art e facts april
DESCRIPTION
Guide to events and activities in and around NorthumberlandTRANSCRIPT
April 2013
bval.co.uk
1.Hello Page 3
2.BVAL & QHA news and featured Pages 4-9
3.Film and Media Page 10
4.Literature and Creative Writing Pages 11-14
5.Creative Crafts Pages 15-17
6.Dance and Performance Pages 18-24
7.Music Pages 25-31
8.Visual Arts Pages 32-35
9.Heritage and Local attractions Pages 36-37
10. Social and Other Pages 38-41
11.Funding Pages 42-43
April 2013 Newsletter
Welcome to the Art e Facts monthly arts development e-newsletter for South East
Northumberland. If you would like to include any of your arts and cultural events,
please contact Sophie Millington on [email protected] by 15th April.
About Us
Queen’s Hall Arts now oversees arts development for Northumberland. BVAL remain a key
partner of the arts development in South East Northumberland in support, strategy and
delivery. Blyth Valley Arts & Leisure arts development department is responsible for
projects and programs that encourage high levels of participation and appreciation of the
arts in South East Northumberland. We are funded by Northumberland County Council and
Arts Council England
Joanne Burke Sophie Millington
Arts and Film Development Officer Arts Development Apprentice
(01670) 622210 (01670) 622215
[email protected] [email protected]
If you would like to unsubscribe from these emails please contact me with your name and I will
remove you from the contact list.
IMPORTANT READING Arts and Culture review and research documents
The South East Northumberland Arts Development Study http://www.queenshall.co.uk/about-us/studies--reports With the support of Arts Council England (ACE) managed funds, Queen’s Hall Arts - who will oversee arts development for the county - commissioned this study into the development of a clear arts strategy for the southeast of the county. The State of the Region report http://thesagegateshead.org/about-us/bridge-north-east/state-of-the-region-report-2012 The State of the Region report is a snapshot of what the region looks like now and has been compiled over the past 9 months. It includes information on the Arts Councils National Port-folio Organisations (NPOs) and the activities they run for children and young people as well as the context that many of our young people live within. The Henley Review http://www.dcms.gov.uk/publications/8875.aspx This independent review of Cultural Education in England was commissioned at the request of the Secretary of State for Education and the Minister for Culture, Communications and Cre-ative Industries. Darren Henley, Managing Director of Global Radio's national classical music station, Classic FM, was asked to consider how we can ensure the ambition that every child should experience a wide variety of high quality cultural experiences, ensuring both quality and best use of public investment.
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Exhibition Coordinator & Curator Post, EXHIBIT HERE! Part time, 20 days work at £20,000pro rata The Exhibition Coordinator & Curator post will develop, manage and implement a pilot touring system for exhibitions between the three community Hospitals in the South East Northumberland area and the two main BVAL Leisure Centres at Blyth and Cramlington.
For more details about this post and application process contact [email protected] All applications must be received by 5.00pm on April 21st 2013.
We believe in the power of the arts to improve the quality and well-being of life. Within the care sector we know from research that the quality of a patient’s environment can have an impact on their recovery. We aim to provide environments and experiences for our clients, patients, families and staff which support the healing process; improve environments and ambience; as well as improving access to art; and the celebration and showcasing of art work.
This project is led and funded by Queens Hall Arts and BVAL and greatly supported and evaluated by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Vacancies: Exhibition Coordinator & Curator Post, EXHIBIT HERE!
Part time, 20 days work at £20,000pro rata
BV
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Blyth Valley Arts & Leisure centres are now available as
exhibition space! If you would like to exhibit your
work please contact: Joanne Burke – 01670 622210
Blyth Community Hospital Artist in Residency
We believe in the power of the arts to improve the quality and well-being of life. We know from research that the quality of a patient’s environment can have an impact on their recovery. We
aim to provide environments and experiences for our patients, families and staff which support the healing process. This residency offers a period of time for an artist or group/organisation to research the environment of Blyth Community Hospital, to spend quality time in participatory work with patients, family and staff in order to create a lasting artwork or arts resource for the centre. This project is led and funded by Queens Hall Arts and BVAL and greatly supported and
evaluated by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Queens Hall Arts, Blyth Valley Arts & Leisure and the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust would like to commission an artist or arts organisation to run a participatory programme of workshops with the aim to develop a final art work or arts resource for the Blyth Community Hospital. Blyth Community Hospital is located in Blyth town centre, south east Northumberland. The hospital has 78 beds and 3 wards, two of which are geriatric rehabilitation and the third which is geriatric rehabilitation and palliative care. Physiotherapy therapy clinics are held daily Monday to Friday. There is an outpatient clinic holding clinics including rheumatology, gynecology, Parkinson's disease, cardiology, orthopedics. There is also an x-ray department with an ultrasound facility and a district nurse-led clinic. The working group would like to use the creative arts to enhance the physical, environment and day to day activity for the well-being and health of the residents, families, staff and visitors of the centre. The project aims to improve the quality and well-being of the patience, families and staff lives within the centre improve older people’s access to the arts help alleviate the fears and concerns of patients and their families softening clinical environments enhancing patient care and aiding recovering where possible integrate the hospital into the local community celebrate the rich and diverse lives and stories of the patience, centre and the surrounding community
This project is funded with a total budget of £2,000.
