Fifteen Queen Street

Toot! It's the International Festival of Town Pipers!

Sun, 27 May 2012 13:58:00 +0100

2 - 4 June
All over Colchester!
Read more

For three days in June, waits musicians (British town pipers) from around the world will visit Colchester for a unique event. Re-creating the colourful civic bands that played about town in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, members of the International Guild of Town Pipers will give free performances throughout the town on instruments designed for the job, loud and vibrant shawm, double reeds and brass.

The Colchester Waits, The York Waits, The Charlotte Waites (USA), The Leeds Waits, De Stadspijpers van s’-Hertogenbosch (NL), The Doncaster Waits, The King’s Lynn Waites, Ely Pipers Noyze & The City of Lincoln Waites, de Mowbray’s Musick, The Baggshotte Waits, and finally The Waites of Gloucester are all descending onto our town for the festival.

There will be dance and music workshops members of the public can get involved in. The festival is free and throughout the town held at Lower Castle Park, Firstsite, Castle Park Bandstand, Hollytrees Lawn, Outside the Castle, the CO1 cafe, Lion Walk and Culver Square.

Get on the site for full details. There’s a huge list that we just couldn’t squeeze on here so keep your ears peeled over the June weekend for the historic celebration.

Snublic Drawings @ 15 Queen Street

Sat, 26 May 2012 09:46:30 +0100

“Redundant scenes of colchester and cartoon parodies rendered in ink”

Snublic know as Colin McAllister is a Cartoonist and Illustrator living in Colchester, working in black and white, pen and ink. There is a new exibition of his work at the Digby Gallery tucked away in the Mercury Theatre. It’s on until the 28 May.

Snublic’s current drawing interests include local urban scenes, portraits and cartooning. His cartoons are microcosms of issues of interest, and, unlike most cartoons, require time to be studied in order to take in all the detail and action.

Sometimes my subject matter is serious, sometimes sentimental and silly but whatever I’m working on at the time has his full attention and I’m always attempting to out-do my previous efforts without repeating myself.

For his exhibition this year, he has aimed to have completed a series of drawings which are updates of old masters paintings, reworked into my own style. He finds it interesting to begin with a well known composition but to give it his own modern twist. So please do go visit the Mercury Theatre and have a ganders at the new show.

Textile artist Michelle English let us know about an Arts...

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:01:52 +0100

Textile artist Michelle English let us know about an Arts Festival on in Lexden next weekend. There’s a huge list of events as you can see from the poster including films, music and work from sterling James Dodds.

SPILL National Platform: Call for entries 2012

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:40:00 +0100

This is a call out to performance artists and actors to get involved in the SPILL National Platform!

The SPILL National Platform is for emerging artists, and part of SPILL Festival, it showcases innovative, daring and exciting work, created today by artists of the future.

SPILL festival is a celebration of performance. It is an international festival of experimental theatre, live art and performance presenting the work of exceptional artists from around the globe. Created and curated by performance maker Robert Pacitti, and produced by Pacitti Company, SPILL is now recognised worldwide as the UK’s premier artist-led festival of experimental work. This year SPILL is becoming an annual festival, alternating between Ipswich in November 2012, and London in April 2013. This is your chance to be part of it!

In collaboration with the Live Art Development Agency and supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation, the SPILL National Platform is the UK’s open submissions platform for emerging experimental makers.

This November SPILL will present its largest ever National Platform, showcasing the work of 50 selected artists and companies at a range of exciting spaces across Ipswich in Suffolk. The National Platform is for artists who are at the beginning of their professional practice, including recent graduates, and who have only had a few opportunities to show their work publicly.

The National Platform is aimed at artists and companies based in the UK and Ireland who are interested in the ‘experience’ or the ‘event’ of art and who work with ideas of ‘liveness’. The Platform is open to artists and companies who are centralising or exploring the ‘liveness’ of the artist and/or the ‘liveness’ of the audience through performance, sound, film, video, installation, new media or digital practices.

