A programme offering free professional development training to disabled people and advice for employers in the creative industries has been announced by the disability-led arts organisation, Shape. ‘Next Step’, which is funded through the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme, will begin in January 2010 and run for three years. As well as increasing confidence and skills for disabled workers, it also aims to train employers and employment service providers in disability equality and good access practice.
0845 521 3457 (voice); 020 7424 7368 (minicom);
nextstep@shapearts.org.uk
A new online forum is being launched by Creative Scotland in October. ‘Perspectives’ is intended to generate ideas and stimulate discussion for the artistic and creative communities and to “inform how Creative Scotland will engage in the future”. It aims to generate and share information and intelligence to develop the sector.
http://www.perspectives.creativescotland.org.uk
It is now possible to apply for Youth Music’s Open Programme online. The programme provides grants of £5,000–£30,000 for projects with young people in the areas of Early Years, Challenging Circumstances, Encouraging Talent and Potential, and Workforce Development. It aims to increase the number of children and young people with access to high quality, sustainable music-making activities across England. There are three closing dates for 2009–10: 10 November 2009, 10 February 2010 and 10 May 2010.
http://bit.ly/z6flp
Leading theatre figures are supporting a campaign by the Society of London Theatre to get more people attending London plays. ‘Celebrate the Play’ aims to create a new online community and an e-list of committed playgoers, which will focus on encouraging West End attenders to see plays accross London’s diverse play-producing theatres. The website will generate regular communications and offer incentives and promotions to ticket-buyers.
http://www.celebratetheplay.co.uk
A national Creative Apprenticeship pilot scheme, run by Liverpool Arts and Regeneration Consortium, has helped young people to gain jobs in the creative industries. The programme gave ten apprentices paid on-the-job training at some of Liverpool’s leading cultural institutions, including Bluecoat, FACT, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Tate Liverpool and Unity Theatre. Three of the apprentices, including former Argos call centre worker Paul Dunbar, have found jobs with their host organisations.
A free downloadable guide has been published to help women build more constructive relationships with their colleagues. ‘3½ steps to handling difficult conversations’ aims to help women become more confident leaders and influence more effectively
at work.
http://www.leadatwork.com
Audiences Central has rebranded and relaunched its cultural website. ‘Scene Central’ covers arts, cultural and heritage activities across the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire. An interactive section, ‘MyScene’ enables users to establish personalised search criteria. Event providers can upload their own content, while Audiences Central will provide incentives and prizes as well as delivering e-bulletins to subscribers.
http://www.scenecentral.co.uk
Arts Quarter (AQ) has published a Briefing Paper to highlight the cultural sector’s aspirations for the major political parties in the run up to and immediately after the next General Election. John Nicholls, managing partner of AQ, hopes that the paper will act as a “catalyst for all three major political parties to begin a clear process of dialogue with the cultural sector”.
info@artsquarter.co.uk
Clarification: The picture of ‘Sputnik’ on p1 of AP202 was a Fittings Multi-media Arts production.