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A one-day conference celebrating the creativity, talents and positive attitudes of older people in the arts, and showcasing the benefits that participation brings to older people, will take place on March 18 at the Byre Theatre, St Andrews. At the event, the Scottish Arts Council will outline recent research that has been undertaken into the arts and older people. t: 0131 337 2609;
e: karen@eventmechanics.co.uk
Charity Logistics has partnered with DellTM and Microsoft to offer computers, software and services at a substantial discount to UK voluntary organisations. Under the agreement, these organisations can now benefit from up to 40% savings on their hardware, including Dell notebooks, desktops, workstations and servers. w: http://www.dell.co.uk/charity; t: 0870 907 5793.
Meridian Theatre Company in association with Interact, a leading exponent of theatre-skills in business, has announced theatre bursaries worth up to £40,000. UK-based not-for-profit arts organisations are eligible to apply for an award to support a theatre production or tour, and applications will be judged on their distinctive and imaginative approach. http://www.interact.eu.com; t: 020 7793 7744.
The Independent Theatre Council has launched Fast Track 2004, offering 15 Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people working at operational and managerial levels in other fields, an opportunity to try their hands in performing arts management. Anyone interested in hosting a placement or participating in the scheme should contact Carol Sidney t: 020 7089 6820;
w: http://www.itc-arts.org; e: c.sidney@itc-arts.org
An audit of voluntary and amateur arts activity in Somerset and Dorset is being conducted by Voluntary Arts England on behalf of the two counties’ Councils. Questionnaires have been circulated to known voluntary arts groups in Somerset and Dorset, and it is hoped that the project will be extended throughout the South West and beyond. e: research@voluntaryarts.org
‘Never Again!’, a CD-ROM guide to welcoming learning disabled people into arts venues, has been produced by Yorkshire-based theatre company Mind the Gap. To encourage frontline staff at all types of venues to use the guide, Arts Council England has distributed copies to all of its regularly funded agencies and umbrella organisations. For others wanting a copy, e: angela@mind-the-gap.org.uk; t: 01274 544683.
Employees of small creative industry businesses in London are being offered the opportunity of a free ICT skills assessment and suitable training in an initiative being driven by Metier and London Central Learning and Skills Council.
w: {fairplay.metier.org.uk}; t: 01274 738800.