Across three days and at multiple locations in Ipswich, emerging artists and companies will have a fantastic opportunity to showcase their work to an audience made up of national and international promoters and artists, and members of the public.

To download an application pack and for details on how to apply for this new and exciting opportunity, please go to www.pacitticompany.com and click on ‘News’ section situated to the right of the home page.

The deadline for applications is strictly noon on Monday 18 June 2012.

Artworker needed for The Incomers

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:21:00 +0100

Matthew Liney has approached us to source a creative who could produce an image for Murray Lachlan Young’s The Incomers.

They are looking for an an image depicting..

Three pairs of muddy wellie boots in a row (two mens, one womans) next to a pair of high heeled platform shoes with a feather boa draped round. Rolled up £20 note on the floor. Possible handcuffs and a smashed wine glass. Could be photo - could be drawn - could be combo of both

Budget
There is a budget. They would like you to quote for a test shot. ACE money will be coming through at the beginning of June to fund the project. If Murray likes the image you’ll get recompense for either re-staging or re-making the image or for it to be used in all tour publicity. Please contact Matthew for more details.

Format
Stage 1 the work is for print (brochures).
Stage 2 would be for print, online, posters etc.

Target Audience
The play will appeal to audiences aged 12 plus. However specific groups would include:-

new drama audiences / previous theatre audiences
spoken word audiences
BBC Radio 4 and 6 Music audiences
audiences with an interest in the urban / rural interest groups
other arts attenders

Timescale

Phase A - ASAP for a test shot
Phase B - (post funding decision) end of June for finished art work

More information on the project:

The project was formally called A Burlesque (by Murray Lachlan Young). It has recently been recently renamed The Incomers by Murray Lachlan Young. Essentially the image is to entice people to see the show and let them have a flavour of what they were letting themselves in for!

The Incomers

It’s Gordon and Celia’s wedding anniversary. They’ve asked their oldest and dearest friends Zach and Jane down from London. The only problem is that Zach and Jane aren’t Zach and Jane anymore. Jane has gone and Julia - the twenty five year old, French burlesque dancer, has taken her place.

What starts as a simple celebration quickly unravels with one revelation after another until we become aware that no one has been telling the truth to anyone about anything for a very long time.

Written entirely in his characteristic verse by BBC 6 Music poet in residence Murray Lachlan Young The Incomers will have you gasping and roaring with laughter in equal measures!

If you are able to produce something for Matthew, he’s like it as soon as possible. We would suggest by Monday 28th, then please email or call 01473 218202 for more details.

'Dizni' Show Catalogue

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:56:00 +0100

'Dizni' Show Catalogue:

A quick reblog from our resident illustrator and designer Matt Keeling. Matt is currently exhibiting in the Graffik Gallery in London alongside local graphic artist Eye Saw. The theme is Disney with a dark twist. If you happen to be on Portobello Road we recommend you check it out!

mattkeeling:

I’ve got a few pieces in this show (Dizni) at Graffik Gallery on Portobello Rd. I’ll be going to the PV tonight hoping to hook up with @eyesaw_ along the way.

Sumi Ink Club @ This One Wall

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:01:08 +0100

We host Sumi Ink Club once a month, on the last Friday from 7 - 9pm. You simply grab a brush, pour some ink and get involved with a collaborative ‘doodle’ workshop. Held by our flexible member and illustrator Rob Lock, the group get together to produce large drawings in an informal and fun evening.

The bright colourful wall to the side of the building, now know as This One Wall, said goodbye to our resident illustrator Matt Keeling‘s locally inspired prints. It has now welcomed a Sumi Ink Club exhibition curated by Rob Lock.

The work displayed is the result of our evening collaborative illustration workshop. The pieces are a response to This One Wall’s current theme ‘memories’, which you can read more about here.

This One Wall had a quick chat with Rob to find out a bit more about the exhibition, and the club. Enjoy.

We’d also like to thank Colchester Institute School of Art and Design who supply the paper each month!

Calling local knitters and crocheters! It’s not local to...

