News, training and opportunities

Freelance Project Coordinator - 'Re-Booted and Routed', Portland

b-side would like to appoint a freelance project coordinator for the programme 'Re-Booted and Routed', to engage a minimum of 40 young people by September 2014 in on-going education, employment or training through a programme of bespoke skills, employability, social enterprise opportunities and signposting career pathways.

'Re-Booted and Routed' will focus primarily on recruiting young people from Portland with opportunities to extend this into Weymouth should capacity allow and where there is evidenced need. Knowledge of Portland communities is vital to the post.

If you are interested in applying for this position please see Freelance Project Coordinator - Re-Booted and Routed, Portland (pdf, 316kb) (opens in a new window)

Deadline: 29 May 2013

'Drawing Inspiration' project requires an artist/designer and a photographer to work in Schools in Autumn 2013

If you are interested in applying, please see details of the Drawing Inspiration Photography and Design Briefs (pdf, 149kb) (opens in a new window) . Deadline: 3 June 2013

Drawing Inspiration is led by the Dorset AONB Partnership, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as Natural England, Defra and Dorset County Council.

Email: Crystal.johnson1@virgin.net Telephone: 07968 577867

Symposium: Resonant Terrains, Festivals and Sites - platform for arts practice

6pm Thursday 10 October - 6pm Saturday 12 October 2013

b-side multimedia arts festival invites you to join them on the rugged and inspiring Isle of Portland for two days of creative intervention and energetic dialogue within the vicinity and walls of HM Prison The Verne, a citadel dating from 1847 that dominates the island's landscape and contributes to the beguiling atmosphere of this beautiful Dorset isle.

They will be asking the question:'If festivals are the new platform, and sites the new venues, what can they offer and what can't they offer artists, curators and audiences?'

Bringing together artists, curators, producers and other cultural professionals to discuss some pertinent questions about site-based practice and the role of festivals in the changing landscape of arts provision, 'Resonant Terrains'will host sonic, sociable and subterranean walks, talks, performance lectures and discussion. The discussions will be led by artists:

• Simon Ryder
• Jez Riley French
• Sue Palmer
• Joff Winterhart
• Frances Scott
• Phil Smith
• Neal White
• Katie Etheridge
• Cultural researchers Dany Louise and Alex Murdin.

More speakers and artists will be announced soon.

Symposium ticket

£60 (for both days, including all refreshments and delicious food) - On sale soon.

Early bird offer

£50 (bookings before July 7 2013)

For more information and bookings see the  b-side multimedia arts festival website (opens in a new window)

b-side Call for Proposals for 2014 Festival

b-side is offering a number of commission and residency opportunities for artists to create new, temporary, site-responsive work in any media for the next b-side Festival on Portland in September 2014.

Two commission categories:

1. Commissions up to £5500

2. Commissions with Residencies up to the value of £8500

Applications are invited from artists working across all media; visual art, performance/live art, digital, sound, film, text based work, social media and socially engaged practice.

Download full brief and application form for b-side multimedia arts festival (opens in a new window)

Voluntary Arts Week

11-19 May 2013

Are you ready for Voluntary Arts Week - the annual, week-long celebration of amateur arts and crafts activity across the UK and Republic of Ireland?  Voluntary Arts Week celebrates amateur arts activity in all its diversity. Whether you're in a choir, knitting group, drama society or orchestra, whether you express yourself through painting, dancing, quilting or singing, whatever your chosen art or craft form, Voluntary Arts Week is your chance to celebrate, collaborate and inspire others to join you.
 
If you're part of a group, here's how you could get involved:

• Hold an open rehearsal or taster session
• Put on a special performance or exhibition
• Take your art or craft form to a different venue or public space (bus station/shopping centre)
• Partner up with another group/organisation to run a creative project or event
• Or, if you're already doing something that week, simply badge it as part of Voluntary Arts Week and make it welcoming to new people

If you're a crafter, get involved in the top secret CraftBomb project and help to decorate the UK in vibrant crafty colour! Download the CraftBomb pack from the Voluntary Arts Week website to find out more. But shhh, don't tell everyone!
 
You can also upload your own events to the Voluntary Arts website (opens in a new window)  and get a load of free publicity.

WOW247 - What's On Where 24/7

A national entertainment events website has been launched by Johnston Press, one of the UK's biggest community media groups which runs 250 of the UK' s regional newspaper titles. Wow247 combines editorial content with local listings, allowing users to filter events by location from the 500,000 on the site. It has an interface which allows anyone to post a comment, write a review or add their own event. The site is integrated with ticketing, travel and accommodation providers.
Events happening in Dorset are included   - take a look, register and add your own at  WOW247 Listings (opens in a new window)

Engaging in Commissioning: A practical resource pack for the culture and sport sector

New resources that build on the earlier Local Government Association (LGA) guidance  Understanding Commissioning - A Practical Guide for the Culture and Sport Sector (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window) are now available.  Engaging In Commissioning (opens in a new window) is a new practical resource pack jointly produced by the LGA, Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association (cCLOA), Sport England and the Arts Council.  It aims to help the sector engage with other public services through commissioning, to bring sport and culture to more people and contribute to better outcomes for individuals and communities.  The resources have been informed by the practical experience of councils and organisations and distil the lessons learned. There is a self-assessment guide to help you assess where you are and a step by step guide to help you plan your approach. The Local Government Association has also produced a briefing for councillors on Local Government Association - Putting Culture and Sport at the Heart of Strategic Commissioning (opens in a new window) .