Creative Times - News

Calls for Collaboration: Freelance Umbraco Developer, Flash Designer / Developer & Designer / Artworker Needed

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Alba Associates has been approached by a Cheshire / Manchester based businesses looking for Freelancers to address the following request / calls for collaborations.

Call for Collaboration No 1

Interested in hearing from Umbraco developers
Need strong XSLT skills and good .NET
Good team worker
Starting ASAP
Initial contract = 1 month; (May be extended)
Ideally work in house at Manchester office
Send links to examples built with the Umbraco CMS and day rate. This should be contacted within a Business Profile (obtainable from Les.selby@albaassoc.com

Call for Collaboration No 2

We are interested in hearing from freelance Flash designers/developers.
You need a good working knowledge of Flash up to and including CS4.
Knowledge of AS2 and/or other web technologies would be advantageous
along with the ability to integrate with our studio team. The ideal
candidate would be able to work in-house at our offices in Cheshire
when required.

Send links to examples/day rate to Les Selby...via Business Profile

Call for Collaboration No 3

We are interested in hearing from freelance designers/artworkers.
You need a good working knowledge of Quark 8, Illustrator CS2-4,
Photoshop CS2-4. Experience of a fast paced agency environment would
be advantageous with the ideal candidate needing to integrate with our
existing team at our offices in Cheshire when required.

Send links to examples/day rate to Les Selby...via Business Profile

The business is looking for an individual freelance person....who is based in the North West of England...who can work in their office. They are not looking to hear from businesses who are specialist in this area of work or from freelance from outside the geographical area......thanks

Please note that there are no fees attached to arrangements for any introductions to meet the business. Alba Associates hold no other information on the business...and will forward interested freelancers business profile and arrange for introductions.

To respond simply email me Les.selby@albaassoc.com for a business profile, and once completed will be sent directed to the business concerned.

Fracture Partnered with Change4Life

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yes, fracture has become an official partner for Change4Life Today Fracture Theatre Company changed for life. This means that we are official partners with the NHS's initiative Change4Life, and we will be offering courses and activities that help you to eat healthy, move more and life longer. Register With us at http://fracturetheatre.co.uk

Fracture already runs a weekly street dance class in Billingham and soon will running classes in Middlesbrough, Stockton and the surrounding areas. For more info on this, please visit our website.

Want to be TV's next pioneer?

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

CCTV is a major new personal development and training programme aimed at helping the next generation of creative leaders adapt and thrive.

This 12-month scheme will equip a select group of 25 ambitious executives and producers with the skills - both personal and professional - needed to help steer the TV industry into the digital future.

It will offer:

•1:1 mentoring from some of the industry's most senior professionals
•Personal development coaching
•A 360° understanding of the evolving business of TV through masterclasses and workshops
•The skills needed to analyse and implement business opportunities
•The opportunity to raise your profile and expand your network of useful industry contacts
Successful applicants will attend workshops and events hosted by many of the creative industry's best known names including Peter Bazalgette, Jana Bennett, Pete Smith, Peter Fincham, Wayne Garvie, Rob Clark and Stephen Garrett.

Interested? If you have a proven track record in TV or an associated industry and want to hone your career, raise your profile of senior contacts, or simply recharge your thinking, then CCTV is looking for you.

Application forms can be downloaded from CC-TV website or requested from the CCTV office on 0207 267 2300 or by emailing cctv@dvtalent.co.uk. The deadline for applications is 18th March 2010.

Funded by the Skillset TV Freelance Fund and many of the leading names in broadcasting and beyond. CCTV is run by DV Talent in partnership with Jill Tandy and Janet Evans, and is supported by Pact, Olswang and Grant Thornton.

Vector Edge

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We have been working on a high profile project in Alderly Edge over the past 12 months. Introducing a series of logicwalls that manipulate the space depending on activity / function. Completion date 2010.

Flickr Portfolio Sample 001

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

logicbunker has added its first portfolio sample set to Flickr. See the link ;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/logicbunker/sets/72157623441172989/

Advanced Leadership in the Creative Industries (ALCI) 2010

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRY LEADERS: JUST THREE WEEKS LEFT TO REGISTER

- Ashridge Business School and Cultural Leadership Programme to help senior executives stay ahead in tough times -

Chief Executives and Directors at the top of the UK’s advertising, broadcasting, design, film, gaming and music industries are being offered tailored leadership development from Ashridge Business School this spring.

Advanced Leadership in the Creative Industries (ALCI) 2010 is an innovative and intensive programme; developed by Ashridge and supported by the Cultural Leadership Programme and endorsed by key creative industry individuals and advisory bodies.

Grounded in reality and supported by the latest academic thinking, with expert guest speakers and relevant case studies, ALCI 2010 is specifically designed for senior leaders in the creative sector. It offers senior executives the chance to enhance their own leadership capability, and understand how to steer and advance their organisation in a rapidly changing environment.

ALCI 2010 takes place over four modules between April and July. The course is led by Ashridge faculty members Jon Teckman, Angela Whelan and Lucy Küng, who all have extensive experience in the cultural sector and creative industries. They will be supported by other specialist tutors from Ashridge and top speakers from across the creative industries.

The programme is open to creative senior executives who:
• can demonstrate a proven track record in the creative industries at a senior level (a minimum of five years)
• ideally have been working at a senior level at more than one company
• are experiencing a broad range of leadership challenges in their current role

ALCI 2010 programme totals nine full days, consisting of four two-day residential modules at Ashridge’s campus and one inter-modular day in London.

The deadline for applications is Thursday 18 March 2010. Go to www.ashridge.org.uk/alci or www.culturalleadership.org.uk/210 for more details

Corporation Pop gives BP a virtual award ceremony

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A virtual award ceremony for over 30 of BP’s senior executives who have completed The University of Manchester’s Managing Projects programme will be rolled out, following a successful pilot last year by virtual world consultancy Corporation Pop.

On Thursday 4 March 2010 Corporation Pop will deliver the ceremony in the Whitworth Room of Manchester Business School’s Second Life Island. It follows a successful pilot in 2009 – the first of its kind - when 13 of BP’s executives based across the globe took part.

The virtual award ceremony is the culmination of the year-long Managing Projects programme, delivered by experts from across The University of Manchester, which enables BP executives from the UK, USA, Canada, Angola, Indonesia, Alaska and Russia to apply the latest business thinking to practical challenges they are facing in their business life.

Dom Raban, managing director at Corporation Pop explains: “Last year’s virtual ceremony proved the real value of using virtual world’s to bring geographically dispersed people together. BP experienced the benefits for themselves, rewarding senior executives for their achievements without the enormous costs and environmental impact of delivering a real life ceremony. It simply made the impossible possible.

“There are lots of prototypes in virtual worlds and companies who dip their toe in the water, but this event with BP demonstrates how Second Life is very much alive and well in the corporate world. We’re really looking forward to this year’s ceremony which is on a much larger scale than last year’s.”

Alan Johnston Director of Manchester Programmes at BP said: “The innovative use of Second Life by MBS delivers recognition of our worldwide delegates’ achievement in completing the Managing Projects programme while enhancing our community of practice.”

Professor Michael Luger, Director of Manchester Business School said: “MBS is committed to working closely with clients, such as BP, to deliver original executive education programmes that combine real time teaching with the latest e-learning technology. We’re delighted that we can bring the BP cohort together again to celebrate their achievements in way.”

Corporation Pop has brought together a global team to help deliver the ceremony including acclaimed American machinimatographer Ariella Furman who will be filming the event for a souvenir video for participants.

Artist exhibting opportunty

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Illumini Event 2010 Presents ‘Secret subterranean London’

Dead line: Extended15th March 2010

Illumini Event Sep 2008, attracted over 3,000 people on its opening night and 7,145 guests during its two weeks. Artists, from professionals to students, gained commissions, sales and major press coverage and interviews through Illumini. We take promotion very seriously and have a great track record with our featured artists. To be part of the next Illumini event, please send your submission in asap.

Applications are invited from artists of all disciplines. To exhibit in ‘Secret Subterranean London’ at Shoreditch Town Hall basement London, starting from the 9th Sept 2010 for 1 week

Have you ever wondered what secret tunnels and buildings are hidden under the city streets?
Illumini Event 2010 will be held in an underground rustic location in East London, and promises to be an exciting and historical look into the history of the secret underground city. The old rustic subterranean dark labyrinth, with its many rooms, alleyways and cells, will be transformed into several areas of historical underground London, eg: world war bunkers, disused station, crypts, historical water ways and many more, long forgotten hidden secrets of London. During the event there will be workshops and talks about secrets that are hidden in London’s underground.