Tue, 22 May 2012 10:02:52 +0100

Calling local knitters and crocheters!

It’s not local to Colchester, but Essex based project Knit Together, run by textile artist Jess Worley are looking for crafty volunteers to help with two upcoming events.

Green Drinks @ The Apricot Centre

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:01:09 +0100

Here’s a blog post on behalf of Green Drinks, a group for local eco friendy and green minded people; who meet here on the 21 of each month. Robbie Spence on behalf of the group wanted to showcase their visit to the Apricot Centre organic market garden on Saturday 21 April for a tour and lunch.

The old shipping container

We began in the Centre’s meeting room, which is made of converted shipping containers. Containers like this are used only a few dozen times and end up being sold on Felixstowe docks for a few hundred pounds apiece. Once the end walls are cut out and replaced with floor-to-ceiling glass, they provide light and bright, cheap and recycled accommodation.

Marina, who runs the Centre with the help of one part-time labourer and lives there with her family, told us how the four-acre smallholding is one of many such plots in the Ardleigh area. They were laid out in the 1930s for unemployed people from the north east of England to come and start a new life as small-scale farmers. Marina bought her plot about ten years ago and now produces £15,000 worth of fruit a year by concentrating on high-value crops like strawberries and raspberries, but this is not enough to make a living: it is the permaculture courses that do that.

The Tour

We toured the greenhouses, the polytunnel and orchards. In the greenhouse, which is unheated, we saw strawberries that would be ripe and ready for market in late May. Out in the orchards, Marina stopped at what looked to us like an uninspiring clump of grass and nettles around a tree. This was, she explained, an example of functional bio-diversity in action and of how permaculture contrasts with monoculture, with its reliance on fertilisers and pesticides. The nettles are a great winter habitat for hibernating ladybirds. Rather than mow around the trees, she prefers to let the nettles grow because the ladybirds keep aphids and other bugs under control naturally.

Nettles are also at this time of year ready to be picked and made into soup. So it was that we returned to the shipping container meeting room for a lunch featuring nettle soup, fresh salad and pressed apple juice from the farm, and home-made cake.

The true environmental cost of strawberries

On our tour we also learned that many of the strawberries in the UK are grown in heated greenhouses. Fossil fuel prices are still low enough for profits to be made in this way. Using finite fuel stocks to grow strawberries is an example of what Fritz Schumacher would have called the unsustainable practice of living on our capital and beyond our means. In “Small is Beautiful” he contrasted natural capital, meaning the Earth’s finite, natural resources, with natural income, meaning renewable resources. It is clearly unsustainable, he said, to run down your capital to generate your income. But that is the basis of the industrialised, consumer society. In any event, if the environmental cost of fuel were taken into account, maybe by a carbon tax, it would level the economic playing field for farms like Marina’s that rely on natural processes.

Food hub

The last event of the visit was a discussion about a possible ‘food hub’ in Colchester. This would be an attempt to move away from the present system where farmers take their produce to markets in London, which is exhausting and expensive in time and fuel. The alternative would be for local consumers to order produce online and pick it up from a local hub where it has been dropped off by the organic farmers and food producers who belong to the scheme.

More information

For more information see on the food hub, see www.dedhamvalefoodhub.co.uk

Many thanks to Marina for the tour and lunch and to Rosie for organising the event.

This week's guest events @15queenstreet

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:39:15 +0100

Join us throughout the week for seven varied guest events. Held by our members for the creative community.

