hensher, Adam Mars-Jones and Rose Tremain. To find out more visit the website. The closing date for entries is 22 June 2015.

BBC Writersroom Script Room 9 - Comedy
BBC Writersroom's regular window for unsolicited scripts is open between 9 March and 2 April 2015 for Comedy scripts (TV, film, radio, stage or online). We look for the best new writers and best writers new to the BBC with the potential to be developed and produced for BBC broadcast. We look for what the script tells us about the writer. We see all scripts as a calling card of a writer’s talent, ability, and voice. Find out more and submit your comedy script here.

Write About Writing for The Writer’s Cookbook
The Writer’s Cookbook is a blog about writing and currently looking for guest writers. Posts can cover any and all aspects of poetry, fiction, scriptwriting, creativity or productivity. If you are interested, please email your name, a writing sample and a pitch to thewriter@writerscookbook.com. Pieces submitted to the site will be required to be SEO-friendly and at least 1000 words in length writerscookbook.com

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.

Spark - Write by the Sea
Do you feel in need of inspiration? Whether you’re a beginner to writing, and unsure where to start, or more experienced but suffering from writer’s block – or you just can’t find the time to write in amongst all the chores and busyness of everyday life – Spark’s Write by the Sea Weekend Retreat may be just what you’ve been looking for to transform you from someone who longs to write to someone who is actually writing. Spark’s first writing retreat will take place on the weekend of 15/16/17 May, in the beautiful Scotish seaside town of North Berwick, just half an hour by train from Edinburgh. The weekend will begin on the Friday evening with a masterclass given by multi-award-winning novelist, short story writer and memoirist, Janice Galloway. Whilst Spark’s weekend retreats are particularly aimed at anyone who feels like they don’t know where to begin with writing, or who is struggling with writer’s block, they can also be useful for anyone who just needs to clear the decks, get rid of distractions and really focus on their writing for a few days. The fee for the weekend is £125, with a special earlybird discount of £75 available if you book before 31st March. You can find a bit more information about the retreat weekend here and you can find out more about how to win a FREE place 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.

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

 

Courses & Events from Writing School Leicester

• Performing Poetry Workshop Experienced live literature performer Lydia Towsey offers a practical workshop on performing your poetry. We will look at lifting work from the page, exploring microphone and vocal skills, introductions, intonation, body language and confidence. Thursday 26th March, 6.30 - 8.30pm at The Y, 7 East Street, City Centre, Leicester LE1 6EY. Cost: £18, £14 conc.
• Beginnings, Middles & Endings Acclaimed novelist and short story writer Alison Moore will lead this three-part exploration of narrative. Beginnings – will consider ways in which stories are conceived as well as examining the art of the first line. Middles – will look at narrative shape and pace. Endings will address the point at which we might leave a story. Tuesdays 28 April – 12 May 1pm – 3pm, Embrace Arts, Lancaster Rd, Leics. LE1 7HA. £60, £50 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, 24 March, LCB Depot, LE65 1HU. One hour slots available
• Leicester, 14 April, 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

Summer Intensive Performance Workshop
Three IdeasTap members will win fully-funded places on a summer performance course at Leeds Beckett University. We’ve teamed up with Leeds Beckett University to give three IdeasTap members fully funded places on an intensive performance summer school. Each place usually costs £1,500. This is an introduction to the fundamental techniques and genres of performance. During the two weeks of the course you will create original performance, interpret key texts, and gain practical performance experience while gaining a broad understanding of theatre and performance history. The course includes high-profile keynote speakers, visiting artists and excursions to exciting performance events. The course will take place from 27 July to 8 August 2015. Find out more and apply here. This brief closes on Friday 10 April 2015 at 4pm and is open to all IdeasTap members aged 18 and over.

Summer Intensive Music Workshop
Three IdeasTap members will win fully-funded places on a summer music course at Leeds Beckett University. We’ve teamed up with Leeds Beckett University (LBU) to give three IdeasTap members fully-funded places on an intensive music summer school. Each place usually costs £1,500. This is a great opportunity for singers and musicians with a musical curiosity that wish to explore new genres, develop new skills in improvisation, singing, music production and technology. With access to LBU’s professional-standard music recording, production studios and a team of highly skilled musicians, you will be able to make and record music to the highest level. The course includes a day’s workshop with South African composer Eugene Skeef. The course will take place from 27 July to 8 August 2015. Find out more and apply here. This brief closes on Friday 10 April 2015 at 4pm and is open to all IdeasTap members aged 18 and over.