What we are looking for

Sculptures & prop makers
The venue for the event will be divided into zones. Each zone will represent a special hidden underground London location. We are looking for artist’s that can recreate and set a scene, at the venue, by adding props and sculpture to recreate these long forgotten historical spaces. Artists will transform the space to take the viewer back in time .Leaving a perfect platform for Illuminating art works to be displayed along side their work.

Artist’s that use light/illumination in their art work
Artist’s whose work or part of their work illuminates, or lights up in some way. This can be from the way it is displayed; e.g, projection, TV screens etc, or incorporating lighting into the actual artwork in some way - neon, LED’S , EL wire & panels, glow products & paint etc. If your work glows or lights up we want to hear from you. Installation and site specific work very welcome and new works are also welcome.

The illuminating art work is to be displayed at the venue and will be placed inside the recreated underground spaces. Artist that are creating illuminating art work, can also recreate a scene as above ,by using props and sculpture and build their own installation, or work with other artist’s in achieving this. We would like artist to think about the history of the many hidden underground spaces and its uses and find a connection with their work, where possible. Choosing say a crypt, war bunker, vaults, underground prison, disused station etc.

Photographers and historians
Any photographers that have imagery, of underground spaces in London, please send us some samples of your work. The event will also display historical information and visuals to teach people about the mysteries under our streets. Any Authors or historians, who would like to do a talk/ workshop please contact us.

For full details on how to submit please visit the submission page at www.illuminievent.co.uk

Illumini Event 2010 is kindly supported by the National Lottery through the arts council England.

Mercy's 12 Angry Men Part 2

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Part 2 of our 2010 programme of E-Zines, 12 Angry Zines, has just launched on the website.

Following the framework of the film 12 Angry Men, each of these issues is based on one of the juror characters at a time. This month it's the only other person in the film to actually be named: McArdle, the wise and observant old man who shows the courage to re-open the debate after the first vote, and who acts as the catalyst for the story that follows.

We've commissioned more new words and pictures collaborations from a host of amazingly talented folk, who we are delighgted to have on board – big thanks to Si Scott, Luke Wright, Peter O'Halligan, Erica Read, Oliver Gruner, Sean Halligan and James McGregor.

Artist bios from the zine:

---
Peter O'Halligan is a former sailor, a poet and thinker, and one of the unsung heroes of Liverpool's many cultural renaissances. In 1974, he founded the Liverpool School of Language, Music, Dream and Pun, based on Jung's dream vision of Liverpool. He is currently working with haiku and calligraphy.

Si Scott is a highly-sought-after illustrator and typographer with a beautifully-crafted hand-inked style, and represents a major coup for Mercy. He has a prestigious client list including the likes of Nike, Guinness, MTV and Tiffany and Co, and he is co-owner of Paper Scissor Stone.

Luke Wright is one of the best-loved poets on the UK scene. His work for television, The Seven Ages of Love, brought record numbers of viewer to a poetry-based show, and pretty much everything he has ever done has received five stars from Time Out.

Erica Read is a London-based illustrator, whose website was posted our way via Twitter and which we have been enamoured with since.

Oliver Gruner is a writer on film, and former contributor to Mercy live events. He is currently lecturing and producing PhD research on 1960's Contemporary Hollywood Biopics, at UEA.

Sean Halligan is a photographer who specialises in pinhole photography. His work was one of the central features of Mercy's )Bracket This( 2 exhibition, and he has been instrumental in documenting Liverpool's changing faces over the last 30 years. He lives and works in Liverpool.

James McGregor is a graphic designer and illustrator who has just completed a 2-month internship at Mercy Towers.

Manchester Business Leaders Encourage Peers to Follow Suit and Innovate with Confidence

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

#### Leaders of 25 Greater Manchester SME companies have reported business changing transformations following the first Innovate with Confidence workshop held this week. Now they’re calling on their fellow directors to emulate their experience.

"The Innovate with Confidence workshop is the clearest distillation of the core principles we need as business leaders and innovators I've seen. I will be encouraging my colleagues and business partners to grab the chance to participate in Innovate with Confidence as quickly as possible.” **Paul Robinson, Director, Vagueware Ltd**

As a revolutionary series of master classes that combine business model innovation, practical thinking skills and insights into technology the first Innovate with Confidence sold out in days.

Now that the timing of the second and final course supported by the Manchester Innovation Investment Fund has been announced, more businesses are being offered the chance to create fresh profit for their companies by creating new value for their customers.

"Innovate with Confidence was extremely inspirational. We will use these tools to grow our business." **James Clarke, Founder Director, True Reflections.**

"I am amazed at how my thinking has changed. I have already come up with a new idea for my business which I can't wait to get into place." **Liz Horwich, Director, EML Systems Ltd.**

“The practical thinking shocked me into realising that, over my working life of about 45 years, I have been approaching the way I think in, what I NOW know, is a very restrictive manner. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks." **Alan Hankinson, Director, Common Sense Solutions UK Ltd**

David Crowther is the programme’s leader and was co-founder of a Manchester based business that was acquired by a major US software company. He says,
"The results the directors achieved by using the Innovate with Confidence tools were extraordinary, such as developing not one but three new products from a single insight."

Delivery of the programme is being supported by the Edward de Bono Foundation. Their Chief Executive, Robert Rawlinson adds,
“As CEO of the Edward de Bono Foundation UK, I am proud to be associated with such an important programme as Innovate with Confidence. Small and medium sized enterprises are more likely to thrive if they are more unified, skilled and creative."

Places on Innovate with Confidence would normally be priced at £1,800. But thanks to the valuable support of the Manchester Innovation Investment Fund you can participate at the subsidised cost of £99 for all 4 workshops.

The final programme starts on 14th April and is held in Manchester. To secure one of the 25 places available and develop the tools and insights to innovate with confidence act quickly and register via [www.innovatewithconfidence.com](http://www.innovatewithconfidence.com).

For more information contact Dave Crowther, 07968 583 126, [david.crowther@melandra.com](mailto:david.crowther@melandra.com
)

FutureEverything: Special offer for CREATIVE Times readers

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

CREATIVE Times have negotiated 15% off the current Advanced Delegate Registration rate for the FutureEverything Festival & Conference taking place in Manchester between 12 - 15 May 2010.

CREATIVE Times readers will pay just £102 (normally £120 before 31 March) by inserting the promotion code CT10 at the following link:

[http://www.futureeverything.org/booknow](http://www.futureeverything.org/booknow)

Enter the promotional code CT10 when prompted.

The FutureEverything Festival of Art, Music & Ideas (formerly Futuresonic, est. 1995) brings together world premieres of cutting edge artworks, an explosive city-wide music programme and visionary thinkers from around the world.

Forming a major hub for the festival, the FutureEverything Conference brings 500 opinion formers, futurologists, researchers, artists, technologists and scientists together to explore the latest upgrade affecting today’s digital culture.

FutureEverything is an art, technology and social innovation organisation that runs year round innovation labs and an annual Festival of Art, Music and Ideas. It has a strong global network and international profile and is recognised around the world for leading pioneering projects and important international debates.

For more information or visit [www.futureeverything.org](http://www.futureeverything.org)

BOOST FOR STOCKPORT’S CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Creative industries in Stockport have been given a boost thanks to a new programme of FREE events aimed at improving business links and networking.

Originally established in 2007, the network gives local businesses an opportunity to meet up and participate in talks and discussions. Having proved so popular, Stockport Council and Stockport Economic Alliance have re-launched the network as part of the Stockport Boost campaign with events and workshops running until 2011.

This year’s activities will include some new features. As well as the familiar evening events featuring guest speakers, informal coffee mornings and professional masterclasses will also be added to the programme.

The season of events kicks of at the Hatworks Museum on Wellington Road South on March 9th (6pm – 8.30pm) with a discussion on collaboration as a means to growing business. The evening will feature two guest speakers: Liz Birkbeck, founder of [Millco](http://www.creativetimes.co.uk/features/bubble-s-former-md-launches-new-venture) - a multi-disciplinary ‘virtual mill’ of designers, photographers, copywriters and branding experts, and Simon Grennan - one half of international artist duo Grennan and Sperandio. Future topics will include working with tourism and working with sport and all events will include ample opportunity to network with other local businesses.

