Forthcoming Events for Creative Industries in Gloucestershire

Before I stop for my break over Christmas, I thought I would let you know the forthcoming Artsmatrix events for the county.

Creative Development Workshops Cost £15.00
A chance to meet creatives in performance, visual arts, music, and literature, work through exercises and start and Action Plan.
Wednesday 14th January, 9.30-12.30pm, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
Monday 26th January, 9.30am - 12.30pm, New Brewery Arts, Cirencester
Tuesday 24th March, 9.30-12.30pm, Subscription Rooms, Stroud

Professional Development Appointments Cost £30 (2 hours), £20 (1 hour)
An opportunity to work one-to-one with an advisor to talk through your creative development needs.
Monday 12th January, City Works, Gloucester
Wednesday 14th January, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham (PM only)
Thursday 15th January, City Works, Gloucester
Monday 26th January, New Brewery Arts, Cirencester Fully Booked
Tuesday 27th January, City Works
Tuesday 24th March, Subscription Rooms, Stroud

Please email me glos@artsmatrix.org.uk to reserve a place or ask for a Booking Form

Gloucestershire Media Accelerator 'Hot Desk'

Along with the usual great service, networking and training that the Gloucestershire Media Group already offer, there is also now the opportunity to hire a 'hot desk' at the Cheltenham Film and Photo studios. The Accelerator is a serviced open plan office space which houses new and established businesses, and an opportunity to work alongside like-minded businesses, receive business advice and support.

If you need to a hire a professional space for a half a day or a a whole year this could be the venue that is suitable. Get further details at accelerator@thegmg.org

Stroud FM Competition Winner

Congratulations to MICHAEL RUMNEY, the winner of the Stroud FM / Artsmatrix Competition, who gave the correct answer to "Who is the presenter of 'The Art Lot' on Stroud FM? Answer: Swithin Fry.

Thanks to everyone who entered the competition.

Gloucestershire joins the SW Design Forum

I thought I would inform you all about the new Gloucestershire Design Forum. If you are a designer in Gloucestershire, it may be worth contacting Emma Heathcote to register your interest and to be the first to hear about opportunities.

"The South West Design Forum, the organisation formed to promote and support the design industry in the South West, has won grant funding to provide resources for its 5 sub-regional clusters and to create a sixth group in Gloucestershire.

The South West Design Forum is the lead body for strategy and communication within the Design sector and it aims to reflect and drive the aspirations of the whole sector throughout the seven counties of the South West, at the highest level. The South West Design Forum connects and shares ideas between sub-regional and cultural agencies, national design bodies, higher education institutions and other key public and private sector organisations.

For information on South West Design Forum and links to the sub-regional clusters go to:
www.swdf.co.uk

ArtsMatrix / Stroud FM Competition

I was invited as a guest on 'The Art Lot', on Stroud FM today, hosted by Swithin Fry. If you didn't managed to hear the live show, it is repeated on Sundays at 3pm. It was great fun, and I had the chance to describe what Artsmatrix currently offers in Gloucestershire, including the forthcoming workshop on 5th December at the Subscription Rooms.
We also launched a little competition.
What's on Offer? Artsmatrix Gloucestershire is offering a lucky winner a FREE 2 hour Professional Development Session. It is open to anyone working, or hoping to work in the creative industries, who either lives or works in Gloucestershire, and has not had a one-to-one session with Artsmatrix before.
How do I have a chance to win? Answer the following question by contacting me via this blog or by emailing glos@artsmatrix.org.uk . The winner will be selected from all the correct entries received before 30th November 2008.

Question: Who is the presenter of 'The Art Lot' on Stroud FM?

Stroud FM is always looking for new presenters, so if you have an idea for a show, get in touch via their website at www.stroudfm.co.uk

Do I need a website?

Many people feel that a website is an essential tool for marketing their creative activity, whether it is to advertise performances or to sell paintings, but where do you start?

The Arts Council has produced a guide in response to the questions that people have asked:
· how can I be sure that my designer knows what they are doing?
· who in the organisation should take responsibility for managing the site?
· a member of the board has offered to design ours for free, what do I say?
· and the most frequently asked question of all – how much did you pay for yours?

This is a practical hands-on guide for arts organisations, aimed at the board and chief executive as well as staff of all kinds. As well as providing advice on all aspects of developing and managing a site, it helps you to decide what you need from your website. It even answers the question, do you really need a website at all?

It can be downloaded for FREE from here http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publications/publication_detail.php?rid=0&sid=&browse=recent&id=407 or alternatively, it can be purchased for £10.00.

