Crafty & creative workshops here this Saturday

We’ve got a superb double bill of creative workshops all hosted here at 15 Queen Street this Saturday 25th February.

Embroiderers Guild

First up from 10am - 12pm is the Embroiderers Guild taking over our event space to host a open workshop (so you don’t need to be a member). This month’s theme is Ribbon Development. We can’t tell you much more than that except these workshops are all about exploring and experimenting with modern materials. Organiser Linda brings a bundle of fantastic materials for you to get stuck in with. Plus you are provided with examples and lots of ideas to inspire you.

The cost of the morning is £5 plus £1 towards the cost of materials. For more info & to RSVP visit the meetup page.

‘Finding Inspiration for Creative Writing’

Then we have a Creative Writing workshop - ‘Finding Inspiration for Creative Writing’ hosted by our new flexi member Sarah Banham at 1 - 2pm. We interviewed Sarah as part of our member showcase here. The workshop’s aim is to help unlock your imagination and get that hidden story within everyone a chance to come alive. An interactive workshops with plenty of refreshment and breaks - ensuring to give your imagination a helping hand or a gentle kick!

This workshop is £40 for 4 hours. Materials supplied. For more info & to RSVP visit the meetup page.

Both event hosts signed up as flexi members to be able to run events from the building. By creatives, for creatives. We want to make sure the building is working hard for our town. Come along this Saturday, get your creativity flowing and meet some local artists.

Creative in Colchester this Thursday

Thursday 23rd February, 7.30pm
15 Queen Street, CO1 2PH

Entry and Bar Free to members and designated guests, suggested donation for non members £10

Creative in Colchester is your monthly face-to-face at fifteen Queen Street.

This month’s theme is architecture with two incredible speakers lined up. First up is HAT Projects - Hana Loftus and Tom Grieve - A local architectural firm who design, build, advise and self-initiate projects and research, including the exciting Jerwood Gallery which opens 17th March 2012.

Our second speaker - Emily Turnbull (Studio Can Can) has worked in the design and architecture industry since 1999 on award-winning interior projects across the UK and internationally.

We will also have our resident DJ Cantcutcarwyn playing funk and soul throughout the night, a special performance from multi-instrumentalist Slowlife plus the usual drinks and discussions. Read a quick interview with Slowlife on what makes the Colchester based musician tick.

Whether you are an artist graphic designer, poet, tailor, milliner, musician, film maker, cook, thespian, or any other creative living in or around Colchester, come join our group, meet others like you, and become part of our burgeoning community.

PLEASE NOTE: An RSVP is essential as we now run a strict door policy.

Read more & RSVP.

Junk Jamboree Vintage and Craft Market

Local crafty wonder Liz Cardy is looking for artists and local creatives who would be interested in running a stall for the upcoming Junk Jamboree Vintage and Craft Market.

We haven’t got an ‘official’ Junk Jamboree blurb as yet. But basically she would like you to email or call 07733 455245 if you would like to be considered for a stall.

Liz is looking for for craft stalls, shabby chic style, handmade stuff, sweets, but not cakes please.

The event is Saturday 5th May, 11am until 4pm at Cardinal Bourne Hall on Priory St in Colchester.

Sounds like the perfect event for Colchester! Please pass the info on to anyone you think might be interested.

Opportunities @mercurytheatre

Mercury theatre are currently looking for a Artistic Director & Executive Director.

The Mercury believe their place in the community is as important as the work they make for their stages. They have strong and binding relationships with local and regional audiences and relish the opportunity to develop their role as a National Portfolio Organisation.

They now seek an exceptional leadership team that will combine vision and imagination with diligence and a strong business sense.

Together, you will develop and deliver an ambitious, exciting and achievable strategy for the future, enthusing and inspiring the theatre’s staff, audiences and stakeholders.

If you can bring a proven bold, enterprising and business-like approach to expanding the reputation and reach of the Mercury Theatre, then we’d like to hear from you.

The board is willing to accept single or joint applications for these posts.

These are permanent positions, salaries circa £48,000 p.a.

Applications close 24 February, first interviews 6 or 7 March, second interviews 20 or 21 March 2012.

Please return completed application forms to Lorna Owen, Theatre Administrator, Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT or by email.

Creative Showcase: Slowlife

Meet Slowlife (Dan Bowen) an indie/folk act based in Colchester. Dan is kindly coming to perform for our Creative in Colchester event on Thursday 23rd February.