Councillor Kevin Hogg, Executive Member for Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “This is a great boost for local businesses. Stockport has a thriving creative industries sector and we are keen to see this area continue to flourish and grow. The programme of planned events offers great opportunities for local companies to meet and work together.”

For further information, to register on the network or to book a place at the event, please contact Chris Lethbridge at [stockportcreatives@me.com](mailto:stockportcreatives@me.com)

Further information on the Stockport Boost campaign is available by logging on to [www.stockport.gov.uk/boost](http://www.stockport.gov.uk/boost) (free internet access is available at all Stockport libraries)

Exhibition at Art Rumble Art Fair

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I will be attending Art Rumble at Contact Theatre in Manchester this Saturday (27th) from noon to 5 pm. This is a monthly market of affordable art objects. Contact Theatre is located next to Oxford Road in Manchester Centre.

Hope to see you there!

p.s. Entry is free! :)

Navigating MediaCity UK

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Waterside Arts Centre.

6-9pm, Tues 9th March 2010

£10 / £8

Creative Industries Trafford presents an insiders' guide to the realities, opportunities and who's who of the Media City development with your hosts, media producers and trainers Ric Michael and Christine Pyke.

The new BBC development at MediaCity UK, Salford comes to Waterside Arts Centre – come and take part as the people who will make it tick discuss what will really go on there, how you can get involved, where there are opportunities and which myths needs dispelling. The event will explain how MediaCityUK is relevant to a wide range of creative workers - set & costume designers, writers, photographers - as well as those directly working in broadcast media.

There will be panel discussions, questions and answers and a chance to get up close and personal with the individuals and the information that will drive forward Media City.

The speakers are Jason Legget (Peel Media) Lynne McCadden (Director of Skills and New Projects, North West Vision and Media) and Liz Molyneux (Business Development Leader for BBC at MediaCity UK) and you can join the discussion ahead of the event at our special web site – come and register at [http://navigatingmediacityuk.ning.com](http://navigatingmediacityuk.ning.com)

The event takes place at Waterside Arts Centre, Sale, M33 7ZF. To book, call 0161 912 5616.

The App School - deadline EXTENDED

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

####The deadline for young creatives looking to join The App School has been EXTENDED to Sunday 7th March!

If you're aged between 18 to 24, based in the Manchester City Council area, and looking to break in to the Creative Industries, The App School is your perfect opportunity...

You could be one of 10 lucky creatives that get to join this unique bootcamp, where you'll develop ideas for iPhone 'apps' and get business training on industry essential skills (including project management and business awareness) from some of the UK's best creatives. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A TECHIE TO APPLY - IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR IDEAS!

For more information, head over to [The App School website](http://www.appschool.co.uk/) and join us on [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/pages/Manchester/The-App-School/303742672865).

Corporation Pop creates urban cool video for Bench.

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Corporation Pop has created a video for urban lifestyle brand Bench, showcasing the story behind the brand from its humble beginnings in Manchester to global distribution.

The creative solution uses the square full stop in the logo to create a digitalised world map with x and y global coordinates representing Bench’s retail outlets and events. The three minute video will be used to communicate its wide global presence.

Dom Raban, managing director at Corporation Pop explains: “The video takes the viewer on a journey through Bench’s global empire, celebrating 20 years of heritage from its roots in Manchester’s music scene in the 90s. The project involved selecting and editing two decades worth of videos and imagery, which was then cut to music.”

Emily Frazer, international marketing manager at Bench adds: “We wanted a video that highlighted our international reach and global presence. The result represents our history and major landmarks, in a cool and distinctive style that is reflective of our brand.”

This is the third video that Corporation Pop has produced for Bench. The Manchester graphic and digital design agency has been working with the company since November 2007. For more information visit www.corporationpop.co.uk.

The Fashion Network: Styling event in Manchester tomorrow - http://bit.ly/a3Zjnm

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

When: 6 pm - Thursday 18th February 2010

Where: The General Store, Deansgate

RSVP: £5 Bookable online
Paying Guest List now open - Email rsvp@manchesterfashion.com with your full name and details

The first in our series of "Making it" talks, we present a panel of Stylists to give you an insight into the world of Styling.

Areas covered:

• Day in the life of a stylist
• Skills needed
• Experience or Education
• Top Tips
• Your Questions

PLUS...

20% off instore
DJ
Free beer

Prescott & Conran appoint Typeslowly

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Typeslowly will be responsible for maintaining Prescott & Conran web sites whilst developing ideas to further develop the businesses online. The appointment follows the launch of the Lutyens web site in September 2009, the ongoing design and build of the Prescott & Conran web site, and the successful delivery of a series of email marketing campaigns throughout December and January 2010.

Typeslowly was appointed after a three way pitch on the strength of previous design and web development work for luxury and lifestyle brands.

Jason McReynolds, Creative Director of Typeslowly says that:
“ It’s great to be working with Prescott & Conran, we are very excited about our role and the ideas we share for the sites”

Peter Prescott, Prescott & Conran says that
“ We are very impressed with Jason’s approach, professionalism and results”

Carbon Digital's new Film Trailer

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Have a look at our new film trailer ‘synapse’ - any feedback and comments would be most appreciated...

[http://vimeo.com/groups/shortfilms/videos/9411176](http://vimeo.com/groups/shortfilms/videos/9411176)

Digital Arts Residency at Zion Arts Centre

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

RESPOND is an opportunity for an artist (or groups of artists) to creatively respond to the first questions Zion Arts Centre’s new management asked themselves when they walked in the building.

We are now looking for a creative response to the following question:

'How can Zion Arts Centre extend our reach using digital and social media tools, appealing to artists and young people through online platforms and virtual worlds?'

This residency takes place over three months, with the artist dictating how much time is spent on the project. There is a £2,000 fee.

Please go to [www.zionarts.com/residencies](http://www.zionarts.com/residencies) for full details and an application form.

The App School launches!

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The White Room, Manchester’s Cornerhouse and Manchester Metropolitan University are on the look-out for young people with ‘the App Factor’, and have just launched the project's [website](http://www.appschool.co.uk).

The App School (Creative Innovation Lab) is an innovative new scheme created by [The White Room](http://www.thewhiteroomcec.com) and some of the city’s leading creative businesses.

The programme will take 10 budding creatives, based in the ‘Manchester City Council’ area and aged between 18 and 24, and will put them through an intensive training course where they’ll develop their ideas for cutting-edge mobile phone apps. Most importantly through the scheme they’ll receive career-enhancing support and guidance that’ll help them get a foot in the door to the creative industries.

The App School will consist of a weekend-long ‘ideas lab’, followed by a series of four one-day creative business workshops, where they will be coached by some of the city’s finest trainers and creative companies. The programme starts at the end of February 2010, and all sessions will take place at Cornerhouse, Oxford Road, Manchester City Centre. In addition the the course being free, participants will also receive a training bursary.

At the end of the scheme, participants will pitch their worked-up plans – Dragons Den style – to a panel of creative companies, and if they like what they see, they’ll build the app and take it to market with its creator!

With over $3bn worth of mobile phone apps downloaded in the last 2 years, they are the latest phenomenon to sweep the digital industry – presenting budding creative entrepreneurs across the globe with a real chance of turning their ideas into reality.

And you don’t have to be a techie or a geek to make your fortune with them. Inspiration for The App School came from a bin man called Rob Shoesmith. Rob had an idea for an app called ‘Problem Halved’ and worked with an American developer to take his idea to market. His app has now sold over 3.7m copies – at a dollar a time!

Stephen Hey, of Manchester-based mobile phone games developer Connect2Media, says, “This is a great opportunity for for creative types with an idea to make it a reality. This age group is unburdened by ‘received knowledge’ and so I’m sure they will come up with some very exciting concepts that will surprise and delight.”

Phil Birchenall, Project Director at The White Room says, “We’re really excited about The App School as we know that the kind of things people will learn are exactly what businesses in the creative industries are looking for. If I was the right age I’d be going on it myself!”

To apply for The App School head over to [www.appschool.co.uk](http://www.appschool.co.uk).

Creative Innovation Labs is funded by Manchester City Council, delivered in partnership with Cornerhouse, MMU, Manchester Beacon for Public Engagement and is being managed by The White Room. If you have any questions about The App School, please email info@thewhiteroomcec.com or call Phil on 0161 446 2991.