Southbank Centre presents Strive: Impact
Southbank Centre’s first Strive Festival kicks off this spring. Strive will give young people – aged 15 to 25 – a platform to share their skills, art, ideas, and voices, try something new, and get inspired. Southbank Centre’s youth ambassadors, a talented team from across the capital, have put together a weekend of performance platforms, free talks, workshops, and screenings. The Southbank is on the hunt for 10 IdeasTap members from different creative backgrounds to produce an original piece of work for Strive, with Southbank’s support. Collaboration and creativity is at the heart of this brief so winners will be genuinely interested in collaborating with different artists and arts forms. Find out more and apply here. This brief closes on Wednesday 1 April 2015 at 5pm and is open to IdeasTap members aged 18 to 25.

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.

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.

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… Closing date: 21 May 2015.

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

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.

Training & Events from Dance4
Dance4 is an international centre for the development of extraordinary 21st century dance. Dance4 leads on strategic dance development for Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland and works collaboratively with partners and venues across the city and counties.

• 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!)
• Dance in the classroom: planning and delivering cross curricular workshops
  Thursday 30 April 2015
  5:00pm—7:00pm Sir Johnathan North Community College Knighton Lane EastLeicester LE2 6FU. Early bird booking until 23 April £20 then £25. These sessions are fantastic for those with a dance background as well as those with no prior dance experience and those keen to up-skill in dance. For dance artists, these workshops will help you to apply your skills and experience to delivering cross curricular workshops on a range of topics such as Maths, Science or English.
• FREE Centre for Advanced Training School Workshops Book your FREE workshop now!
  Application Deadline: Friday 24 April 2015 12:00pm Dance4 Centre for Advance Training are offering FREE school workshops to Secondary Schools across the East Midlands.
  Workshops can take place on either a Wednesday or Thursday during term time, between 10 November 2014– 24 April 2015. Dance4 are offering schools the opportunity to host a workshop for students that show potential in dance and who may have the desire to become professional dance artists. We are encouraging schools to invite additional students from surrounding schools in your area. Workshops are aimed at Years 7, 8, 9 & 10.

 

Dance4 | College Street Centre, College Street, Nottingham NG1 5AQ | dance4.co.uk

 

Venturefest East Midlands
Drawing together the local innovation eco-system, Venturefest East Midlands is a free to attend, unique business showcase and networking event for innovators, investors and entrepreneurs. Venturefest aims to drive the development of new business opportunities by bringing together Innovators who have exciting new ideas, Investors who want to partner and financially support innovators to commercialise their ideas and Entrepreneurs who can turn ideas and money into new and successful businesses. Venturefest East Midlands will take place on Tuesday 14 April 2015 at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham. However, there will be many opportunities to showcase achievements, network and build new business skills before the event, through activities and resources including: Advice and support for all things business and innovation; Access and information about Open Innovation contracts throughout the East Midlands; Workshops on pitching to investors for investment ready businesses and entrepreneurs; Direct networking opportunities with the dedicated Venturefest app. Find out more and register at www.venturefestem.com

Student Networking Event - Seed Creative Network: Live
Thursday, 19 March at Seed Creative Hub. After the success of last years event, Seed are holding another Creative Student Networking event. Bringing together new creative minds, freelancers, creative provision, signposting, groups and business support in the city. The event is for students in Leicester looking for opportunities within the creative industries, exhibitors on the day will include The Mighty Creatives, SomewhereTo_ East Midlands, Creative Manifesto, Creative Coffee, Leicester Hack Space and more. Book your free place here.

Be part of Voluntary Arts Week
From 15 to 24 May, Voluntary Arts Week will celebrate creative activity across the UK and Republic of Ireland – and all cultural groups are invited to join in. Whether you’re part of a choir, knitting group, drama company or amateur orchestra – anyone who gets creative purely for the love of it can take part in Voluntary Arts Week and benefit from some extra publicity. The idea behind the week is to showcase current activity – and encourage newcomers to join in. There are lots of ways to get involved.