For more details about this post and application process contact [email protected] All applications must be received by 5.00pm on April 21st 2013.
Blyth Community Hospital Artist in Residency
A-N AIRTIME Events taking place across Northumberland
Are you a visual artist seeking information on insurance, funding and other professional matters? Do you want to develop your networks and collaborations? Locate like-minded artists and get timely advice from other artists and experts at this event, open to practising visual and applied artists in the North East of England region. Two events are taking place in Northumberland during May as follows:
The Maltings Theatre and Cinema, Berwick. Wednesday 1 May, 4 -6pm Headway Arts Space, Blyth – Thursday 16 May, 4 – 6pm
AIRTIME events provide information and tips from artists, arts organisations and other experts on professional matters. You'll find out about areas such as insurance, promotion and supporting your practice, alongside opportunities to meet and network with like-minded artists. The events are busy and fast-paced. You'll have to decide quickly what sessions to select from all those on offer. You'll need to be proactive to get the kind of information you need. Contributors include Hencilla Canworth Insurance Brokers, artists and experts including representatives from AIR, A-N, Engage (The National Association for gallery education) and DACS (Design and Artists Copyright Society) and other arts organisations from the North-East region. This event is organised by A-N The Artists Information Company on behalf of AIR: Artists' Interaction and Representation, in partnership with Berwick Visual Arts, Headway ArtSpace, Blyth and Northumberland County Council. To get an idea of what an AIR event see the following YouTube link: www.youtube.com AIRartists
RSVP your name and address to [email protected] with AIRTIME Berwick or Blyth in the subject box. Limited places available, allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. When booking for AIRTIME, please state any special arrangements you may require to enable you to participate. For example, we can provide a signer, material in large print and cover special transport costs. For more information about AIR visit www.air-artists.org
Creative People and Places – Project Director announced
The £3m Creative People and Places (CPP) project in South East Northumberland has a new Project Director Rachel Adams. Rachel will be leading a team to deliver an exceptional two-and-a-half year programme of creative activity. Rachel joins CPP from 1st May 2013 from Juice, NewcastleGateshead’s award-winning festival for children and young people and brings with her valuable and relevant expertise along with an understanding of how to deliver a programme that will fully involve local com-munities. The programme will consist of high profile arts events intended to create long term change not only in levels of arts participation in South East Northumberland, but in the lives of those involved. This project is overseen by a consortium of organisations led by Woodhorn and including: VCS Assembly, NHS North of Tyne, Northumberland College, Northumberland County Council and Queens Hall Arts. To find out more about this project please follow this link - http://creativepeoplenorthumberland.com/
Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival
Now in it’s ninth year, the Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival (BFMAF) will run from Wednesday 25th – Sunday 29th September 2013 and will once again transform Berwick into one big cinema screen through film premieres, site-specific installations and live events, in a range of locations across the town. This year’s theme is North by Northeast, exploring Berwick’s Nordic roots, and our region’s historical and cultural links with Northern Europe, and the North Sea that connects us. The festival is now open for submissions, and this year BFMAF are also launching their first ever award for Best Short Film sponsored by Inntravel! Artists and filmmakers will compete for a cash prize of £500 (approx €570), awarded by a Jury on the night. All single screen films that respond to the theme, and are up to 16 minutes in length, will automatically be considered for selection for the Inntravel Short Film Competition. BFMAF strongly advise all applicants to read more about the theme for this year, eligibility, and details of how to submit, before completing the entry form below. Further information can be found at - http://www.berwickfilm-artsfest.com/submit-your-film To take advantage of the Early Bird deadline, submit your works for only £5 (approx €7) for short films and £15 (€18) for feature films by Friday 26th April 2013. The final deadline for submissions is Friday 28th June 2013, and the programme will be announced mid- August.