One-to-one mentoring

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Business in the Arts:North West are working alongside G&M Associates and Merseyside ACME in a consortium which has been selected by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to deliver one-to-one mentoring through an exciting Mentoring Programme in Northwest England, as part of a wider network across the region. This Mentoring Programme gives leaders and senior managers an excellent opportunity to work with a dedicated mentor who will develop their leadership and management potential to help them grow their business.

The consortium is focusing particularly on providing support to the creative sector. All three consortium members specialise in working with the creative and cultural sectors, in particular to support management and business development. They also have extensive experience of running high quality mentoring programmes and this programme will be aiming to achieve the International Standard for Mentoring Programmes in Employment.

The consortium will be providing mentoring in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. Mentors with a variety of skills and experience will be available. Some will be professional coaches and mentors; some will be successful entrepreneurs in the creative sector and some will have worked at senior levels in large companies.

For more information click on the link below,
[http://www.businessinarts-nw.org.uk/html/nwda_mentoring.html](http://www.businessinarts-nw.org.uk/html/nwda_mentoring.html)

Opportunity for Artists working in animation, digital media or film

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We are looking for an artist working in animation, graphic design or digital imagery to produce a short film or animation (6 minutes or less) for our art collection. This commission is part of a nation wide project (Stories of the World) which will see museum and galleries across the North-West celebrate their industrial past with exhibitions, events and commissions. We have a total of £10,000 to spend on the commission of this work; this will include all artists’ expenses.

The work will initially be shown in our newly refurbished local history gallery which opens in November 2010. The gallery is funded by Bolton Council and the Regional Development Agency, and it is hoped that the work will be of a quality that will draw visitors to Bolton Museum.

The redevelopment of the gallery is part of the North West's Raising The Game programme that is raising the quality, ambition and profile of six leading museums and galleries to attract more tourists to the region. The new local history gallery at the museum will be divided into three sections, looking at industrialisation and the impact of the invention of the Spinning Mule; the subsequent developments in Bolton since the textile industry declined and the lives of Boltonians past and present.

We would like the film to both stand alone as a quality piece of art work and also provide links and connections with our existing industrial and art collections by interpreting them in a new and dynamic way.

In order to meet funding criteria, the artist who wins the commission must be willing to lead a one-off master-class, lecture or workshop for children or young adults about their working processes and inspiration. As well as this, we would like the artist to be willing to have their working processes documented for possible inclusion in our own learning resources.

Brief:
The Museum’s collections are particularly rich in items relating to Bolton’s industrial heritage, British Surrealist art, and 1930s documentary photography. The work must fit comfortably with existing works in the art collection such as Eduardo Paolozzi’s ‘Naked Head’ and Edward Wadsworth’s ‘The Perspective of Iidleness’.

The source material for the work is the rich archive of illustration in machinery parts catalogues, mechanical diagrams and drawings, industrial machinery in the collection, and an archive of richly illustrated export labels. The work may also draw upon the Museum and Archive Service’s photographic archive. We wish for a work that highlights the ingenuity, creativity and beauty in engineering, mechanical processes and advertising. We would also like the artist to imply the narrative that all that machinery was at work to produce products for export all over the world.

We hope the work will turn attention to the almost forgotten generations of creative people who worked in the North West’s industrial powerhouse. The North West has a long tradition of fusing creativity with industry and mass production. We hope that the artwork will reflect and celebrate this. As well as using imagery from our collections, we hope that the chosen artist will be able to incorporate sound – for example the sounds of industrial machinery working – in their piece.

We are very keen for the film or animation to take influence from Dada, Surrealist, Constructivist and commercial art of the 1920s and 1930s. Artists working in these styles were often employed or trained as commercial artists also, and their work reflected industrial and mechanical processes. The late 1930s was also the period when the Mass Observation group was active in Bolton and brought in artists and writers with surrealist interests and training. For further information about Mass Observation see: (http://spender.boltonmuseums.org.uk/index.html). Bolton Museum and Archive Service’s curators will be on hand to assist the chosen artist with the enquiries they will inevitably have about the project, source material and historical period.

Application information:
We have put together a package of objects that we hope will provide initial inspiration for artists – this includes art work by Eduardo Paolozzi, Edward Burra, Roland Penrose, Julian Trevelyan and Paul Mason, photography from the Mass Observation project, images of industrial machinery and graphics from industrial manuals and catalogues. This object package can be found on our website from Tuesday 9th February:

http://www.boltonmuseums.org.uk/stories-of-the-world-artists-commission

We would like to invite interested artists to submit a storyboard outlining their initial ideas alongside a portfolio of their current work on CD/DVD. The portfolio can include still imagery alongside short examples of film/animation.

Please send your submission by 28th February 2010 to:

Kirsty Archibald
Curator of Art
Bolton Museum & Archive Service
Le Mans Crescent
Bolton
BL1 1SE

Mercy launch super limited T-Shirts.

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We almost thought it would never happen, but thanks to our old friend Russ at Wasted Heroes, we now have our first batch of T-shirts available to buy.

We just got the bearface sample back today and it is hot. The full batch will be with us within the week, so we've 'live-d' it on the shop this morning for you to get your orders in.

This is a SUPERLIMITED run of just 10 in each size, so be quick. The bleeding lips design will be ready this month, and if both sell quick we'll return fire with more.

Click the link to get yours today. http://tinyurl.com/MercyTshirts

Manchester Modernist Society - Commissioning Opportunity

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Call for Artists
The Manchester Kiosks

This is an opportunity for a contemporary artist to produce a new film, video, photographic, sound, digital media or installation work to be commissioned and produced in collaboration with the Manchester Modernist Society. The work will be presented as part of the FutureEverything Festival, in Manchester, in May 2010.

The work will respond to the 5 remaining (Giles Gilbert Scott designed) red k6 telephone kiosks, in Manchester City Centre.

The commissioned artist will be offered an artist's fee of £2000.

For more information and artists’ brief, please e-mail info@manchestermodernistsociety.org

Deadline for applications:
28 Feb 2010.

Manchester Masters Matchmaking

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

* Always thought about employing a graduate?
* Don’t want to be inundated with CVs?
* Don’t have time to go through a sifting process?
* We have the answer…

Manchester Masters is a graduate retention programme which aims to attract and retain the best student minds for our city (see: www.manchestermasters.com).

As part of the selection process for this high profile programme, we shortlist and analyse (via an intensive judging and psychometric testing) 50 graduates. These final 50 then attend an Assessment Centre and our final 10 Manchester Masters candidates are selected.

Therefore the other 40 – still very high calibre, pre-qualified - graduates could be the answer to your above dilemma.
Manchester Masters Matchmaking is an intensive morning of ‘speed dating’ between the above graduates and North West businesses in the market for graduates.

No Fee

No Obligation

Just great grads up for grabs!

Date: 18th February 2010

Venue: Manchester Metropolitan University (directions available)

Timing: 8.45am set up – 1pm close

Format: 5 minute ‘speed dating’ sessions (with breaks!)

RSVP/more info: jo.hart@tangerinepr.com
0161 817 6600 (Jo Hart, Kate Dixon, Sandy Lindsay)

Techies retreat to the beach to tweak their Technique

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

An innovative new training programme for North West web developers last weekend received a fantastic response from attendees.

Twenty-five web and app developers descended upon Morecambe’s Midland Hotel for ‘Technique’, an intensive residential training camp designed to help develop digital skills.

The event was attended by up-and-coming developers from some of the region’s top digital agencies, including Code Computerlove, Stardotstar, Creative Lynx and Fudge, as well as some dynamic young companies such as We Are Creators, Fluid Creativity, Red Abbey and Lamp Digital.

Participants were brought together to undergo practical, hands-on workshops in some of the most prominent and in-demand skill areas. These were led by experienced developers with international reputations in their specialist fields, including Seb Lee-Delisle (Plug-In Media/Papervision3D), Peter-Paul Koch (Quirksmode) and Luis Lavena (Area 17).

Technique was presented and funded by [Northwest Vision and Media](http://www.visionandmedia.co.uk/), which works on behalf of the digital and creative industries in the region. The programme has been created and delivered in partnership with Manchester consultancy [The White Room](http://www.thewhiteroomcec.com/).

Paul Collins, Project Manager for The White Room said: “Technique is a new approach to digital skills development - more dynamic than a regular training course, and more in-depth and personal than a conference. By providing the right environment, people and resources, we are helping some very talented people to ultimately teach themselves, inspired and coached by seasoned professionals.”

Lynn Kelly, Head of Skills at Northwest Vision and Media said: “As the region’s interactive network expands, we’re committed to supporting, developing and promoting their key areas of activity in every way we can, which includes facilitating ?events and training programmes such as Technique.