Creative Development Workshops in Gloucestershire

Since yesterday's post, I have had a few enquiries asking whether Artsmatrix Gloucestershire will be running any other Creative Development Workshops throughout the county.
Below is a list of forthcoming dates

Thursday 13th November - Brewery Arts, Cirencester, 9.30 -12.30
Monday 1st December - Artspace Cinderford, Forest of Dean, 9.30 - 12.30
Friday 5th December - Subscription Rooms, Stroud, 9.30 - 12.30

The workshop is an opportunity to meet up with other creative people at different stages of their career, to work through a series of development exercises, that will look at your existing skills, time management, and you will leave with an Action Plan to move your plans forward.
"It has brought clarity and fired my enthusiasm" Visual Artist , Stroud
"Breaking down my overall creative aims into specific actions really helped" Performer, South Gloucestershire

The fee for the workshop is £15.00
A booking form can be dowloaded from the Artsmatrix website http://www.artsmatrix.org.uk/Downloads/Forms/tabid/171/Default.aspx
or drop me an email glos@artsmatrix.org.uk

Music Leader South West

Artsmatrix regularly collaborates with a range of professional development agencies throughout the South West, and recently we have been working with Music Leader South West
Musicleader is a support service dedicated to professional development of UK music leaders. Free membership is open to anyone working with children / young people and music, including school teachers, community musicians, instrument teachers, mentors and anyone involved in music projects.
What does it offer?
It offers FREE 1-2-1 professional development support through its DNA service, training opportunities and online resources.
If you are interested in finding out more and becoming a member, visit their website www.musicleader.net

How can I get recognition for my art?

In this job I am constantly asked 'How can I get my paintings noticed?', or 'How can I get recognition for my art?'. It is often the case that the artist has exhibited their work, maybe in their end of year college show, or even at a local art gallery, but then wonders why the Tate is not knocking at their door to have a piece in their collection.
You need more people see your work, and you need key people to see your work.
I encourage lots of my clients to enter key Open Exhibitions, where work is selected by an experienced panel for display and sale in a major exhibition. The private view will attract key people in the art world, and it will attract a broader audience to view your work. If selected, it will give your work the 'rubber stamp' of approval.
One of the most significant Open Exhibitions in the South West (yes, that includes Gloucestershire) is the Royal West of England Academy Autumn Exhibition in Bristol. It is a mixed discipline exhibition including painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography and architecture. It aims to represent a broad range of contemporary fine art, and the success of submission is not dependent on the style or content but quality.

The 156th Autumn Exhibition opens its doors to the public this Sunday (26th October) and runs until 14th December 2008.
There is normally a charge for entry, but admission is FREE on 15th November only. http://www.rwa.org.uk/

Fashion is back in Fashion

As we all know, the credit crunch has had a serious impact on the property market, and subsequently the television programmers have had to adopt a new approach to their scheduling. It appears that property programmes have now been replaced with fashion programmes. Below is a list of some that I have noticed popping up on our screens in the last few weeks, which may be of interest to those working, or hoping to work, in fashion and textiles.

1. Project Runway (USA) (Sky Three & Sky - catch it when you can!) has been on our screens for a couple of years, and is a fashion competition, introduced by the model Heidi Klum, which offers the winner a catwalk show at New York Fashion week, after a series of weekly designer challenges. Watch them cut out the patterns, shop for trims and style their catwalk model. It's great to see a reality show where an individuals creativity is rewarded. http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/season/5/index.php

2. Frock Me (Channel 4 - Sunday) is introduced by top designer Henry Holland & Alexa Chung. It looks at fashion trends, high street fashion, designer fashion, as well as letting fashionistas have go in the customising and styling challenges. http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/t4/microsites/F/frockme/showguides/index.html

3. Twiggy's Frock Exchange (BBC 2, Tuesday) Tackling the credit crunch head on, this programme introduces the growing trend of the clothes swapping party. There is plenty of advice on current trends and how to update your clothes through customisation. The show is linked to the BBC's Thread website which is dedicated to Ethical fashion. http://www.bbc.co.uk/thread/twiggysfrockexchange/

4. The Fashion Show (ITV2) Another fashion magazine programme, looking at high street trends and styling techniques, with celebrity guests. http://www.itv.com/Lifestyle/Fashion/TheFashionShow/default.html


5. British Style Genius (BBC2, Tuesday) A BBC series, documenting the major influences on British fashion, featuring the major players and icons. The next episode features John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen & Siouxsie Sioux.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/britishstylegenius/

It looks like the 'must have' item for the Winter 08/09 season is a sewing machine!