South East Northumberland Funding Fayre
Community and Voluntary Action Blyth Valley and Wansbeck Centre for Voluntary Service have joined forces to arrange a joint funding event for Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) groups in South East Northumberland. This will be an informal event with VCS organisations having the opportunity to talk to fun-ders on one-to-one basis and also to attend a training workshop with Jim Mackison about fundraising with a focus on more sustainable funding. The event will take place at: The Isabella Community Centre, Blyth on Tuesday 23rd April 2013 Funders include - Banks Community Fund, BCC Children in Need, Big Lottery Fund/Awards for All, Community Foundation, Co-operative Community Fund, Hadrian Trust, Homes for Northumberland, Joicey Trust, Lloyd’s TSB Foundations, Northumberland County Council, Rothley Turst, R W Mann Trust, Sir James Knott Trust, Sported For more information and to book visit http://www.cvabv.org.uk/docs/471.pdf or call 01670 543773 by Friday 12th April 2013
You’re invited...
to the North East Regional Forum for Diverse Arts at Headway Arts, Blyth, Northumberland.
You’re invited...
to the North East Regional Forum for Diverse Arts at Headway Arts, Blyth, Northumberland.
Intercultural Arts and StepUp!, together with our Northumberland
partners Headway Arts, Queens Hall Arts and Creative People and Places, welcome all artists, arts facilitators and arts and culture sector professionals
working in the North East with connections to (or interest in) developing diversity, inclusivity and equality, to participate in the first Regional Forum of 2013. This Regional Forum’s themed question is:
“How can arts and communities
innovatively connect and make
new relationships work?”
Come and be part of it! Contribute, listen, question and be part of animating and enlivening the debate…all voices are given the space, time and safe environment to be
heard.
Thursday 25 April 2013, 10am–1pm
Where: Headway Arts, The Old Church, Waterloo Road, near Blyth, NE24 1BY, UK
Who might like to attend: Arts organisations, cultural venues, studio groups, educational institutions/projects, local authorities, artists and individuals or organisations wanting to join in the conversation for positive regional sector development for diversity within the North East arts and cultural sector. Our definition of diversity encompasses responding to issues around race, ethnicity, faith, disability, age, gender, sexuality, class and economic disadvantage and any social and institutional barriers that prevent people from participating in and enjoying the arts; mirroring the Creative Case for Diversity.
About the event: Timings will be confirmed shortly, but the forum will include introductions from StepUp! Coordinators, presentations from Headway Arts, Queens Hall
Arts and Creative People and Places, and an Open Space workshop discussion facilitated by Tim Rubidge. It will be an opportunity to meet up with an eclectic and
diverse peer group of arts practitioners and facilitators, venues and producers.
Accessibility: This event is entirely accessible.
Booking is free but essential: Please email Steven Walker via: [email protected] with subject title
“Attending April Regional Forum @Headway Arts”.
Doorstep Pictures is a mobile cinema provision for Northumberland. We also provide support and development for film societies and community cinemas. We reach 22 community venues across
Northumberland. We love film! and we love to support access to film in its many forms!
Doorstep Pictures is part of the Northumberland Film Network which is a partnership between
Blyth Valley Arts & Leisure, Queen's Hall Arts and Northumberland County.
doorsteppictures.blogspot.com
Date Screening to start at
Venue Venue contact Film Certifi-
cate
06.4.13 8.00pm Elsdon Village Hall,
Elsdon, Newcastle NE19 1AB
Paul Cowie 01830 520121
Skyfall and Northen Flame
12
12.4.13 3 pm
Blyth Sports Centre
Bolam Park
Blyth
NE24 5BT
Ronnie Scheu
07889320377
Rise of the Guardians
PG
20.4.13 7:30pm
Cambo Village Hall, Cambo, Morpeth, NE61
4BA
Chris & Bec Orton:
01670 774 617
Untouchable 15
FREE SCREENINGS at Newbiggin and Shilbottle! Ring the venues below to find out what's on at their film Club nights!
