The Cultural festival will run from 7 - 20 July with performances held at the Evans Theatre, Wilmslow 8 - 10 July and the exhibition running 15 - 19 July.

There are various workshops for ypoung people and adults and ends with a Family Fun Day held at Middleton Way, Higher Poynton on 20 July.

For a full programme check out www.macclesfield.gov.uk. To register an interest to perform or exhibit work in these free events, contact Shelagh on s.malley@macclesfield.gov.uk or 01625 504536.

Project Proposal

What:

Provide training opportunities for musicians to learn necessary skills/ approach needed to work with older people within day care and residential centres. Musicians to learn how to use music to engage with and encourage reminiscence with older people.

How:

On site training with lead artist, experimenting with different approaches & music.

During the training the musicians will work as a group and each musician will lead  music sessions with the support of the lead artist. On successful completion of the training each musician will be offered two further paid sessions at £75 per session for Wearpurple.

Project Update

Advertising

The training opportunities were advertised across Cheshire/ Northwest during Aug/Sept 07. Deadline for applications was 28/9/07.

11 applications were received.

Short listing – 2/10/07

8 musicians were selected for interview

Interviews – 11^th & 12/10/07 at Age Concern Cheshire

2 musicians declined interviews and 1 failed to attend

5 musicians interviewed and offered placements

Initial full training day – Thursday 1/11/07 at Age Concern Cheshire

2 further musicians pulled out on the day.

Leaving 3 trainees

The Trainees –

Geli Berg – Vocals & Guitar/ Jazz – based in Manchester, worked with Congleton & Vale Royal groups

Daniel Wilke – Vocals & Keyboard/ Musicals – based in Stockport, worked with Chester & Macclesfield groups

Roy Clinging – Vocals/ Guitar & accordion/ Folk – based in Chester, worked with Ellesmere Port & Crewe groups

The Groups –

Chester - Age Concern Day Care - City Day Centre, Canal Street House, Canal Street, Chester, CH1 1EJ.

Vale Royal - Southern Cross Healthcare Daneside Court, Chester Way, Northwich, CW9 5JA

Congleton - Age Concern Day Care, St Mary’s Parish Centre, King Street,

Middlewich, CW10 9EJ

Macclesfield - Age Concern East Cheshire, ‘Time Out Group’ Saints Clements Court, Hobson Street, Macclesfield, SK11

Ellesmere Port - Age Concern Day Care, Poole Day Centre, New Grosvenor Road, off Westminster Road, Ellesmere Port.

Crewe - Macon House, Macon Way, Crewe, CW1 6DR

Music Sessions in centres -

6 group training sessions between 5/11/07 – 16/11/07

12 supported sessions completed by end December 07

12 employed sessions completed by end Jan 08.

Total number of music sessions completed = 30

Initial feedback from trainees/ lead musician and groups all very positive -

Full evaluation report in Feb 08

If you would like further information/ have any questions please contact me 01606 880855 wearpurple314@hotmail.com

Simone

Brief overview of the project

To create high quality permanent pieces of public art at a number of new Health Centre's across Knowsley.

Central to the programme of works will be engaging and developing work with community groups and other stake holders through participatory workshops.

Closing date for applications is Friday 11^th January 2008

Artists applying can be from a wide range of different disciplines.

We are looking to recruit an artist who has the following qualities:

·              a track record of producing high quality work

·              ability to inspire, as well as being able to take inspiration from others

·              experience of working across with a wide range of audiences; schools, youth groups, community groups, health professionals etc.

·              ability to deliver high quality work and workshops

·              a good communicator, lateral thinker and problem solver

S/he will have demonstrable experience of:

·        successfully devising public artworks, considered by clients, as fit for purpose, cost-effective and free of maintenance complications

·        consultation with participants on the project as well as with the wider public / immediate community to ensure full ownership over work created

·        liaising with other agents e.g. planning officers, environmental services to ensure the safe and successful installation of work

·        setting in place an achievable and sustainable maintenance programme for work once in situ and to have agreed this with those responsible for it's implementation

·        producing work to a specified budget

·        health and safety in the creation and installation of work

Timescale Overview

• 2 Project(s) will commence mid January 2008 (although there will be other opportunities throughout 2008)
• You will be responsible to the public arts coordinator / Arts Development Officer and will regularly liaise and report back to him/her

Fees

Payment is inline with Arts Council's Rates. Average fee for the work (inc workshops, travel, materials and installation fees) = £2,500

Applications:

If you wish to be considered for this appointment please outline your ability and availability to fulfil the role. This outline should be no more than 2 sides of A4 and should be supported with a CV and visual representation of artworks / projects you have created or contributed to. Visuals may be in paper or digital or website formats.

A stamped addressed envelope is essential for the return of visuals.

Closing date for applications is Friday 11^th January 2008

Submissions should be sent to:

Jo Dry

Arts Development Officer (visual arts)

Knowsley Arts Service

Directorate for Neighbourhood Delivery

Knowsley Training and Conference Centre

219 Knowsley Lane

Huyton

Knowsley

L36 8HW

Imagination has acquired space at the Royal London offices in Wilmslow. The Company are presently fitting exhibition boards and lighting for members to showcase their work on a rolling monthly calender.

This will operate in a similar way to that at Macclesfield Hospital. Royal London have requested a nominal 5% commission on sales which will go into a 'Community Fund' to finance other activities within the local area.

The Royal London are excited about the prospect of working with Imagination and about giving local Artists an opportunity to promote and market their work.

For further details or to book an exhibition space contact Shelagh by email s.malley@macclesfield.gov.uk or phone 01625 504536.

Review of Lottery Funding for Good Causes

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) today launched their consultation on the future of Lottery funding. The consultation will allow DCMS next June to make a decision on how money will be allocated between good causes (the arts, sport, and heritage) after 2009. We must take this opportunity to demonstrate the importance of the Lottery to the arts, and of Lottery-funded arts projects to the lives of people throughout Britain.

28 pence from every pound spent on the Lottery goes to good causes. At present, this money is divided as follows:

·         Health, Education, Environment, Community & Charity 50%

·         Arts 16.67%

·         Sports 16.67%

·         Heritage 16.67%

Although the 50% for Health, Education, Environment, Community & Charity, distributed by the Big Lottery Fund, is fixed, the remaining percentages are guaranteed only until 2009. DCMS has indicated that none of the good causes will be abolished, but every sector will have to show that it provides value for lottery players' money in order to maintain its percentage share of the money.

For more information, or to submit your own response, please visit: http://www.lottery2009.culture.gov.uk

UK Creative Industries   

The latest DCMS statistical bulletin on the UK creative industries reports the sector grew by 6% per year between 1997 and 2003 (compared to 3% for the whole of the economy), and accounted for 8% of Gross Value Added in 2003. Exports contributed £11.6 billion, equal to 4.1% of all goods and services exported, and total creative employment increased from 1.5m in 1997 to 1.8m in 2004 (a rate of 3% per year, compared to 1% for the whole of the economy)