Are you aged 16 plus? Not in employment, education or training? Or on jobseekers’ or incapacity benefit? Got an artistic talent?

2Funky Arts are running a FREE training programme for people who are interested in using their creativity in a future career.

Budding Singers, MC’s, DJ’s, Creative Writers, Poets, Digital artists, Musicians, VJ’s, Film-makers, Performance artists and Photographers welcome.
Whatever your art form we want to hear from you!

Learn about:
-The creative industries
-Making money from leading workshops in the community
-Promoting your own work

Sessions led by established artists and industry insiders who are already earning! Get fantastic advice and insider knowledge!

When?
Every Friday afternoon starting from Friday 18th June 2010
1pm – 4pm

Where?
Base, 2Funky Records, 62 Belgrave Gate, Leicester City Centre.

A transport contribution will be offered and this opportunity will not affect your benefits.

Places are limited. To register, or form more info, please contact Lauren on Lauren@2funkyarts.co.uk / 0116 222 0639.

For more information about 2Funky Arts and our past projects please go to www.2funkyarts.co.uk

Literature Northants is pleased to be able to offer three bursaries for the Alt.Fiction festival of alternative fiction in Derby on Saturday 12th June.

ABOUT THE BURSARIES
Literature Northants will offer bursaries to three successful applicants to cover the price of their ticket (worth £25) plus travel expenses up to the value of £50. See below for details of how to apply.

ABOUT ALT. FICTION
Alt.Fiction, Derby’s international festival for alternative fiction, has been running successfully since 2006 as a one-day event focusing on the genres of science-fiction, fantasy and horror and featuring some of the top authors in the field such as Ramsey Campbell, Iain M Banks, Mike Carey and Harry Harrison. The fourth Alt.Fiction will take place in QUAD; Derby’s state-of-the-art multi-media venue.

The day is made up of a number of different types of sessions, each of which offers something different to the next. These include:

• Readings from authors
• Q&A sessions in which there will be the opportunity to pose questions to panels of authors and publishers. There will also be discussion panels in which a panel debate a particular topic such as ‘What is Alt.Fiction?’
• Workshop sessions. Workshops present the opportunity to get new ideas for writing, or advice about writing and publishing, from established figures in the field.

This year BBC books – publishers of tie-in-novels from the ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Torchwood’ and ‘Being Human’ series – have already confirmed their attendance at Alt. Fiction 2010 along with Rob Shearman, Justin Richards, Mark Morris, Sarah Pinborough, Guy Adams to name but a few.

For full details see http://altfiction.co.uk/.

HOW TO APPLY
To apply, send your CV, three short examples of your work (links to online work preferable) and a covering letter explaining why you should be awarded the bursary to Kate Wilkinson, Literature Development Officer: kwilkinson@northamptonshire.gov.uk.

*** PLEASE NOTE: only applications made by email will be accepted. Applications not containing the required information outlined above will be disregarded. ***

DEADLINE
Your application should be emailed to kwilkinson@northamptonshire.gov.uk by 12 noon on Monday 3rd May 2010. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of the day on Monday 11th May. Unfortunately, we will not be able to notify unsuccessful applicants.

The BBC are hosting summer placements though BBC Blast for people looking to build their skills in the media.

What is the BBC Blast Reporter scheme?

BBC Blast Reporter scheme is an opportunity for budding reporters to learn the tricks of the trade in hands-on work experience that will enable them to build on their knowledge of the media along with providing fresh and exciting opportunities in Sport and Music areas.

There is opportunity to work alongside BBC staff to create content for BBC’s local websites and radio stations, which will be something outstanding for CV’s and future career plans.

We keen for people to know that the BBC’s doors are wide-open for their applications and ensure that as many people as possible have access to this information.

How can you help?

If you could please communicate the attached information so people are aware that BBC Blast is accepting applications for 2010, also you will find below an e flyer that you can send onto your contacts or print out to put up in your reception areas.

The application deadline is Friday 30th April 2010 and there are posts available around the country.

Information on specific reporter application forms follow for the Music and Sport reporter posts:

Music: http://www.bbc.co.uk/jobs/workexperience/blast/introducing-reporters.shtml

Sports: http://www.bbc.co.uk/jobs/workexperience/blast/sports-reporters.shtml

You can find out more information on the scheme and last years placements by clicking on this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/reporters/

Apprenticeships in Fiction 2010

A one-year professional development programme for first-time novelists

Deadline: 31st May 2010

Adventures in Fiction is proud to present five subsidized placements for first-time novelists of commercial and literary fiction, including one for crime, one for fantasy and one for fiction for children and young people (9+/teenage). The placements, which have an individual value of over £2,750 will take the form of an apprenticeships with a professional writer working in a similar genre. The five apprentices will be selected from open competition by a panel of experts including Hannah Westland from leading literary agency Rogers, Coleridge, White.

In its first three years, the scheme has already resulted in three publications and referred eight writers to literary agents. Six writers have secured funding, two from Arts Council England, to support placements.

Apprenticeships in Fiction aims to encourage diversity, excellence and originality.