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 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. 

QUAD Artist Training and Development course
Launching in April 2015, this unique training opportunity is a 20 week course with one day tuition per fortnight with studio time and staff support in between taught sessions. This course has been developed and will be delivered by Derby QUAD in partnership with local and national arts and cultural organisations. The programme aims to enable artists and creatives from across the UK to access high quality digital, participation and career development skills. It will support you to develop and establish a stronger voice within the digital and new media landscape, and to increase sustainability within your artistic career. See more here.

Hiive goes live! New professional network for creatives
On 9th March, a new professional network that enables creative professionals and businesses to connect, collaborate and grow together will be officially launched. Hiive, borne out of *Create UK (the Creative Industries Strategy) and powered by Creative Skillset, offers a range of core services for individuals, companies and educators. Individals can show off their talent by pulling in all their work from across the web into a showreel, search through the vacancies, join a collaborative microsite 'swarm' (or create their own), search for the right creative training course, or find an answer to a question. Hiive is already supported by high-profile partners such as Aardman, the BBC, British Fashion Council, BFI, Channel 4, Directors UK, Dr Martens, Facebook, Framestore, ITV, Rebellion, Sky, Talkback, and many others. Organisations can tap into a diverse pool of freelancers from across the creative industries, and post vacancies and courses - all for free! Since launching in BETA form three months ago, Hiive has quickly amassed 5,000 users and 1,000 companies. To find out more and sign up, visit the Hiive!

Arts Award Discover & Explore Adviser Training
Do you work with children and young people? Support their creative development with Arts Award. Arts Award supports young people to develop as artists and arts leaders. Find out how to use Arts Award’s flexible framework through Discover & Explore adviser training. At this half-day training course you will: become familiar with the assessment criteria for these levels; meet other professionals who are planning to run Arts Award and get your Discover & Explore toolkit which details what is required at each level and ask questions about how Arts Award may work for you in your setting. Upcoming training dates: Mayor’s Parlour, Guildhall, Leicester, Tues 16th June 13:00 – 16:00. This course is suitable for those working with young people aged 7-25 and who meet the requirements outlined in the adviser person specification including: teachers and teaching assistants, youth workers and arts co-ordinators, arts and music professionals. Cost: £118 (includes adviser toolkit). Book here. 

Arts Award Bronze & Silver Adviser Training
Arts Award is for all young people and can work through any arts, cultural or media activity. Training as an adviser is the first step in getting going with Arts Award. Advisers support each young person and assess their progress. When you train as Bronze & Silver adviser you will learn how to deliver and assess Arts Award at QCF* Levels 1 and 2. This course is suitable for those working with young people aged 11-25 and who meet the requirements outlined in the adviser person specification. Upcoming training dates: Wednesday 17th June – Guildhall Leicester LE1 5FQ Cost: £155 (includes adviser toolkit, lunch and refreshments) Book here. 

Knowledge Management in the Voluntary Sector
Managing knowledge is vital to the success of every organisation Wednesday 1st April 2015
The Centre for Information Management invites you to come to Loughborough University for a workshop that will support you in your knowledge management endeavours.
There will be opportunities to hear of the benefits and challenges of managing knowledge in the voluntary sector as well as a chance to share your own experiences with practitioners from a diverse range of organisations. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in initiating or improving their organisation’s knowledge management practices. So, whether you are from the public, private or not-for-profit sector, please do join us. This is a free event and places are limited, so you are requested to register by emailing Ruth Cufflin r.cufflin@lboro.ac.uk For further details of the programme please click here to take you to the EMFF Blog.

Dealing with indecision and maximising your potential
Being at cross roads about a decision can be a very uncomfortable feeling and you can waste a lot of valuable time and money thinking about what do. With a decisive mind you can be clear about whether or not to pursue a different creative field other than your own, or if securing a creative niche in the market is going to prove beneficial long-term.
Outside of your career a more decisive mindset can ensure that you balance relationship requirements, appear more trustworthy and reliable to others, optimise spending, and improve financial security. If you would like to know more about the seven step decisiveness program run by Idea Coach, please follow the link.