“As well as a unique chance to receive expert technical advice from guest trainers, Technique also offers the chance to swap skills, experiences and approaches with developers from across the North West. We’ve received some fantastic feedback from this year’s attendees and we’re looking forward to holding more of these events in the future.”

For more information about Technique visit: [www.techniqueretreat.com](http://www.techniqueretreat.com/)

Freelancers! Stardotstar are looking for you...

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Are you a talented freelancer looking for tasty projects?

There’s some good stuff in the pipeline, so if you are any of the following we’d like to find out more:

Designer – Online and offline
Flash coder (please indicate level of ability)
Ruby on Rails coder
Copywriter
Css/HTML coder
Researcher
Educational Consultant
Educational Content developer

For more info [CLICK HERE!](http://stardotstar.com/company/news/freelancers-wanted)

Strictly No Agencies, we mean it. Ta.

Final chance to 'Innovate with Confidence'

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Innovate with Confidence comprises four practical 1-day workshops that prepare SME businesses in Greater Manchester to innovate, to grow customer value in a changing world and make technology work for them.

Participants will innovate quickly, reliably and successfully alongside experts including Nigel Newman of the Edward de Bono Foundation UK, one of only 5 global lifetime master trainers, Jim O’Loughlin who enables senior global executives to enhance their strategic decision making and Mike Ryan, Secretary of Manchester Digital.

There are just 25 places on the scheme available to Greater Manchester based SMEs. With a waiting list forming as soon as the first course sold out, we expect that this final series of Innovate with Confidence will well out as quickly as the first series, so don’t delay. Act now to secure your place at [www.InnovatewithConfidence.com](http://www.InnovatewithConfidence.com)

Arts About Manchester becomes All About Audiences

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Over the past twelve months Arts About Manchester and the Audience Alliance have been on an exciting and ambitious journey to become the audience development agency for the North West region.

After an intense year of planning, consultation and preparation they've now announced their new identity as All About Audiences. The new agency will support arts and cultural organisations across the five North West sub-regions, moving away from AAM's existing membership model to a new, more flexible and targeted, subscription model commencing in April 2010. The new name, email addresses and website will be officially switched on from 15 February.

Events are being held across the region to introduce the new organisation.

9 February – Warrington,
19 February – Liverpool,
24 February – Lancaster
2 March – Kendal,
10 March – Manchester

[Click here for details](http://www.eventbrite.com/org/362308530?s=1516330)

Join The App School - A Boot Camp for young creative people

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We're on the look-out for young people with 'the App Factor' - bright ideas and an ambition to work in Manchester's Creative Industries.

Coached by leading creative professionals, you will learn essential creative business skills and how to turn your ideas into reality - you’ll also get to work with some of Manchester’s top creative businesses!

AND THE REALLY GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A TECHIE - YOU JUST NEED TO HAVE IDEAS AND A PASSION TO WORK IN THE CREATIVE WORLD

ARE YOU?
- Looking to get into the creative industries?
- Full of ideas and ambition?
- Based in the Manchester 'city council' area?
- Aged between 18 & 24?

If so, The App School is for you!

The App School will take 10 lucky individuals on a journey as they develop their ideas for a Mobile Phone 'app' – by working with some of the best trainers and creative companies in Manchester. You just need ideas, not tech know-how.

If you're chosen, you'll get the chance to work on your ideas through a series of three 'ideas' workshops, beginning at the end of February. You'll also attend four boot camp sessions that will give you essential creative business know-how about managing projects and money, team working, and presenting your work.

YOUR APP MIGHT BE MADE!

At the end of The App School, you will be able to pitch your worked-up plans for your App to a panel of creative companies - and if they like what they see, they'll build the app for you and get it on the iTunes Store!!! You might even get an 8 week paid placement with one of the companies, thanks to the support of MMU. Whether your app is selected or not, you'll have learnt a massive amount and have fantastic industry contacts - improving your chances of getting a job in the creative industries in Manchester. In addition, we’ll be creating an online documentary about the scheme, which will go out here on www.CREATIVETimes.co.uk

If you are interested in being part of the scheme, you need to first think about the App you would like to work on. You need to consider what it will do, who it will be for, and why people will want to use it.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Places are really limited, so if you are up for the challenge, register your idea for your app online [now]([http://tinyurl.com/TheAppSchool) or call 0161 446 2991 for an application form. Register quick as we only have a few places left!

The App School team will treat all ideas in confidence. We will be judging applications by February 21st - we'll be in touch shortly after to let people know if they have secured a place on the project.

Creative Innovation Labs is funded by Manchester City Council, delivered in partnership with Cornerhouse, MMU, Manchester Beacon for Public Engagement and is being managed by The White Room. If you have any questions about The App School, please email info@thewhiteroomcec.com

Controversial film gets its North West Premiere

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

KINOFILM proudly presents the North West Premiere of Diary of a Disgraced Soldier, together with a supporting short film programme.

As a special and North West Premiere Kinofilm bring you the controversial micro feature documentary Diary of a Disgraced Soldier (a part video diary) which played to rapturous applause at it's World Premiere at the Cornwall Film Festival late last year.
This is only its second public screening (as many festivals refuse to show the film due to it's sensitive subject matter), this film is not to be missed and the Directors will be present for a
Q & A after the show with Kinofilm regular guest host John Robb, (local media commentator and lead singer in the band GOLDBLADE).

This event is a taster event for the hugely anticipated return of the Kinofilm Festival, taking place across the city from 28 April – 2 May, as a celebration of short film of all genres from across the UK and Europe.

Event Details
Date: Wednesday, 10th February
Venue: Greenroom, 54-56 Whitworth Street West, Manchester. M1 5WW.
Box Office: 0161 615 0500
Time: 7.30 (start 8.00pm prompt).
TICKETS: £4 and £3 (conc)

Completing registration on the Kinofilm website (http://www.kinofilm.org.uk/bulletin-board/register.php) will save you time on the night and helps us to know our audience.

To reserve your seat go to Event Brite
http://kinofeaturepremierdiaryofadisgracedsoldier.eventbrite.com/

Brief synopsis of film

In 2004, British soldier Corporal Martin Webster ?lmed fellow British soldiers beating Iraqi youths during rioting in Al Asmara, Iraq.

It was his commentary that people heard when the ?lm was leaked to the British newspaper, News of the World. The shocking images and commentary caused outrage across the world. The soldiers were arrested, but no charges were ever brought against them. Martin Webster left the Army soon afterwards.

Plus SHORT FILM SUPPORTING PROGRAMME including:
"Prayers for Peace". Directed by Dustin Grella (USA 2009).

A narrative stop-motion animation confronting the memory of the artist's younger brother killed in the current conflict in Iraq. Drawn entirely in pastels on a slate chalkboard, the materials used to create the animation become a metaphor for the impermanence of life.

More detail

DIARY OF A DISGRACED SOLDIER
Directors: Neil Cole, Chris Rowe, Richard Atkinson (completion 2009)

Diary of a Disgraced Soldier follows Martin from the day he leaves the Army as he tries to adapt to a post-military life haunted by that video.

He embarks upon his own investigation into the events of Al Amarah, using a proli?c creative energy to produce paintings, poetry and music – he also visits his old army mates to get their take on what happened in Iraq. Along the way his video diaries chart his anger, shame, and depression as he comes to terms with his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and voices his new-found political awareness. His creative energies culminate with the ‘Voices of War’ concert and an art gallery exhibition, which he hopes will channel his energies positively and mark the start of a new beginning.

Diary of a Disgraced Soldier began as an investigation into one shameful moment, but as the story unravels, turns into a quest to see if Martin can ever leave Al Amarah behind.

WHAT THEY SAID
“…the hands down winner of best film of the festival…not for the faint hearted…”
Little White Lies (Independent Film Magazine)

… as a military mother, I feel the public needs to be exposed to stories about the insidious after-effects of war... I applaud the courage of the filmmakers to bring Martin's story into focus and hope they will be rewarded with many more screening opportunities to come."
Donna Anton - Director, 2009 Cornwall Film Festival - Gool Fylm

LINKS

BBC South West News with video
BBC News report with video
BBC Entertainment report with video

Are you an Accidental Leader?

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

#### Now in its second year, the Accidental Leader programme aims to develop executives at director or CEO level within small and medium enterprises in the creative and digital industries in the region.

This includes people who have started a TV, radio, games, publishing, creative, public relations or digital content business, which is at least 12 months old.