Every last Friday of the month @ Newbiggin Maritime Centre 01670 811951
http://www.newbigginmaritimecentre.org.uk/
and Shilbottle Community Hall, NE66 2XH 01665 575997 or 01665 575978
http://www.shilbottlecommunityhall.co.uk/
Fil
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Lit
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Doodle Workshops is dedicated to making Arts & Crafts accessible to everyone. Tuition is available in screen printing, ceramics, glass fusing, slumping and laminating, silk painting, glass painting, quilting & handicrafts, machine knitting, textiles and lots more ......... Rooms are available for individual or group tuition and also for hire. The rooms are equipped with silk screen printing table & exposure unit, potters wheels & kilns, sewingknitting machines and overlockers, hot press, looms and projectors. Exhibition space is available to showcase and sell the work of local artists & commissions undertaken Art & Craft materials are on sale at competitive prices and items can be sourced & ordered. CHILDRENS ARTY PARTIES You can book your children in for their party and they all go home with their unique hand made piece. Favourites have been sock monkeys, Silk or Glass painting but she’s happy to cater to your needs. She can also offer clay where they will have to wait for the firing but it will be unique to them Unit 2 Central Arcade 14 Woodhorn Road Deputies Kist Telephone: 01670458322 07501023346 [email protected]
Cre
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raft
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Voluntary Arts is the national development agency for arts participation and one of Arts
Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations. Voluntary Arts raises
awareness of the contribution that the voluntary and amateur arts and crafts make to the well-being of communities, social
inclusion, lifelong learning, active citizenship and volunteering.
Voluntary Arts is proud to announce that the Epic Awards 2013 are now open for
entries. The Epic Awards are open to all amateur art and craft groups in the UK and Republic of Ireland and are free to enter. The search is on to find winners from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales who can demonstrate that they have achieved something
Epic – whether that’s improving life in their local community, working across generations, or using technology in a creative way.
Last year’s winners included a drumming group who made a video about how music helped them recover from mental health issues; a choir who dramatically increased membership and brought choral singing to a new generation; a pioneering photography gallery and a community festival.
The Epic Awards give groups an excellent
opportunity to raise the profile of their work as well as the chance to win a package of prizes including cash, vouchers, training and publicity. Voluntary Arts is hosting the prestigious Epic Awards winners’ reception in Derry~Londonderry to celebrate the city’s designation as UK City of Culture 2013, and winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to collect their award. Speaking about scooping the Scottish Epic Award, Jane Bentley from The Buddy Beat said: “We are all over the moon! I think the win will have a huge effect on the group in terms of boosting confidence, and hopefully creating opportunities to play.” The awards have captured the imagination of the general public, with the incredibly
popular People’s Choice Award. Last year saw a staggering 53,807 votes cast on the Epic Awards website, giving an unprecedented opportunity for local amateur arts and crafts groups to have their work showcased on a national stage.
More information about the awards and details of how to enter can be found at www.epicawards.co.uk.
The official Epic Awards 2013 trailer is a 2 minute video which highlights the diversity of groups that get involved with Epic. Watch it here: http://youtu.be/ljTR_ws6YPc
Frank Rescigno 01665 574384
Five Ring Circus, Youth Club @ North Tyneside
We are North Tyneside Youth Circus; a club that was created for children and young people in the area to encourage them to run away and join the circus! We are based at Whitley Bay High School and meet every Tuesday evening.
The club is mainly made up of young people from the age of 12 upwards, with a few big kids there to teach us stuff, like Helen, Steve and Rob from Let’s Circus. Most sessions, we learn skills like juggling and aerial as a group, and there is al-so an ‘open toybox’ so that people can practise with toys of their choice.
Circus leaders are always around to help us learn new tricks and to make sure everybody stays safe. Touring performers and teachers occasionally come along to the club with new or more advanced skills to share. The North Tyneside Youth Circus group is a great place to learn new skills, and has a really friendly, relaxed atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends.
There are often circus events and street festivals in the area, and most of the North Tyneside group usually go along to these. We often get the chance to perform at these events, as well as join in with the other activities that are go-ing on. Getting involved with the club has meant that many of us have had the chance to meet international artists and we have also been given various opportunities to travel and to get involved with other youth cir-cuses in the country.
General Five Ring Circus queries Helen Averley – [email protected]
Events or workshop queries Steve Cousins [email protected]
Dan
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2013 Beaconsfield Street, Blyth,
Northumberland ,NE24 2DS
(01670) 367228
www.thephoenixtheatre.org.uk
The world's largest human form
sculpted into the landscape!!
