Artists taking the lead (Regional)

Challenging artists to use the nation as a blank canvas

http://www.artiststakingthelead.com/

We will showcase the best of our nation's creativity to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games across the UK.

Is one of those ideas yours?

Background:

Artists taking the lead is one of the ten major projects of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and was featured in London's winning bid to host the 2012 Games. The project brings together the four UK Arts Councils in an unprecedented programme to support 12 commissions, one in each Nation and Region of the UK. The selected commissions could take any art form, or combination of art forms, and could be in a public square, in a shopping centre on a beach or a hillside - it's entirely open to artists to decide how they want to celebrate London 2012 in their chosen area, we're letting artists take the lead.

There will be a commission worth £500,000 available to each region, of which the West Midlands is one.  Applications for the commission need to be submitted onto the website by the end of May 2009.

Regional briefings:

To learn more about the artists taking the lead programme please come along to one of our regional briefings:

• 17 April 2009 - 10:30 at the Birmingham Rep Theatre, Birmingham
• 21 April 2009 - 14:00 at the Courtyard, Hereford
• 29 April 2009 - 10:00 at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

The briefings will last no longer than 2 hours and will give you the opportunity to hear more about the opportunity and ask questions.

Briefings are free to attend but places do need to be booked.  Please send your name and contact details to Louisa Griffiths by clicking here or call her on 0121 631 5737, stating which of the briefings you wish to attend.

Photographic Artists wanted! (MILTON KEYNES)
Photographic Art Group Milton Keynes: We are looking for Milton Keynes based photographic artists who would be interested in forming a photography collective to meet regularly to discuss our practice and also work towards local group exhibitions.

Please contact elizabeth.gordon@mac.com if you're interested.

New Diversity and Culture Portal (MILTON KEYNES)

We recommend a visit to Milton Keynes’ first BME/Diversity community web portal: http://www.themkmix.co.uk/

There aim is to be the online space for people who have come from different parts of the UK and the world to live, work and contribute to the positive development of Milton Keynes through art, culture and enterprise.

Creative Bucks Website (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE)

stArt have recently been doing some work with Creative Bucks. We'd highly recommend a look at their very informative website: http://www.creativebucks.org.uk/

Artworks for Business (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE)

A Creative Bucks Initiative, this new project aims to bring local artists together with business:

http://www.artworksforbusiness.co.uk/

Rugby Writers (RUGBY)
 
Spring and Summer 2009 will see the installation of an inspiring piece of public art that was commissioned to celebrate Rugby’s literary heritage. You are invited to a Workshop to help finalise the names and writings of those literary figures with special links to Rugby that are to be commemorated by the work of art. 

The Workshop will be held on Thursday 19th March, from 6pm – 8pm, in the Art Room (behind the Visitor Centre pod in the foyer of Rugby Art Gallery, Museum & Library)

For more information about the project or to book your place on the Workshop, please call Jan Dunseith on 07951 110656 (office hours) or email Jan.dunseith@rugby.gov.uk