Green Drinks - Monday 21
7.30 - 9.30pm
Pam Nelson hosts Green Drinks every 21st of the month. This group isn’t about enjoying green drinks, but aimed at green minded people getting together for a drink. This month they are discussing their previous visit to the Apricot Centre plus Emily Harrup of Wombat Car Club will be giving a talk.
Read more & RSVP

Food Exchange - Monday 21
7.30pm
Note! This event is held at the Chocolate Studio this month
Join the growing collection of local foodies cooking up a storm and exchanging their creations at this monthly event. This month they are heading to the Chocolate Studio for an hour’s hands-on demo and tasting. They’ll be learning how to temper chocolate in to practice for what we make for June’s event (Cakes & Chocolates). Then exchanging this month’s food theme - Pies & Pastries.
Read more

Screenwriters - Tuesday 22
7.30 - 9.30pm
A growing network for screen writers meet twice a month here at 15 Queen Street. This week they will be providing feedback on one script, analysing the first plot point and break into the second act of a narrative. They will also continue to brainstorm ideas for the 50 kisses screenwriting competition.
Read more & RSVP

Sumi Ink Club - Friday 25
7pm - til late
Join our flexible member Rob Lock for the monthly illustration workshop, Sumi Ink Club! Using the Japanese ink known as ‘sumi’, Rob invites you to the building to simply grab a brush and pour some ink! The club is now also exhibiting the work produced from their meetup on This One Wall, Colchester’s street gallery. Find out more here.
Read more & RSVP

Embroiderers’ Guild - Saturday 26
10am - 12 noon
£5
Join the Guild on Saturday morning for a crafty workshop using different techniques to produce interesting textiles to embroider into. This class isn’t about embroidery, but experimenting with new materials and ideas to keep you inspired.
Read more & RSVP

Inspiration for Creative Writing Workshop
Saturday 26, 1 - 2pm
£30/20 concession
Sarah Banham, aka For the Love of Books runs a monthly workshop for local writers to develop and explore their inspiration. It’s a helpful and informative workshop for those having difficulty in getting started or continuing with their Work in Progress.
Read more & RSVP

Film Shoot Sunday
Sunday 27, 11am - 4pm
The film nextwork Film Colchester take over the building on the fourth Sunday of the month to get involved with various local projects needing actors, film makers and anyone else who wants to get involved They meet and collaborate on projects filming around the town. Join their facebook group for more info and to let them know if you have a project that needs support.
Read more & RSVP

Call for artists!

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:41:10 +0100

Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership are looking to commission an artist to produce artwork to brighten up Braintree Freeport Station.

They want your ideas. It could be on a railway theme, shopper theme, or local theme. The station is located at Freeport shopping centre. If you are interested please submit your CV’s and idea’s to Lynda Stone via email by the 6 June.

They have funding of £9,000 for the complete project. They would prefer Braintree artists for the projects, but local Essex artists can still apply.

If you require any further information please telephone Jayne Sumner on 01245 435772.

Opportunity @ Momentum

Mon, 21 May 2012 10:24:00 +0100

Momentum, a small but perfectly formed web design studio based in Colchester are currently looking for an experienced Web Developer.

Having had a great couple of years, momentum is growing its team again. We are looking for a developer to support existing client work and to also work on upcoming new projects.

Working across design and front-end development, your role will be to implement new functionalities to existing websites and develop new systems from scratch.

This position is ideal for those with a solid set of existing skills but looking to develop further. If you have had experience with a growing business, this position is for you.

One important point! They want a back end developer with a good understanding of front end development. Someone who writes strong markup and knows how to bring it to life. Front end will not need to be your strong point but we expect a very good understanding of it..

For more details on the job please visit the site here.

To apply please email studio@builtwithmomentum.com with your CV, a bit about you and some of your work. If you need more information please call 01206 225234.

We need one of these in the office. A poster from our flexi...

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:06:23 +0100

We need one of these in the office. A poster from our flexi member joe-stone:

For some reason I have a terrible memory of any paper dimensions above A3 and kept having to look them up, so I made a quick poster that I can refer to.

Photo

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:09:42 +0100

Real Circumstance Lab : Fundraising

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:01:47 +0100

Saturday 19th May
10am-6pm
Mosaic Publicity, 11 St Peter’s Court, St Peter’s Street, Colchester CO1 1WD
£50.00 (plus £3.65 booking fee)
Read more & RSVP

We heard about a Real Circumstance Lab happening here in Colchester on Saturday 19.