2013 Beaconsfield Street, Blyth,
Northumberland ,NE24 2DS
(01670) 367228
www.thephoenixtheatre.org.uk
Highlights announces Spring Programme
February– June 2013 NEW SHOWS TOURING TO NORTHUMBERLAND HALLS
Northumberland audiences will be able to join a live darts match, eat motivational bananas, sing songs, meet the performers and enjoy village hall hospitality .... and these are just the added extras in a new season of shows touring to village venues and small communities across the county.
Highlights Touring Scheme, provides rural and semi urban communities with access to performances from regional and national touring companies. Between February and June, 23 performances of 15 different shows will be presented in 15 village halls and community venues in Northumberland including 10 performances in the south east of the county. The spring season features a wide ranging programme of theatre, music, comedy, storytelling,
and children’s shows. Theatre performances in the south east include a comic romp through the
greatest myths ever told, an evening with Winston Churchill from multi award-winning actor, Pip Utton, an historic play featuring an epic face off between two kings and a funny and heartwarming play
about darts. For music lovers, regional favourites The New Rope String Band will perform
an evening of
superb musicianship and madcap antics; for children there’s puppetry, circus and storytelling and the season draws to a close in June with this year’s Contemporary Craft Tour – Miniature
Worlds.
Highlights Touring Scheme aims to improve access to the arts for people living in rural villages and where there is little provision. Performances take place in village halls and community ven-ues, providing familiar and intimate spaces to enjoy the arts. Central to the scheme is the partnership with a network of mostly volunteer promoters who bring their time, energy and enthusiasm to promote and host events for the enjoyment of their communities. Highlights supports promoters both practically and financially, offering quality, affordable events that contribute to the social life of small communities. New for 2013 Highlights launches it new E-ticketing option, offering audiences the convenience of online ticket booking via its website www.highlightsnorth.co.uk. This facility is available at selected venues identified on the site and gives audiences the choice of receiving email tickets to print and bring along or SMS tickets by text to a smart phone.
Highlights is one of 41 similar schemes around the country. The scheme currently supports promoters in 25 villages and community venues across Northumberland and a further 50+ ven-ues across Cumbria and parts of Durham. In addition to touring performances, the scheme tours an annual contemporary craft exhibition, offers promoter training and undertakes special projects. Highlights is supported by The Northumberland Strategic Arts Forum, Arts Council England, Northumberland County Council as well as other partners and project funders.
The New Rope String Band 2013 New Hartley Memorial Hall Saturday 16th March 6.30pm
0191 2372210
ONCE SEEN, NEVER FORGOTTEN Combining superb musicianship with side-splitting comic genius, the New Rope String Band are truly unique entertainers. Elements of circus, clowning, vaudeville, slapstick and sheer inspired silliness are spliced with beautiful acoustic music from various world traditions, in precision-honed yet uproarious performances that have delighted audiences from Borneo’s Sarawak rainfor-est to the Shetland Folk Festival.
Church Point, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland NE64 6DB 5Th May 2013
Miniature Worlds
Old Herbaceous Whittingham Memorial Institute
Alnwick,Northumberland NE66 4UP Sunday 14th April 7:30 pm
01665 574964
Old Herbaceous is adapted from the classic British novel of the garden, with a title character as outsized and unforgettable as P.G. Woodhouse’s immortal butler, Jeeves. Born at the dusk of a Victorian era, Bert Pinnegar, rises from inauspicious schoolboy days spent picking wildflowers and dodging angry farmers to become the legendary head gardener ‘Old Herbaceous’. He became the most esteemed flower-show judge in the county and a famed
Sprinkled with nuggets of gardening wisdom, Old Herbaceous is a witty comic portrait of the most archetypal - and crotchety - head gardener ever to plant a row of bulbs at a British country house.
DANCe distraction IN ASSOCIATION WITH DANCING FOR CHARI-
TY
Presents A
BEGINNERS MODERN
JIVE CLASS AND FREESTYLE @
forest hall social club
NE12 9DQ
every Wednesday
&
CRAMLINGTON VILLAGE CLUB
NE23 6QJ
Every THURSDAY
8pm – 10.30 PM
Beginners class 8pm
Freestyle and individual coaching
8.40 – 10.30pm
Modern jive is a fun, male led, partner dance which consists of a huge number of eclectic
moves which take their origins from rock and roll, swing, lindy hop and salsa.
It is very easy to learn and footwork is minimal. With just 6 classes it is usually possible
to learn sufficient moves so that you can join in with a freestyle session with some confi-
dence. You don’t need to come with a partner as everyone just mixes up whether beginner
or
experienced, this form of dancing is very social.