The programme will help you:

• Develop leadership skills
• Create efficient teams
• Go from being digital to top digital
• Network and collaborate with your peers
• Grow your business

“From someone who grew their business from absolutely nothing, I can tell you that the best thing you can do right now, is get out of your business. Instead of going for a walk in the park, you might as well get out of your business and come to something like this, where you’re actively encouraged to think about your business and generate insight.” Matt Howarth, Virtual Construction

Funded by Northwest Vision and Media in partnership with Skillset, and supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency, the programme is delivered by the world's leading digital media and leadership educator, Hyper Island.

The course retails at £5,000 (plus VAT) however, those accepted onto the programme will only pay a nominal fee of £1,000 (plus VAT) thanks to funding by Northwest Vision and Media

Download the [prospectus](http://ow.ly/12wkD) and complete the [application form](http://www.hyperisland.se/index.1177--6-1.html?ksid=159&anm=1).

All applications must be received by Friday 26 February 2010.

With only 25 seats available on the course, applicants will go through a recruitment process including interviews with Hyper Island facilitators.

Artist Call for Biennale Illumini Event 2010

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Call for submission:
Biennale Illumini Event 2010
Presents – ‘Secret subterranean London’ © 2010

Dead line: 1st March 2010

Event Details
Start date: 2nd Sept 2010
Location: Shoreditch, London
Theme: Secret underground London.

Applications are invited from artists of all disciplines, whose work or part of their work illuminates, or lights up in some way. This can be from the way it is displayed; e.g, projection, TV screens etc, or incorporating lighting into the actual artwork in some way - neon, LED’S , EL wire & panels, glow products & paint etc. If your work glows or lights up we want to hear from you. Site specific work and new works are also welcome.

Have you ever wondered what secret tunnels and buildings are hidden under the citiy streets?
Illumini Event 2010 will be held in an underground rustic location in East London, and promises to be an exciting and historical look into the history of the secret underground city. The old rustic subterranean dark labyrinth, with its many rooms, alleyways and cells, will be transformed into several areas of historical underground London, eg: world war bunkers, disused station, crypts, historical water ways and many more, long forgotten hidden secrets of London. During the event there will be workshops and talks about secrets that are hidden in London’s underground.

The venue for the event, will be divided into zones. Each zone will represent a special hidden underground London location. Artists will transform their space to take the viewer back in time, recreating their chosen underground location, that inspires them. Then using their individual spaces as a platform, to exhibit their illuminating art work.

Illumini Event Sep 2008, attracted over 3,000 people on its opening night and 7,145 guests during its two weeks. Artists, from professionals to students, gained commissions, sales and major press coverage and interviews through Illumini. We take promotion very seriously and have a great track record with our featured artists.

For full details on how to submit please visit the submission page at www.illuminievent.co.uk

Biennale Illumini Event 2010 is kindly Supported by the National Lottery through the arts council England.

Mercy's 12 Angry Men

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Mercy are going back to their roots and launching a new zine project, which with the help of ACE will commission 24 pieces of new work over the next 12 months.

Named 12 Angry Men, after Sidney Lumet's seminal 1957 film, the Zine project looks to the film's 12 characters to explore the roles literature, illustration and commentary play in modern creativity and thought.

Since 2002, Mercy have steadily developed a concrete output of genre defying events, literature and creativity, securing commissions from The Young Vic, Tate, The Bluecoat, Universal Records, Diesel and Domino Records. In 2009, this innovation was picked up by Arts Council England who have supported Mercy's devotion to the development of live literature and its audiences.

Over the next 12 months, Mercy will be commissioning artists and writers to collaborate, creating new work based on 12 unique themes.

Any designers, illustrators, writers or commentators wishing to be considered should contact gemmagermains@mercyonline.co.uk for further information.

In the meantime, you can see issue 1, Davis here:
http://mercyonline.co.uk/who-we-are/what-we-are-up-to/article/12-angry-zines

The Market Creative launches the Ultimate Retail Experience for G Plan

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Shopper marketing specialist, The Market Creative launches a new retail concept for G Plan Upholstery, The Ultimate Retail Experience, which will roll out across stores nationwide in Spring.

The Market Creative has developed a distinctive new layout and supporting suite of materials to guide shoppers through stores. It includes informative and inspirational point of sale (POS) such as postcards and product swing-tags as well as the creation of dwell-time areas to encourage shopper interaction. The solution engages, inspires, informs and encourages interaction with the products. The brand’s heritage is echoed throughout with graphic montages and pods.

Sue Benson, managing director at The Market Creative says: “G Plan is an iconic British brand and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to work with them on what has been a very exciting retail project. Ultimately we want to deliver high levels of return on investment for our clients, and G Plan is an excellent example of how insight into your customers can drive great store design with fantastic results.”

The Ultimate Retail Experience was put to the test in January 2010 in Park Furnishers, Bristol and will be unveiled to retailers at the Interiors 2010 exhibition running from 24 to 27 January.

Paul Marshall, Marketing Manager at Park Furnishers says: “The increase in sales since the new G Plan store layout was introduced at the start of the year has exceeded all expectations. We’ve found that customers particularly enjoy the enclosed room sets that help them envisage what the furniture would look like in their own homes. We’ve also noticed male customers spend a lot of time reading literature and boards, while their partners try out the furniture.”

Helen Frankland, Marketing Manager at G Plan Upholstery adds: “We wanted to create a new experience for our customers that would make choosing a new sofa, both simple and enjoyable. As a business, we were looking to increase footfall, dwell time and ultimately sales. We feel that the new concept ticks every box and we look forward to getting more feedback.”

In July 2009 The Market Creative researched customer behaviour, mapping their journey through furniture stores before developing a creative strategy that would drive the brand’s positioning and new retail concept.

Key elements of the Ultimate Retail Experience include:
The Sit Test: Invites shoppers to make themselves comfortable in G Plan’s vast range of sofas, instigating an additional level of interaction that helps browsers commit to purchase.
Dwell Area: Further encouragement for shoppers to try out the sofas. A Plasma screen playing a G Plan DVD, postcards and brochures are offered in this area.
Making it Easy: Gives lots of information on swing tags, postcards and graphic pods from product specifications to how and where it’s made, providing the necessary detail, and reassurance of quality.

Sue Benson and Dorina D’Ambrosio established The Market Creative in Manchester in 2006. Sue has been shortlisted for Crain’s Business Woman of the Year 2009. For more information visit www.themarketcreative.com

PANDA Spotlight On Programme to Tour North West in 2010

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Performing Arts Network and Development Agency (PANDA) are pleased to announce that our successful programme of Spotlight On events for people working in the performing arts is set to tour venues across the North West in 2010. This will allow PANDA to better meet our regional remit by improving access to our services for members based outside of Greater Manchester, building relationships with regional partners and increasing the organisation’s profile across the North West.

Spotlight On are practical information and networking events providing a broad introduction to a specific and focussed topic relevant to the performing arts today. The panel sessions are led by speakers with a broad range of experiences, backgrounds and perspectives on the topic, and the optional workshops and networking sessions enhance the learning by providing relevant, practical applications. With plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate, plus signposting for further exploration, participants can pursue the issues raised in a way which suits their own individual needs.

In 2009 we ran six Spotlight On events in Greater Manchester, which were attended by a total of 179 people. You can see details of our past events at www.panda-arts.org.uk/spotlightonprogramme.

In 2010 we are teaming up with four regional partners to deliver Spotlight On events in…

• Lancashire in March, in partnership with Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster.
• Cheshire in June
• Cumbria in September
• Merseyside in December

Discussions are well underway to develop a programme of four stand-alone events, each focussing on a different topic which has particular relevance to the work of each partner organisation. There is also scope to slot in additional Spotlight On events around these four core dates if a particular project is programmed in or a major industry issue arises.

This year, the Spotlight On events will take place in the afternoon rather than an evening slot, to make it more convenient for members travelling from farther afield. We are also working with each of our partner organisations to tie in a ticket deal for a show on the evening after the Spotlight On.

Details of the dates, venues, topics and special linked ticket deals for all of the four Spotlight On events in the programme will be released as they are confirmed.

More information about our first Spotlight On of 2010 in partnership with Nuffield Theatre will be announced soon on the PANDA website www.panda-arts.org.uk.

If you have any suggestions for topics that you would like to see covered or speakers that you would like to see on the panel at a Spotlight On event please send your suggestions to Rachel Morton, Network Manager, on 0161 274 0626 or email rachel@panda-arts.org.uk.