The labs enable you to take control of your creative career within an encouraging and informal environment. The Labs are suitable for both individual artists and theatre companies. Join them for a day-long Fundraising Clinic featuring talks, practical sessions, and group tutoring.

The Fundraising Lab takes a comprehensive approach to developing your fundraising skills, covering:

How to present yourself and your artistic identity
Fundraising Strategies
Approaching funders and partners:
Budgeting:

The Lab will be delivered by Anna Bewick, Creative Producer of Real Circumstance and Arts Consultant. She has a proven fundraising track record, consistently raising funds from Arts Council England, charitable foundations, local and regional councils, co-producers, and private donors.

Anna will be tailoring the Labs to the participants, so the sooner you book, the more bespoke the Labs can be. They are also running the Labs at a subsidised rate in order to widen access and participation. Just get in touch to find out more.

Places are limited, so please book soon to avoid disappointment. Visit the eventbrite page to book your place!

Creative Showcase: Maryann Morris

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:02:00 +0100

Meet Maryann. She’s the creative mind behind the new independent shop Handmade High Street, a space selling handmade wares and hosting crafty workshops on Sir Isaacs Walk. We popped round to ask a few questions behind her new venture.

When and why did you start Handmade High Street?
Handmade High St is a brand new venture of mine, I had a craft studio at Barleylands in Billericay, but in October 2011 we decided to move to Colchester, thinking that the drive to work every day wouldn’t be too bad, especially as my car runs on LPG. I didn’t expect the drive in itself to be so tiring and the 45 minutes I anticipated it would take turned into more like 2 hours each way. So we started looking for premises in Colchester. Which is when I realised I wouldn’t have the same restrictions I had at Barleylands and could sell anything I liked! There the idea so Handmade High St is born!

What’s happened since it started? Tell us a bit about your journey.
Well to start with I had to decide and stick to it that I would leave Barleylands. I absolutely loved it there. Then we have had problems with the roof leaking 2 days before opening. But its no fun if it all goes to plan right? We have only been open here a week now and I have already met so many wonderful people from the area. I didn’t realise how much creative talent there is here!

How can people get involved? Do you still have space for creatives to sell their wares?
By popping in for a chat, taking a look at the “about us” page on the website, emailing or just giving me a call 1206764771 we have a little space still available for the right crafters.

Do you have any tips for people starting their own creative business?
Yes - Don’t expect it to be easy! There are so many people fighting to get the same sales. Convincing people why they should buy from you can be hard. But incredibly rewarding. I didn’t expect the sheer volume of paperwork, or the long hours that I need to put it. But it is all worth it in the end!

What do you think buildings like 15 Queen Street can offer creative people in towns like Colchester?
Colchester seems full of creative people, and its nice that they have somewhere to collectively meet, discuss their work or use the facilities. Sometimes creatives work can be dismissed as a “play job” or just not worthwhile by people that just don’t get it. So its nice to have a place where people do!

Thank you Maryann. We feel your shop provides a similar service, a great place to showcase the wonderful talent in the town. Keep up the great work!

This week's guest events @15queenstreet

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:02:32 +0100

This week we have six guest events hosted by our members for the creative community. There’s a wide range of activities to get involved with. From photography classes, meeting a growing network of film makers to an evening of craft. Easily RSVP and keep up to date with our meetup group Creative in Colchester.

These sessions are for you. Get stuck in, meet like minded people and help our community grow. If you have an idea for a workshop, meetup group or event you could hold here. Just get in touch and let us know.