Modern jive is a fun, male led, partner dance which consists of a huge number of eclectic
moves which take their origins from rock and roll, swing, lindy hop and salsa.
It is very easy to learn and footwork is minimal. With just 6 classes it is usually possible
to learn sufficient moves so that you can join in with a freestyle session with some confi-
dence. You don’t need to come with a partner as everyone just mixes up whether beginner
or
experienced, this form of dancing is very social.
Mu
sic
20,000 VOICES Contact us for more information: 01670 852445 [email protected] www.20000voices.org
All welcome – no experience necessary Come along and give it a try....
Wednesdays, 7.30 - 9.00pm Doxford Place Methodist Church Hall, Cramlington, NE23 6DY
Fees: £3 per session
20,000 Voices is a company limited by guarantee Company Number 3550680 and a Registered Charity Number 1073394
CRAMLINGTON COMMUNITY CHOIR
20,000 VOICES
Contact us for more information: 01670 852445 [email protected] www.20000voices.org
All welcome – no experience necessary Come along and give it a try....
Fridays, 2.00 – 3.30pm Simonside Hall. Newbiggin by the Sea, NE64 6PU
Fees: £3 per session
20,000 Voices is a company limited by guarantee Company Number 3550680 and a Registered Charity Number 1073394
NEWBIGGIN COMMUNITY
All welcome – no experience necessary Come along and give it a try....
Wednesdays, 7.30 - 9.00pm Doxford Place Methodist Church Hall, Cramlington, NE23 6DY
Fees: £3 per session
CRAMLINGTON COMMUNITY CHOIR
The Hind, Dewley, Cramlington, Northumberland NE23 6DT (01670) 715106
2ndApril Singers Night
9thApril Fake Thackray (John Watterson)
16thApril Bob Fox
23thApril Singers Night
27thApril Concert at Seaton Delaval Arts
Centre
30thApril Steve Hicks and Lynn Goulbourne
Newbiggin Art Trail leaflets are available from various outlets
in Newbiggin including The Old Ship, The Maritime Centre
and The Library. They can also be downloaded from
www.keapcreative.org.uk or www.newbigginbythesea.co.uk.
There are now over sixty pieces on display ranging from a
stained glass window to carved sculptures, ceramic sculptures,
ceramic panels, a community installation, a community woven
tapestry and community photographs.
In addition a number of miniature sculptural heads have been
installed in hidden spots along the promenade between the
Piazza and the Horseshoe Steps. You are invited to discover as
many as you can. Their story, “Safe Haven”, is available on
the two websites above and also on
www.theoldshipnewbigginbythesea.org.uk or if you prefer you
can read it in the bar of The Old Ship.
Vis
ual
Art
s
Northumberlandia is a landmark feature designed by world
renowned artist Charles Jencks, which celebrates the earth's natural power and the human ability to reshape landscape into a
dramatic form. Lying at the entrance to south east Northumberland, near the town of
Cramlington, she is around 34 metres high and 400 metres in length. Most importantly Northumberlandia is the centrepiece for a 19 hectare public
park in the urban fringe between the rolling countryside of mid Northumberland and the urban areas of south east Northumberland and
Newcastle to the south. Work has been ongoing constructing the landform since 2010 and
Northumberlandia has gradually risen from the ground. In total 1.5 million tonnes of soil and clay from Shotton Surface Mine has been used to create this ambitious piece of public art. The construction was privately funded
by the Banks Group and Blagdon Estate.
Northumberlandia opened on 3rd September 2012.
VISIT THE
HARTLEY PIT
MEMORIAL Open daily@ Hartley Pit Memorial Garden,
New Hartley Village, Northumberland
Designed by Rob Walton and Russ Coleman
Happy Easter from Woodhorn!! The weather may have been a little unseasonal of late, but spring has definitely sprung here at Woodhorn and
this holiday weekend it's all go.
Apart from the great exhibitions we've got on at the moment, there's a packed programme for the holidays
with bunnies, bikes and more.
We're open every day now until 14th April and we go to summer hours with a 5pm closure on Monday 1st.
Don't forget the study centre at Woodhorn is closed on Bank Holidays so it won't be open on Good Friday or
Easter Monday.
Upcoming Events
Easter at Woodhorn
The Easter Bunny will be popping in this weekend with a few treats for visitors, so say hello to him Friday -
Monday, noon - 3pm.