HyperIsland goes hyper in UK

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hyper Island the worlds leading educator in digital, interactive, communication, business management and leadership programmes are now established in the UK. With programmes running in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and London we are recruiting Creative leaders, managers and new entrants for our spring 2010 short courses

go to www.hyperisland.se and check out UK MASTER CLASS section for details on how to apply or visit youtube for us in a nutshell

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=MwKMe5IR8mY&feature=player_embedded#at=23

Creamfields appoints Corporation Pop for 2010 campaign

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Following a four-way pitch, Manchester design agency Corporation Pop has been appointed to develop the national campaign for Creamfields 2010.

This is the second year running that Corporation Pop has secured the contract, which makes it the first agency to lead the Creamfields campaign two years in a row. Creamfields 2010 will be promoted throughout the UK using a variety of tools including posters, press ads, flyers and online marketing.

Dom Raban, Managing Director at Corporation Pop explains: “Creamfields has been a fantastic client to work with so it’s the icing on the cake for us to be selected two years on the trot. This year’s campaign will build on the distinctive graphics we delivered last year and we hope will help deliver another sell-out festival for our client.”

Laura Buckley, Senior Marketing Manager, at The Cream Group said: “We're all really excited to be working with Corporation Pop again. It's great to be able to develop an already strong working relationship. Their professional approach, attention to detail, commitment and creativity makes them an absolute pleasure to deal with.”

The campaign is expected to go live in Spring 2010 and run for six months.

Creamfields 2010 takes place across August Bank Holiday Weekend, on 28 and 29 August in Daresbury, Cheshire.

For more information on Corporation Pop visit www.corporationpop.co.uk. For further information on the event go to www.creamfields.com

Creamfields appoints Corporation Pop for 2010 campaign

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Creamfields appoints Corporation Pop for 2010 campaign

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Market Creative rebrands Earex with contemporary style

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Market Creative has reinvigorated the Earex brand to create a more contemporary and consumer-friendly image, strengthening its position as a leading ear care brand.

The new look will be applied across the family of products including Earex Ear Drops, Earex Advance Ear Drops and Earex Plus Ear Drops as well as all marketing and advertising formats.

The repackaged products will start to appear in all major retail outlets from January 2010

Sue Benson, managing director at The Market Creative explains: “As the brand has evolved there has needed to be a clear differentiation between products, making them easy for shoppers to buy by creating shelf stand-out and clearly communicating the benefits. We’ve instilled a sense of modernity and freshness to the packaging by replacing a very colour-centric design with white, allowing colour to be used effectively as a product differentiator. We have also re-ordered the product information to ensure it is clear and consumer friendly, easing the buyer’s decision making process.”

The new design includes the creation of a sound wave graphic to bring the brand proposition – the difference you can hear – to life. The new logo uses a soft font, and a circular graphic has been introduced to the second “e” of the logo, symbolising the ear canal and the target of relief.

Earex brand manager Rachel Worthington says: “This innovative and dramatic change marks a significant point in the brand’s history. It will build on our proposition, strengthening our position in the market as synonymous with blocked ear treatments, which are effective, simple and painless.”

The Market Creative was appointed following a three-way pitch in January 2009.

Sue Benson and Dorina D’Ambrosio established The Market Creative in Manchester in 2006. Sue has been shortlisted for Crain’s Business Woman of the Year 2009. For more information visit www.themarketcreative.com

1500sqft Studio in Norther Quarter

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

After five years in our beautiful northern quarter studio we're moving on. Its a great space but we've outgrown it. Its 1500 sqft of pillars, wooden floors and typical N4 character and the landlord is a very nice bloke! As a favour to said landlord we've agreed to put the word about that its soon going to be available (from 1st March).

We're also selling some of our furniture so it could be the perfect 'pret a porter' solution for a company on the up.

For more information email dom@corporationpop.co.uk

Training for the next generation of digital leaders

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If you're looking to develop the next generation of managers with your digital company, i.studio+ might be just what you're looking for!

The scheme, from Northwest Vision and Media, will accelerate business skills development for new employees within the region’s digital companies - but if you want to secure your place you'll have to act fast...

i.studio+ is an intensive training programme, developed in consultation with some of the region’s leading digital businesses, which will provide a ‘stepping stone’ for talented new staff looking to further their core business and management skills.

The 5-day course will run from February to March 2010 and will include modules on

*Team-working
*Client communications
*Project management & delivery
*Business operations and financial awareness

The course will be delivered through some of the sector’s most respected trainers, including Andrew Thomas (McCann-i founder), Alec McPhedran (Skills Channel TV), and Philip Hempsted (Psycuity, Yuuguu), and Mark Stringer (Agile Lab), alongside guest speakers and case studies.

“Given the downturn many companies are finding it difficult to justify spend on training, especially for newer recruits,” said Northwest Vision and Media’s Head of Skills, Lynn Kelly, “i.studio+ will be essential in sowing the seeds for the next generation of digital leaders in the region.”

“I’m what you’d call an accidental leader and I really could’ve done with a something like i.studio+ when I started out,” said David Eccles (MD of Fudge), “No doubt about it, I’m getting our new front-line staff signed-up for the programme.”

To sign-up for i.studio+ please contact Phil Birchenall on 0161 446 2991 or apply online via the following link: [http://tinyurl.com/istudioplus](http://tinyurl.com/istudioplus)

i.studio+ is part of Digital Sparks, a programme of training and development produced by Northwest Vision and Media to support businesses and individuals working right across the digital production sector in the North West.

For further information on Digital Sparks, go online to:

web: [www.digitalsparksnw.com](http://www.digitalsparksnw.com)

Training for the next generation of digital managers

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Manchester Businesses Get Help To Create The Right Future

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

#### Greater Manchester-based SMEs are being offered a unique opportunity to 'Innovate With Confidence' in a unique series of practical master-classes to develop a fresh perspective to apply current solutions to overcome their immediate business challenges.

[Innovate with Confidence](https://www.eventelephant.com/innovatewithconfidence) is a programme of four workshops funded by The Manchester Innovation Fund that prepares SME businesses to innovate, to grow customer value in a changing world and make technology work for them.

Each of the 1-day workshops offers practical insights from business model engineering, neuroscience and practical thinking skills.

Just 25 leaders of small and medium sized businesses will be taking part in this energising, challenging and fun journey to unlock the secret of creating profit for their customers and for their business.

Participants will innovate quickly, reliably and successfully alongside experts including Nigel Newman of the Edward de Bono Foundation UK, one of only 5 global lifetime master trainers, Jim O’Loughlin who enables senior global executives to enhance their strategic decision making and Mike Ryan, Secretary of Manchester Digital.

David Crowther is the programme’s leader and was co-founder of a Manchester based business that was acquired by a major US software company. He says,

"Manchester has always led the way in innovation and as business speeds up it is local businesses which may hold all the cards for success and not realise it. Innovate With Confidence will create the conditions for breakthroughs and I know from my experience in the field that managers want a repeatable process to build a lasting advantage."

Robert Rawlinson, Chief Executive of The Edward de Bono Foundation UK, comments,

"I am proud to be associated with such an important programme as 'Innovate with Confidence'. As we enter the next phase of the information age, knowledge and its creative application will provide the key differentiator in business. Small and medium sized enterprises are more likely to thrive if they are unified, skilled and creative"

Innovate With Confidence launches in a year when Moneeb Awan, President of the Greater Manchester Chamber, will champion the role of innovation throughout the region’s businesses. He says,

“Irrespective of the size of your business, the practical benefits of Innovate with Confidence are hugely important. Our city region's SMEs will learn to develop the tools, embody the perspective and cultivate the contacts to make successful innovation an in-built habit. It is a groundbreaking opportunity that should not be missed.”

There are just 25 places available on the programme, which starts on 23rd February. Each place has a value of £1800 but is available at a heavily subsided cost of just £99 for all 4 workshops, thanks to the support of the Manchester Innovation Investment Fund.

Demand is expected to be strong so companies keen to develop the tools and insights to innovate with confidence are urged to register via www.innovatewithconfidence.com. companies keen to develop the tools and insights to innovate with confidence are urged to register via [www.innovatewithconfidence.com](https://www.eventelephant.com/innovatewithconfidence).

CUBE launch Alan Fletcher retrospecitve

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

#### A major retrospective of one of the world’s most influential graphic designers will launch CUBE’s 2010 exhibition programme.