WriteNight - Monday 14
7.30 - 9.30pm
Calling all writers! Come along to share your work, meet like minded locals and also participate in a written exercise or two. Don’t forget the all important coffee break. Run by reading recovery teacher Emma Kittle. This month we are celebrating flash ficition - short stories under 500 words.
Read more & RSVP

Stitch & Bitch - Tuesday 15
7.30pm
This month host local textile artist Clare Sams is back to help run a workshop creating pieces for an upcoming collaborative exhibition at Bourne Mill. This month we’re making chord, flora and fauna using various crafty techniques. Beginners to pros are welcome. We’ll have knitting machines for knitting virgins!
Read more & RSVP

Film Colchester - Wednesday 16
7.30 - 9.30pm
This month the Colchester based film network Film Colchester are hosting an actors meetup. Open to all. Meet film makers, script writers and local actors to encourage local projects and collaboration. Adam Piercy from casting website The Page UK will be talking about acting. Local actors will be showcasing their acting experiences and explain working as extras on TV and film. The second half of the meeting those who want to can participate in some acting games or just hang around for a drink and a chat.
Read more & RSVP

La Tertulia - Thursday 17
7.30pm
£5
This night is an informal meetup for all Spanish speakers (native and non-native) and Hispanic culture lovers. Join local artist Mary Pullen for a night of exploring and learning through discussion, debate, language games, creative writing activities, film, literature and more….
Read more & RSVP

Getting To Know Your Characters - Friday 18
7pm
£30/£20
Sarah Banham is hosting an evening workshop designed for writers who are are looking to learn who their characters are through discussion and a visualisation. Find out more about Sarah in our member showcase.
Read more & RSVP

Photography ‘The Next Level’, Photography Workshop - Sunday 20
10am - 4pm
£95
Local photographer Sally Parkinson is running a practical outdoor workshop for budding photographers who already have an understanding of Shutter and Aperture priority. Get to know Sally better with our interview here.
Read more & RSVP.

May @ 15 Queen Street

Sun, 13 May 2012 13:50:34 +0100

May @ 15 Queen Street:

Our newsletter for May is now online.

We’ve showcased one of our latest residents here at fifteen Queen Street, listed loads of fantastic events for you to get involved with, including a special change to Creative in Colchester.

Join our mailing list to receive weekly emails for events, creative community highlights and our monthly newsletter.

If you would like to become a member of 15 Queen Street, tour the building and find out more about what we do. Just say hello.

Uncontained with @shellsuitzombie

Sat, 12 May 2012 18:02:06 +0100

We were tipped off about an exciting project in London by ShellsuitZombie from our wonderful flexible member Lauren Baker.

Throughout June and July ShellsuitZombie & Studio55 are taking over the 55DSL store in BOXPARK, Shoreditch, and getting thirty creative individuals, groups and companies to take a day each.

The project is called Uncontained. Apply to use the space and the lucky few who get picked will not only get a blank box in which to create or show off whatever they want, they also get a feature in the next issue of ShellsuitZombie magazine which goes out at the end of May.

They will showcase everything from illustrators and creative directors to live bands and festivals, all in one place. This isn’t an exhibition. It’s workshops, parties, creative get-togethers and crowd participation.

If you fancy getting involved, have a wild and wacky creative idea, head over to the ‘how to take part’ page and tell them what you’d do.

We’re pleased to announce Lauren is taking over the box on Wednesday 6th June.

Lauren (AKA tinysketchbook), who was a tour de force at last year’s ShellsuitZombie’s New Blood stand, is coming all the way from Colchester to bring the box to life with her charming and colourful creations.

If you are around on the day we recommend to drop by to support a wonderful local illustrator. There’s already a huge program of exciting events. Hurry up and apply now!

Call for stall holders @ Colchester Community Sports Festival

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:23:19 +0100

Our resident Lyndall Rosewarne, events organiser, just dropped by to let us know that there spaces available for stall holders at the CBC Colchester Community Sports Festival.

The event is on Thursday 7 June, 12 - 5pm at Castle Park. The event will be celebrating the Halfords Tour Series taking place in the town and will be a fun event for families to enjoy during the half term.

Lyndall is looking for interesting & creative stalls. You don’t need to be sports related, it could a craft, vintage, or art pitch. Stalls are free, but you are just provided with a square of grass so you are required to bring everything you need with you.

If you have an idea for a stall or want to know more just get in touch with Lyndal via email or call: 07847498865. Time is of the essence Colchester. The deadline was yesterday so this is a last minute shout out.