Every day from until Sunday 14th April, we've got super family activities. Bring the children and join staff for
a free interactive introduction to the famous Pitmen Painter art collection at 2pm each day, or take a 30 mi-
nute walking tour around the colliery buildings at 11am, 1pm or 3pm. Our craft activities are always a big hit
with young visitors so from Friday to Monday they can make a splendid Easter Crown, or from Tuesday they
will be able to create a lovely daffodil windmill.
Wednesday 10th April will see the return of the Birds of Prey. This is a great chance to get up close to these
amazing creatures and then to watch them take to the skies for their spectacular flying display. They will be
on site between 11 am and 3pm with displays at noon and 2pm.
Exhibitions
Dressing the Stars
Until 9th June
Don't miss our fantastic costume exhibition featuring stunning outfits worn by the stars in films including Eliz-
abeth, The King's Speech, Shakespeare in Love, Sense and Sensibility, Pirates of the Caribbean and more.
Read what one happy visitor thought.
"A fabulous exhibition! I recently visited the Hollywood exhibition at the V&A and I have enjoyed this one so
much more. Delighted that Woodhorn has brought Hollywood to Ashington. Loved the music as well. Thank
you."
We've some great linked events planned too including The King's Speech film evening, a fashion show and
another superb costume talk by Renaissance Costumes (this one was booked out in March so don't hesitate or
you could be disappointed).
Admission charges apply to the exhibition and some of the events.
Outside In: North East
Until 30th June
A brand new exhibition featuring some fascinating and inspiring works of art from the North of England.
Outside In: North East showcases work from artists who have submitted their work to Outside In, a national
arts agency based in Pallant Gallery providing online gallery space , support and exhibition opportunities to
artists who have little or no access to the art world due to health, disability or socail circumstance.
Coal Mining: A Way of Life
Until 14th April
You still have two just over weeks to catch this wonderful artistic interpretation of the life of a miner as seen
through the eyes of Derek Slater, someone who spent 25 years of his life in the industry.
This stunning 18th century house, garden and
surrounding land has recently been handed into
the care of The National trust.
Opening times and further details call
0191 237 9100
or visit
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-seaton-
delaval-hall.html
The watch house was built in 1880 as a base for the
Seaton Sluice volunteer life saving company. It
served as a lookout, training base and social
venue for over 110 years before it closed in 1990.
during its history, the volunteers were involved in a
number of notable
rescues from wrecks on the coast between Whitley
Bay and Blyth. The museum is open on Sundays
between 2pm and 5pm from June to September.
If you would like to rent a beach hut, please
contact Blyth Sports Centre reception on:
01670 542222
Daily lets are available for:
£15.50 per day. Plus £5.00 refundable deposit.
Blyth Battery is open to the public on Saturdays
and Sundays from 3rd April– 30th September, from
11:30am-4pm. Guided tours of the site are
available when possible. The Battery is also open
on a number of additional days throughout the
year.
The Dave Stephens Centre has an excellent
meeting space with a fabulous view of Blyth’s
coastline.
The community room is perfect for meetings,
seminars, training sessions or workshops. The room
can host up to 30 people theatre style and up to 24
people board room style.
All bookings and arrangements to be made with at
least one weeks notice via Concordia leisure
Centre central administration on 01670 542564
Woodhorn always have things to do for the whole
family. To find out about he latest exhibitions and
events or for more information and
opening times, visit the website:
http://www.experiencewoodhorn.com
Local Attractions
An arts centre is rapidly evolving right in the heart of Ashington thanks to the local development trust. Ashington Community Development Trust (ACDT) has a vision to see the upper floors of the Central Arcade (former Coop building) on Woodhorn Road develop as a centre for arts, culture, entertainment and heritage. At the end of 2011, the Trust moved its operations into the ground floor of the Central Arcade and opened The Deputy’s Kist. The “Kist”, as it is often referred to, has established itself as the Centre for Arts and Crafts in Ashington. It originally opened as a new bookstore, the first in the town for nearly 15 years, selling children’s and local interest books but has quickly expanded its operations by marketing creations and products from over 60 local individuals and organisations. Many local artists and craftspeople can be proud of their creations which are on display in the “Kist”, and a visit is highly recommended. Ashington has a wealth of local talent which builds upon the international success of “The Pitmen Painters”. Any local artists, who are not exhibiting but see the potential of promoting their products in Ashington, should contact the Trust. The Trust is not just marketing the finished products of local artists and crafters. They are now supplying a wide range of craft materials for anyone interested in creating their own prod-ucts or just wanting to fulfil a pastime or pleasure. Two of their major suppliers of craft materials include Crazy Crafters and Doodle Workshops, who both used to have premises in the town.
