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.