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.

Creative Dementia Arts Conference
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.

• Hard to reach — online workshop attracting and converting challenging groups
  22 Apr 2015 How hard is it to reach ‘hard to reach’ audiences? Building a strong, loyal, local audience is key to the success of many arts organisations but attracting a truly representative audience can be challenging. During the workshop Mel Larsen will help you work through those challenges and present case studies of how other organisations have successfully overcome them. AMA member rate: £50 (excl VAT)
• Social Media Mixing — online workshop incorporating social media into a CRM strategy 28 Apr 2015. No matter how popular your organisation is, it is not the only place that conversations take place about your work.  Understanding how your organisation appears as part of a wider conversation happening on social media is an important step to develop the confidence to behave as a genuinely social organisation.

 

 

• 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
Voluntary Action LeicesterShire is a charity that gets people into volunteering, helps community groups and organisations thrive and manages projects providing essential services.

• Managing Remote Volunteers 18 March 2015 1:00pm to 3:00pm Free to VCS in Leicester and Leicestershire, £25 to other organisations. Managing people is always challenging at times, and this can be doubly so when you don't have frequent contact with them. For organisations relying on remote volunteers working from home or other locations, particular challenges of support and supervision arise. This course will help managers of volunteers in remote locations to develop the right culture and systems to get the best to get the best out of their volunteers.
• Getting Away from Powerpoint 24 March 2015 9:30am to 12:30pm £45. Are you bored with PowerPoint and are looking for a different way to present your information? There are a number of colourful alternatives that will enable you to say what you wish to say far more effectively. This morning session looks at FIVE alternatives, including Nearpod and Prezi, that are available to you free of charge.  You will also look at various smart phone applications that will enable you to reach your audience more effectively.
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• Writing Funding Applications 26 March 2015 10:00am to 12:30pm Free to the VCS, £25 for other organisations. This session will give you an introduction on how to write successful funding applications. It will feature both advice and practical activities to help you win the funding your group needs.
• Award in Education and Training 15 April 2015 8:30am to 20 May 2015 3:30pm £350. This course is the first step towards a professional qualification in post-16 teaching. Whether you are new to teaching or an experienced facilitator wishing to get a formal qualification this course can help you reach your goals.

 

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

Spirit of Achievement Arts and Culture Challenge Fund
Spirit of 2012 (Spirit) has launched the Challenge Fund to empower and enable disabled people’s participation in arts and culture. The Open Grant round is looking for project applications across the UK, which create participatory opportunities for disabled people of all backgrounds, individually and with their families and friends. The Challenge Fund is open for arts and cultural activity projects in the broadest sense, including visual art, craft, writing and literature, music, dance and performance arts. Grants will be between £100,000 and £250,000 to be spent over 2 -3 years; applications will be assessed by Spirit’s Achievement Panel, chaired by Paralympian Susie Rodgers and made up of figures from the world of arts, culture and sport. Find out more here. Deadline: 20 April 2015.

Rural Capital Grants
Leicestershire Rural Partnership is running a modest Rural Capital Grants programme in order to support businesses, jobs and growth in rural Leicestershire. Grants of between £5,000-£15,000 will be available for capital expenditure. Grants will be subject to match funding of at least 60% of the total project cost. There is around £70,000 available in total, so this will be a competitive process. In order to be eligible for funding, your business must: Be based in a rural area of Leicestershire; Be working in the food & drink, tourism, creative or land-based sectors; Be defined as a 'small or micro-enterprise' (i.e. employing up to 50 full time equivalents); Submit an up-to-date business plan and have relevant approvals (such as planning and building regulations) prior to making an application; Consider environmental impacts in undertaking the work. For more details and information on how to apply, please visit the Leicestershire Rural Partnership Website.

