Saturday 31 May 2014

...another green world

Dear 'fellow citizens' the BFI have a Dennis Potter season beginning on the 6th June right through until the end of July and there’s a good article in the Guardian this weekend by Michael Newton who again reminds me how few writers there are that are able to hijack the media to such potent affect as ‘...an entertainer, an instructor and an emancipator.’ Now, why isn’t he on the national curriculum Mr Gove? I think he’d have a few chic words to share. Thank goodnes for Ken Loach then, who has blasted film critics for not engaging with working class people. He said he was disappointed about the reluctance of reviewers to engage with stories which don't "fit their preconceptions" as well as working-class characters who deviate from stereotypes such as "thugs, drug dealers or whores … the victims of their predicament rather than architects of its change". Keep it up Ken.


The Oldest Living Things in the World
Since 2004 the photographer, Rachel Sussman has been working with biologists researching continuously living things to photograph the oldest living things in the world. She captures ‘...multi-millennial lifespans in 1/60th of a second…and bears ‘...witness to organisms that precede human history and will hopefully survive us well into future generations.’ These mostly greenish images are beautiful and remind me of our fragility and transience...or perhaps something infinite...

I am very excited to be welcoming Australian artist Vic McEwan to Manchester this week as we embark on a long-term exploration of research and development opportunities as part of his fellowship. What to know more - and how you might be involved? Read on.


A project exploring community, health, trauma and experimental arts
Arts for Health present a free North West Arts and Health Network event on Thursday 5th June between 5pm and 7pm in the School of Art at MMU. Register your interest in attending by emailing artsforhealth@aol.com 

Please note registration doesn't guarantee a place and confirmation will be sent on Tuesday.

In April 2014 the Australian artist, Vic McEwan was announced to be New South Wales first ever Regional Arts Fellow. This fellowship period will last from 2014-16. Vic will make several visits to the UK to work with Arts for Health developing new opportunities for research and the creation of new experimental contemporary artwork in health settings.

On this first visit, Vic will talk about a ground-breaking Australian arts project he developed after devastating floods in the New South Wales town of Yenda. The Cad Factory is an artist led organisation creating an international program of new, immersive and experimental work guided by authentic exchange, ethical principles, people and place.

For more info on his work check out:





So, maybe see you this Thursday and if not, watch this space (or video below) for more details. 


Arts & MInds are recruiting for a Project Manager to run Arts on Prescription 
Arts and Minds believes in the benefits of the creative arts for sustaining and aiding recovery of mental health and well-being, and this is strongly supported by our research.  A&M’s vision is to help everyone throughout Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who has a mental health problem to live happier, more creative lives by providing opportunities for them to engage practically in all forms of the arts through participation in long and short-term projects. Arts on Prescription (Cambridgeshire) provides weekly workshops for adults experiencing mild to moderate depression and anxiety. Previous sessions were the subject of evaluation research carried out in association with Anglia Ruskin University and the London School of Economics which found that Arts on Prescription resulted in positive outcomes for 78% of participants in terms of self-reported improvement in levels of social isolation, anxiety, depression and wellbeing and is cost effective when compared to other therapies.



Beyond Borders 
The Performing Rights Society (PRS) for Music Foundation, the UK's leading funder of new music across all genres, has announced that its Beyond Borders fund has re-opened for applications. The Beyond Borders Fund provides funding of up to £15,000 to stimulate collaborations between organisations in England, Northern lreland, Scotland and Wales. The scheme enables music creators to produce exceptional new music to be performed in at least two UK countries. Launched in 2010, the scheme has supported 31 co-commissioning projects so far, bringing together organisations and music creators across the UK and abroad. Beyond Borders has been made possible by a pioneering UK wide partnership between PRS for Music Foundation, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Creative Scotland who joined forces to support cross border collaboration. The closing date for applications is 6 pm on the 10th July 2014. Read more at  http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/Partnerships/Flagship-Programmes/Beyond-Borders

Hilton in the Community Foundation Central Grants
Registered Charities that work with young people have the opportunity to apply for grants through the Hilton Foundation Central Grants Programme. Registered Charities can apply for grants ranging from a few hundred pounds up to £30,000 per year for up to 2 years that are working in the areas of education or health with one of the Foundation' four chosen focus groups. These are
disabled children;
children in hospital;
young people that are homeless;
and life-limited children requiring palliative care.
There is approximately £150,000 available to distribute each quarter. Grant applications for up to £10,000 can be approved by the Committee, and applications for more than £10,000 are recommended to the Trustees for final approval. There is no limit on the amount of money that a charity can request. However, the Foundation is a small charity and generally will not make awards of over £30,000 (per year). Funding can be requested for up to 2 years for any particular project. The next closing date for applications is the 29th July 2014. Read more at: https://www.hilton-foundation.org.uk/apply.html

Artists in Residence Grants 
The Levehulme Trust is offering grants of up to £15,000 to UK universities and museums to foster a new creative collaboration with an artist (visual artists, creative writers, musicians, poets) working in a discipline outside the institution's usual curriculum. Artists may not apply directly - all applications must be made by the host institution. There must be a distinct contrast between the artist and host department's expertise (for example, a poet being hosted by a physics department, a composer by a geography department). The residency must be a newly constituted collaboration between artist and hosts. The grants provide a stipend of up to £12,500 for the artist and consumable costs, such as artist's materials, of up to £2500. A typical residency would be for ten months based on the artist being present at the host institution for two days per week. The deadline for applications is 16th September 2014. Read more at:

Arts Council Funding Available for Bridge Organisations 
To help ensure that every child and young person has the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts, Arts Council England will fund a small number of 'Bridge' organisations. Bridge organisations are primarily facilitators and will use their experience and expertise to connect children and young people, schools and communities with art and culture. Bridge Organisations are not expected to directly deliver arts and cultural opportunities for children and young people. Their role is to provide an environment in which cultural education can flourish both in and out of school. The Bridge role may be undertaken by a museum, an arts organisation or an arts education agency. The minimum grant that must be applied for is £500,000. Potential applicants must have a preliminary conversation with the Arts Council before applying. The application process is ongoing and there are no deadlines. Read more at
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/apply-funding/funding-programmes/bridge-organisations-2015-18/


A damn fine quote
'Many clever people make absolutely rotten parents and many people who are intellectually impaired are warm and caring and provide children with a wonderful upbringing'
Mrs Justice Parker, a high court judge, ruled this week that a baby should not be adopted due to his mothers learning difficulties.

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