We got Dan to come in and create an ‘I make’ picture for our ongoing photography project capturing members and local creatives in the town. To find out what makes Slowlife tick we asked a few questions:

Tell us a bit about your journey and where you are today.
I spent the first 18 years of my life in the north Suffolk town of Lowestoft and began playing the guitar around the age of 12. I was more of a lead guitarist at first, but started writing my own songs around the age of 15/16, but didn’t really perform them for a few years after, whilst I studied, travelled and lived around a few different places. Having been in a couple of bands, last year I formed Slow Life and played a few shows around Colchester on my own for the first time. I decided that I didn’t really want to be a stereotypical acoustic performer and after an inspiring trip to see Gruff Rhys live, I went out and bought a loop pedal and a selection of instruments to perform my songs as you might hear them on record. So on stage I am accompanied by guitar, percussion and melodica and I literally build some of my songs. I’m now gigging in Colchester regularly and am focussing on performing around the country and getting my music heard.  

What do you think of our membership hub and Colchester’s growing Cultural Quarter?
I think its great! I moved to Colchester two years ago with an offer of decent employment and knew very little about the town, and knew no-one who lived here! I was pleasantly surprised by the active music and arts scene, and made several friends and was able to develop my own music and get involved with events. Its a nice little community really and most people seem to be keen to help each other out, which is nice. For a town of it’s size I think Colchester punches above its own weight in a cultural sense and theres a lot of talented people here….

Give us a sneaky peak of what you are working on right now.
I have just finished recording a debut EP at Long Track Studios with producer Nathan Wacey, which is going to be called BEAR. Its being mixed at the moment, and I’m looking to release it within the next few weeks. It has six songs on it, and I have played every instrument with the exception of the drums. Its a mixed bag of songs really, theres a couple of melodic tracks, with the vocal line leading the song, a couple of reverby guitar-led tracks and also one track which is built up on a multi-guitar, percussion and vocal loop. All songs have catchy hooks and I’d like to think are easy on the ear! Inspiration for the songs comes from protest movements, cross-european adventures and socialist German football teams!

Cheers Dan. Great to hear you are inspired by socialist German football teams. All members are invited to our event on the 24th to hear Slowlife play and enjoy architecture themed talks from Hat Projects & Studio Can Can. Visit our meetup page for more.

Green Drinks

Tuesday 21 February
7.30 - 9pm
15 Queen Street, CO1 2PH

Green Drinks, hosted by Pam Nelson, is an evening event inviting eco friendly and green minded souls to meet up for drinks and discussions. The event is every 21st of the month. 

Tea and coffee is provided free of charge, or if you prefer, you are welcome to bring you own alcoholic or soft drinks. Plus you can also bring food as there’s a small kitchen and microwave.

This month they’ve invited a number of speakers to look at how to promote events and recruit new members for your campaigns:
 
Social Media - Ben Howard, Cool Publicity
Colchester Green Calender – Andrew Wilkinson, en-form
Digital Strategy for Colchester – Jim Leask, CBC

To RSVP please visit our meetup page. If you’d like more info please contact Pam.

Opportunity @ The Minories

Colchester School of Art is seeking a Manager to oversee the day to day running and management of the Minories site and staff. The Minories building is home to the School’s postgraduate provision and the public galleries and shop.

Minories Manager                                                              Ref: 11-074
Circa £31,300 - £34,300 per annum

Job Description:
You will lead the Minories on a number of levels, such as income generation, activities, student/public events and ensuring safe working practices are adhered to. The successful candidate will liaise closely with other organisations both locally and nationally as part of the development of the creative and cultural provision within Colchester. The galleries are currently open to the public 10am – 4pm Monday to Saturday, and we would expect the postholder to work Saturdays on a rota basis.
 
With previous experience of project management and knowledge of working in an Arts context, you should be an innovator with a proven track record of entrepreneurship. You will hold a degree, or the equivalent, and be able to demonstrate the ability to effectively manage and motivate staff. You will be expected to work independently therefore you should be self-motivated and able to efficiently plan and prioritise your workload. Excellent communication and negotiation skills are essential for this role.
 
Applications received by 27 February 2012 will receive first consideration.  However, applications received after this date may be considered.
 
A job description and application pack can be obtained from The Colchester Institute website. Applications, by CV if preferred, should be emailed.