LLEP Logistics and Distribution Employer Forum
LLEP seek your views about the logistics and distribution business in Leicester and Leicestershire, to help inform our Sector Growth Plan. Join us for breakfast on 20th March, 8 for 8.45am Hosted by Scania Training Centre,
Charley Road, Loughborough, LE12 9YB Followed by a round table opportunity for employers to highlight key local issues & opportunities in logistics and distribution, finishing at 11.00. Book your place RSVP NOW to johnbowman@instituteofcouriers.com

North West Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce - Young Entrepreneur Award 2015
Are you between 16 and 25 years of age? Got a great idea to start a business? Apply now and you could win: £1,000, 12 months membership to North West Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, Free business advice and mentoring. Applications must be received no later than 30th June 2015. Click here for more information on the Award.

Mass challenge accelerator programme
MassChallenge UK connects high-impact early stage startups with mentors, partners & investors – while providing free (and no equity taken!) support during a 4-month accelerator period in London. The mission of MassChallenge UK is to support top-tier startups by providing and connecting them with the very best people and organizations in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem. With the help of our community of mentors and judges, MassChallenge UK will identify the highest-potential startups to participate in the MassChallenge accelerator in London. During the four-month accelerator period, startups will have access to free office space, world-class mentorship, a top-tier community of several hundred entrepreneurs, education, training, networking events, and a chance to win a piece of £500k in cash prizes – no strings attached. Deadline for Applications is 1st April 2015. For more information about how to apply please visit the Mass Challenge website. 

Artists International Development Fund
Arts Council England has announced that its Artists International Development Fund will re-open for applications on the 23rd march 2015. This is a £750,000 funding stream for artists to develop links with artists, organisations and/or creative producers in other countries. Freelance and self-employed artists can apply for small grants of £1,000 to £5,000 to spend time building these links to broaden your horizons and open your work to other perspectives. The programme is open to emerging and mid-career artists working in combined arts, literature, music, theatre, dance, visual arts and crafts and design. You must have received recognition for your work in England and not have extensive international experience. Your application must also include a letter of support from the overseas partner/host. The deadline for applications will be 5pm on the 1st May 2015. Read more here.

Export Grants for Independent Music Producers
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has announced the sixth funding round of the Music Export Growth Scheme is now open for applications. Through the scheme, Small and medium-sized UK independent record labels and music management companies can apply for grants of £5,000 to £50,000 to assist them with marketing campaigns when looking to introduce successful UK music projects overseas. Funding is available towards: tour support, overseas venue costs, international travel costs, marketing, promotion and PR costs. Decisions on individual awards will be made by a panel of music industry experts which will meet four times a year to process applications. To be eligible to apply, applicants must have annual turnover of €50m or less and no more than 249 employees. Applications must include detailed campaign proposals showing how the grant would be invested in effective marketing and other promotional activity oversees, such as through artist showcases, tour support, social media and publicity. The closing date for applications is the 13th April 2015. Read more here.

Women’s Empowerment Fund
Voluntary and community groups that work with women in the community can apply for grants up to £20,000 for projects that empower women to fully participate in and shape the communities in which they live, challenge practices that are harmful to them and take a full part in society. The total fund available is £250,000 and priority will be given to projects that work with women who find it difficult to get their voices heard. The deadline for applications is midday on Tuesday 31st March 2015. Read more here.

Funding for Community Youth Projects
Telecoms provider O2 has announced that its "Think Big with O2" youth programme will reopen for applications on the 1st April 2015. The programme supports young people in the UK (aged between 13 and 25) who want to make positive changes to their communities. Initially funding of £300 is available to get projects off the ground. If the project is completed successfully young people may be invited to apply for the second level of the programme: Think Bigger where O2 provides funding of up to £2500. The programme is open to individuals and groups of young people and the money can be used to cover project related costs. The closing date for applications is the 10th June 2015. Read more here.

BBC Children in Need Small Grants Programme
Not for profit organisations such as such as registered charities; voluntary organisations; schools; churches; and community interest groups; etc. can apply for grants of up to £10,000 through the BBC Children in Need Small Grants programme. The grants are available for projects that: Help children and young people experiencing illness, distress, abuse or neglect; Any kind of disability; Behavioural or psychological difficulties; And / or living in situations of deprivation. The closing date for applications is the 1st June 2015. Read 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 at  lcbdepot.co.uk/develop *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.

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.

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.

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.

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