CUBE, one of Europe’s most exciting architecture and design centres, is to kick start the new decade by announcing the arrival of an exhibition of one of the greatest graphic designers of our time: Alan Fletcher.

Alan Fletcher: Fifty years of graphic work (and play) will be opened on Thursday 21st January by the legendary Peter Saville, who worked with Fletcher at the legendary design practice, Pentagram.

‘Alan was ever-aware that what touched him had the potential to touch others. His open-minded panoramic view of the world always allowed him to see when something was good, regardless of its provenance’, Peter Saville, Creative Director, Manchester.

Described as ‘Britain’s best ever graphic designer’ by the Observer and ‘one of the giants of 20th Century design’ by the Guardian, CUBE Gallery is delighted to announce that a major retrospective of Britain’s most celebrated graphic designer is to be showcased in Manchester.

Alan Fletcher was the most prolific graphic designer of the 20th Century and his legacy continues to influence global trends in graphic design. This will be the first time that Manchester and beyond will see such a vast and important retrospective archive celebrating fifty years of the designer’s work (and play).

Jane Anderson, Creative Director of CUBE said of the upcoming show: 'We are really excited to be presenting this important exhibition.

‘Britain is widely recognised for its design talent, with Manchester and the wider North-West becoming increasingly relevant in the 21st century.

"We are expecting a great turnout – it’s going to appeal especially to design students and professionals.’

This comprehensive exhibition includes original sketches, posters, objects and archive footage spanning Fletcher’s work from his student days at the RCA to the playful and more personal work he created after leaving Pentagram in 1992.

Curatorial Talk by Emily King, Friday 5th March, 12:30pm - Allerton Lecture Theatre, University of Salford

Image - John Cage 1993. Design by Alan Fletcher. © RA

Lever Prize Award 2010

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

FutureEverything CIC has scooped this year’s prestigious £10,000 Lever Prize award.

On Tuesday night the Manchester-based arts and cultural organisation became the fifth organisation to receive the annual accolade at an exclusive awards ceremony at Urbis, Manchester.

The award was presented to Drew Hemment, FutureEverything CIC director, by the North West Business Leadership Team, who sponsor the award with support from Arts and Business North West and the North West Regional Development Agency.

The Lever prize, launched five years ago, aims to revive the philanthropic traditions of the industrial past, embodied by soap magnate and patron of the arts, Lord Lever.

Each year it is judged by the North West Business Leadership Team, which comprises of the 30 largest companies in the region, in partnership with Arts and Business North West.

The award is not just for arts groups, but buildings, events, festivals, libraries and archives. In addition to the cash prize the award opens the door to a year long collaboration with the region’s top business leaders.

Accepting the award, Mr Hemment, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be awarded this prestigious prize and this is a fantastic opportunity to work with key major businesses in the North West.

"2010 is a crucial year for our organisation. After 15 years championing cutting edge digital art and culture, this is the year that our international festival is reborn with a new name that captures vision and ambition, FutureEverything.

“The FutureEverything Festival of Art, Music & Ideas brings together artists, technologists and future-thinkers to share, innovate and bring the future into the present.

“We commission and produce work across all art forms that experiment with emerging technologies and social innovation. The 2010 Lever Prize is a fantastic accolade that will help us to deliver the festival to its highest standard.”

Geoffrey Piper, chief executive of the North West Business Leadership Team, said he was delighted to announce FutureEverything CIC as the overall winner.

He said: “FutureEverything CIC is one of the North West’s most up and coming cultural organisations with a strong track record of successful partnerships and a clear strategy for growth and development.

“FutureEverything CIC was a runner up last year and it was great to see such a strong entry again this year.”

More follows…

He added: “FutureEverything is an outstanding winner of this annual award, presented jointly by NWBLT and Arts & Business North West with support from the NWDA. They are a very worthy successor to previous winners Liverpool Biennial, Manchester International Festival, Tate Liverpool, and most recently The National Football Museum whose Lever Prize year has been the most successful on record.

“The Lever Prize judges were unanimous in selecting FutureEverything CIC who will now enjoy a year-long programme of collaboration with leading businesses throughout the region.

“We look forward to working together to help raise the profile of the Festival and assist the Future Everything team to further its aims in 2010

“It promises to be a very exciting and significant year.”

Brenda Parkerson, regional director of Arts & Business North, said: “Arts & Business figures show that the private sector is currently worth £686million to culture in the UK.

“Too often the contribution of the private sector is written out of the script.

“The Lever Prize adds real value to the culture offer and that is why we are delighted to partner NWBLT member companies today to celebrate this year’s winner of the Lever Prize: Future Everything.

“We must work together here in the North West to ensure that the British mixed economy model is not damaged by the recession and we can all continue to enjoy our region’s cultural richness.

“Our own new research figures show over 60% of smaller arts bodies are experiencing a fall in business investment so we are especially delighted that FutureEverything has been awarded this unique opportunity to collaborate with NWBLT member companies.”

Peter Mearns, executive director of Marketing and Communications at the NWDA, said: “Each year the Lever Prize highlights the strengths and diversity of the region’s cultural and arts organisations.

“There is a huge amount of work being done to develop the arts and cultural sectors across the Northwest, all of it having a significant impact on our economy.

“I’d like to offer my congratulations to FutureEverything; the organisation has a great track record of innovative work so I’m sure it will forge some exciting collaborations in 2010 as a result of this prize.”

Liverpool based Everyman and Playhouse , The Whitworth Art Gallery and NOISE Festival Ltd in Manchester all received runners up certificates.

Previous winners include Liverpool Biennial in 2006, Manchester International Festival in 2007 and TATE Liverpool 2008.

Callout for Creative Practitioners

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Callout for Creative Practitioners to participate in the Matthew Moss High School / Creative Partnerships Greater Manchester ‘Pool of Experts’

Matthew Moss High School in Rochdale are currently undertaking work with Creative Partnerships Greater Manchester on devising and implementing a new Key Stage 3 curriculum within school.

Our vision is to become a real Learning Community. We are working to transform our curriculum and the way it is delivered. Our aim is to transfer the emphasis from teaching to learning and from teacher to learner. We want our students to be equipped with the essential aptitudes, attitudes and skills to enable them to enjoy the changing world they will inhabit.

The implementation of this vision will provide an invaluable opportunity to further our goal of developing proactive, intrinsically motivated young people who are independent learners, capable of finding creative and positive responses to the obstacles they will encounter.

A new development in this process is the establishment of the ‘Pool of Experts’. Students are currently working on planning their own schemes of work, and steering their own development. Students need to be very self motivated, and proactive, to achieve the highest quality of learning experience from this process. We consider it of the highest importance that our students can access support, advice, and practical skill sharing from external professionals from a range of sectors.

To this end we are recruiting people to join our ‘Pool of Experts’ to work with our students, and staff. We envisage the experts will have wide experience within their own practice, in addition to experience of working with students and staff in school. We anticipate that the role of the ‘Expert’ could include some of the following:

• 1 – 1 sessions with students, looking at their work, acting as a ‘critical friend’ or advisor
• Presentations to groups of staff and students on your own work / practice, what your work involves, your own training and education, etc.
• Practical workshop delivery to small groups of students, with the focus on producing a final outcome
• Introduction to the sectors and networks within which you operate, and advice on further training, career opportunities, pathways etc.
• Offering a time limited, email advice / mentoring service to specific students

As this project is yet untried, we can’t expect to anticipate all possible outcomes, but people offering to join the pool should expect to be as flexible as possible, and as responsive (within reason) to the needs of specific students. Once the pool is established, students will be asked to outline their expectations of the experts, and to sign up for specific sessions, so that we can make the best use of people’s time and expertise.
The pilot for the ‘Pool of Experts’ will run in January, with activity taking place in school, with (if practical) a half day meeting / discussion at school before then. The students will be from years 7 and 8. We would hope to have as much information on specific sessions / activities required beforehand. We anticipate that ‘Pool of Experts’ sessions will take place regularly throughout term after the pilot phase, with different ‘experts’ at each session.

A small budget for materials or other costs can be made available according to specific needs.

Fees: £250 per day plus travel.

Please submit an expression of interest, no longer than one page, by 14th December to:

Jez Dolan
Creative Agent – Matthew Moss High School
jez@initiative-arts.co.uk

or for further details: 0777 920 0846

Does she live?

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sneaky shot of the girl in our soon to be launched showreel.... does she get out of this one alive? http://www.carbondigital.co.uk/