For further information go to http://www.adventuresinfiction.co.uk/apprenticeships

Theatre Writing Partnership in partnership with Writing West Midlands is offering exciting new development opportunities for writers.

YOUNG WRITERS 2010

Ever thought about writing for live performance? Would you like to see your script performed by professional actors? Maybe you are already a performer, a poet, a short story writer or lyricist?

Now is the time to make your words stand up! We are looking for 12 talented writers aged 15 to 26 with great ideas for the stage. We’ll support you to develop your idea with input from actors, directors and other writers, and we’ll present your work at the Momentum festival 2010.

Deadline for submissions 29 January 2010

http://twp2009.wordpress.com/projects/young-writers/

CROSSOVERS

Are you a playwright, performer, screenwriter, live artist, poet, prose writer or a journalist? Would you like to develop a new piece of work for the stage and see it presented in October 2010

Theatre Writing Partnership are offering six writers/artists a supported process to help develop their ideas for new plays. With a bespoke team of creative mentors, directors, actors and other artists, we’ll help you develop the script and present a sharing of your work. We’re excited about supporting and showcasing a dynamic mix of writers who approach their writing in different ways and want to explore the dramatic potential of the stage.

Deadline for submissions: 12 February 2010.

http://twp2009.wordpress.com/projects/crossovers/

EARS WIDE OPEN

A virtual salon of aural sensations; a wooded glade in mid summer, dappled with sunlight and equipped with headphones; a warm cosy space with sofas and cushions; a listing in your i-tunes library: Ears Wide Open can be all these things and more.

Theatre Writing Partnership and Writing West Midlands are collaborating to offer bursaries to two Midlands writers to create theatre for the ear. Soothing, titillating, terrifying and intimate, Ears Wide Open will offer you solitary and communal experiences, manipulating your mind by triggering your imagination. Details of the commissions are on our website.

http://twp2009.wordpress.com/projects/ears-wide-open/

Organization:
Theatre Writing Partnership
Theatre Writing Partnership
Nottingham Playhouse
Wellington Circus, Nottingham
NG1 5AF
0115 947 4361
www.theatrewritingpartnership.com

Nottingham Writers’ Studio now has a hot desking area available which can accommodate up to four people. Spaces can be booked out at the following rates:

1/2 Day – £4 (8am-1pm/1pm-6pm/6pm-midnight)
Full Day: £7 (8am – midnight)
Full Week: £30
Entire Space: £20 per day
Hot Desk Deal: BOGOF on Hotdesking at NWS for all of September – this means a full day is now only £3.50 per day if you book two days! What are you waiting for?!
To book a space or for further details please send a request to: nottinghamwritersstudio@gmail.com or check http://nottinghamwriters.wordpress.com

Office to Rent: Private office (large) to rent at Nottingham Writers Studio for £125 per month from 01 November 2009. Lovely location in Lace Market, in the centre of Nottingham with access to all NWS facilities and complimentary membership of the studio. Sharing might be possible.
For more information please call (0115) 9597947 (Messages left after 04/09 will be replied to after September 14th)

Are you a writer looking for support with getting published or developing your career? Do you develop live literature as a producer or organiser and want to find new audiences? Is publishing a passion that you would like support with making a reality?

The Literature Network is organising a series of one-to-one surgeries to give advice and support to anyone developing a career in the literature sector. The aim of the surgeries will be to link in new people and projects to the vibrant and growing community of writers, editors and producers of literature in the East Midlands. The surgeries will be run by Damien Walter, Literature Network Coordinator.

Three surgeries will be offered in Leicester, Nottingham and Derby through September. To request a one-to-one appointment send an e-mail including your name, contact details and a 100 outline of your interest in literature to: damien@charnwood-arts.org.uk

You must be able to attend during the day or early evening on the following dates.

Leicester – 8th September

Derby – 15th September

Nottingham – 22nd September

Tuesday 19th May 2009, 3.45-5.45pm, Kettering Conference Centre, Kettering, Northamptonshire. Attention all Creative Practitioners and Artists in Learning! Don’t miss this exciting & special opportunity to market your services to learning settings across Northamptonshire. This is your chance to meet and network with schools, local authority officers and others interested in booking you to work with children and young people on creative projects.

Cost: £10 per stall – includes a table, display board and listing in the trade stall brochure, refreshments.

All trade fair stall holders are invited to attend the Creative Expedition Conference, which takes place earlier in the day at the venue – 9.30-3.45pm. The conference is an opportunity to explore and share current creative learning practice & is designed for settings and practitioners who are either already involved in Creative Partnerships or interested in being involved in future. If you attend and pay for a place at the Creative Expedition conference, your stall at the trade fair will be free, conditions apply.

For more information and to book your place email: srichardson@northamptonshire.gov.uk or phone: 01604 233122. PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO GUARANTEE A PLACE.

The Literature Network are looking for volunteers to help young people and others in need develop their writing skills.

Writing is a vital tool for communication and self expression. Many young people and others in our communities struggle with both basic literacy and more advanced writing skills. But with one to one support or in small groups, people can make huge leaps forward in learning.

If you are a strong writer and would like to volunteer some of your time to share your skills with others we would like to hear from you. For more information please contact:

damien@charnwood-arts.org.uk