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The “Kist” is more than just an Art Centre for new products and craft materials, but is becoming a town centre location for art and craft workshops. The Trust is running a range of art and craft workshops from the Central Arcade. Jewellery and photography workshops, and even one on Welfare Reform, have recently been held. Sewing and furniture restoration classes will be starting during April. The Trust is keen to hear from anyone interested in attending arts and crafts workshops or experts who could help them to deliver their programme. The Deputy’s Kist is also an information point for the local community. The development trust has recently expanded its operations on to part of the first floor of the Central Arcade, which in-cludes making rehearsal space available for the Ashington Colliery Band. Later in the year, the Trust is planning to run a programme of activities, which will include arts and crafts fairs and even cinema. Contact the Trust if you are interested in having a stall. Anyone interested in getting involved should contact the Trust on Tel. 01670 854422 or send a note to [email protected].
A NEW SPACE FOR ART
During December Headway Arts & The Seven Stars Northumberland’s Learning Disabled Theatre Co—whom we
support through the Northern Rock Foundation—have moved into the old United Reformed Church on Waterloo Road, Blyth. We are now working on transforming this at-
mospheric and well-loved landmark into the freshly named 'Headway ArtSpace' - a new place for creative people in Northumberland - somewhere everyone is welcome, an
international centre of innovation, a making space for art, facilities for visiting artists & a beautiful new home for The Seven Stars, Random Young People’s Theatre Co... oh and
not forgetting our Headway HQ! Visit our website for information about our official big
hoo-har in 2013: headwayarts.co.uk
‘BIG’ GRANT AWARDED
We are delighted to announce that through The Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund we have been awarded
£245,622 for 'Come Together' a fantastic project consolidating our creative and performing arts work with and for learning disabled people. The funds will help us to
create a new post. Needless to say we are very excited about this & are now looking for a brilliant person to join the company to help make it happen. Details on our web-
site: headwayarts.co.uk
Paul Hamlyn Foundation Education and Learning
Programme The Paul Hamlyn Foundation invites applications to its Education and
Learning Open Grants Programme.
In particular, the Foundation is looking to fund projects that address the
themes of; tackling school exclusion and truancy, developing speaking and
listening skills and supplementary education. The costs that can be covered
by the Foundation's grants include running costs such as staff salaries and
overheads such as stationery, rent, rates and utilities.
There is a two stage application process:
First stage applications can be made at any time. Those that are successful
will be invited to make a second stage application.
For more information, visit:
http://www.phf.org.uk/landing.asp?id=3
Co-operative Membership Community Fund The Co-operative Membership Community Fund provides grants of between £100 and £2,000 to
voluntary groups, community groups and local charities throughout the UK. The scheme is funded by Co-operative members donating some or all of their share of profits,
which is then given away in the form of small grants in their local communities. Grants can be
used to help fund anything from equipment to event costs, rent or fixtures, sport or computer
equipment.
http://www.co-operative.coop/membership/local-communities/community-fund/
Arts Funding for Libraries (England) Under this programmeArts Funding for Libraries will support projects that stimulate ambitious and
innovative partnerships between libraries and artists and/or arts organisations, encouraging
communities to part in cultural activities. Public libraries can apply for grants of between £1,000
and £100,000 covering activities lasting up to three years.The funding will run until March 2015.
For Further Information:
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/supporting-libraries/
Shell Live Wire Shell Live Wire have up to 4 x £1000 Grand Ideas Awards to give away each month to new
businesses in the UK and in their first 12 months of trading. Applicants and all business partners
must be aged 16 - 30. For further information www.shell-livewire.org/awards-start
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Hadrian Trust (North East England) Small grants are available to help social welfare and charitable organisations working to
improve the lives of people in the North East of England, the average grant is between £500
and £2,000. Grants can be for a specific project or part of a project, purchase of equipment or
as a contribution towards running costs.
Applications will be considered in April, July and October 2013; restrictions and T&C apply, for
further information www.hadriantrust.co.uk
The Sir James Knott Trust The aim of the trust is to help improve the conditions of people living and working in the North
East of England, applications are normally accepted three times a year in the spring, summer
and autumn. Donations are on the themes of; community issues and events, service charities,
historic buildings and heritage, education, young people, arts and culture, health and sport,
environment, public services and housing. For further information www.knott-trust.co.uk.