Creative Bedfordshire - Finding Your Voice - Creative Networking - February 2016

Welcome!

Creative Bedfordshire!4th February 2016!

Ent.Shed at The Gordon Arms !Bedford!

7 – 9 pm!

FINDING YOUR VOICE !hosted by Sandra Dartnell !for Bedford Creative Arts!

Our speakers this month represent spoken word and online self-publishing. Lee Nelson of Utter Lutonia and WordFest, and blogger Zoe-Lee Skelton will give short

talks telling us how they found their voice and developed their audience, creative practice and reputation. !

Mentions!Bedford Creative Arts !@wearebca!

Business TimeBank [email protected]

Culture Challenge!Are you a creative or cultural practitioner with something to offer young people or schools? http://www.culturechallenge.co.uk/!

@CreativeBeds !#CBNetworking!

Mentions!Sole Traders Tax!Handout!

Claire !@AddisonAccounts!

Matthew!@acuriousjoy!


This evening includes a chance to shout-out about your latest work, and to chat informally.!There are people in the room who you can talk to about Finding Your Voice in Music and Song Writing, Photography, Radio, Public Speaking, Print, Pop-ups, Community projects and Social Enterprise, Illustration, Design and Art plus many more !

http://instagram.com/creativebeds/!

#creativebeds #bedfordshire #centralbeds !

http://facebook.com/groups/creativebedfordshire/!


https://twitter.com/creativebeds/!

We encourage you to connect with the people you meet tonight on LinkedIn.!Create a profile, connect and create a network of creative professionals. !

http://linkedin.com/company/creative-bedfordshire!

LinkedIn is the hub from which we share event presentations via SlideShare.!

http://slideshare.net/CreativeBedfordshire!


Lee Nelson!Representing spoken word: Lee!

@Twitter Handle!Zoe-Lee Skelton!Representing blogging: Zoe-Lee. !

[email protected]! http://www.secretdiaryofascavenger.com/!


@princestrust!@BedPopScience!@ace_SouthEast!

Lee Nelson!.!


Lee is well known in Bedfordshire for the spoken word events Utter Lutonia and Wordfest. His email is [email protected] He’s not to be confused with that other Lee Nelson.!

Lee Nelson!


Involved in the organisation and delivery of the Luton Fun Place 2014.!.!

Lee Nelson – Poet and Poetry Promoter!

I perform at various events in London and Beyond!

I do Edinburgh most years, have previously done Glastonbury!

I organise, compere and co-ordinate UTTER Lutonia !

LUTONIA Festival in Luton – New developments . . .!


Who am I and why am I here?!

Where it all began . . .!

Where it began again . . .!

What you decide to do differently . . .!

Making connections and maintaining them . . .!

Pursuing ambitions . . .!

Setting the tone . . . !


What have I done and what do I do?!

The main thing to decide is WHY you are doing something.!

What’s the motivation? !

Your reason for doing your thing will colour the what, where, when and how…!

and the who and how you reach them . . .!


Finding a voice and spreading the word!

Be sure of your EMPHASIS – this is what makes your thing the thing your people want.!

Have a clear policy/approach to booking acts (and pay them if you at all can).!

Have an attitude and style that is consistent and is drawn from you and your audience.!

Go to all the other gigs and steal the best bits . . . !!

Don’t do too much of your own stuff . . . !!

Be sure of WHY you are doing it.!

How to get it right for you and your audience!


http://www.lutonculture.com/whats-on/whats-on/2016/03/10/the-utter-lutonia-fringe/1799!

Luton Festival 5th March to 2nd April 2016 Over four weeks, 30 events embracing different art forms including poetry, art, film, theatre, dance and music along with circus acts, author workshops and debate, will take place across the town. !

http://blog.lovereading.co.uk/literary-festival-news/02/brand-new-lutonia-festival-set-to-put-luton-on-the-literary-map/!

Word and more in Luton in March 2016!


Zoe-Lee Skelton!Zoe-Lee is a blogger based in Central Bedfordshire. Her blog is called Secret Diary of a Scavenger!


@Twitter Handle!@ZoeLeeSkelton!

Zoe-Lee Skelton!


Starting out!

“My blog began as a way for me to document my scavenged and found object artwork – hence the name. But over the years it has grown to encompass my many other interests like photography, craft, fashion and writing.”!

http:/www.secretdiaryofascavenger.com/!



@Twitter Handle!@ZoeLeeSkelton!Finding my voice!







Handmade Accessories by RagnBow https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/RagnBow!





Finding your voice - tips!


A break. If you’d like an introduction please ask me. !

Sue Hughes !Sue Hughes from Arts Council England, will talk about the Grants for the Arts programme of funding, including how to apply and tips for successful funding applications. !

Key sources of information http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/grants-arts/!Initial questions to Enquiries team on 0845 300 6200 or 0161 934 4317!

@Ace_National!


Bedpop Science Lab!@Twitter Handle!


@Twitter Handle!https://www.facebook.com/BedPopScienceLab!

@Twitter Handle!

@BedPopScience!

Bedford Central Library & the Higgins will transform into the BedPop Science Lab on 12 March 2016 during British Science Week.!

https://www.britishscienceweek.org/event/bedpop-science-lab-higgins-bedford/!

https://www.britishscienceweek.org/event/bedpop-science-lab-bedford-central-library/!

The Prince’s Trust Explore Enterprise !Details of the Bedford Course in 2016.!Venue: The Place, Bradgate Road, Bedford, MK40 3DE !Information Sessions 9th or 24th March at 12.00pm!30th Aug or 5th September @ 12.00pm!Course Dates 29th March – 1st April 12th – 15th Sept!

Key sources of information https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/support-starting-business!

Pick up a leaflet here tonight. !

Register an interest by calling 01438 730520 !between 9.00am and 5.00pm!You must register in advance.!

Prince’s Trust Explore Enterprise – For people Aged 18-30, living in !England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, who are unemployed !or working fewer than 16 hours per week, with a business idea!to explore!!

@PrincesTrust!


News from Bedford Creative Arts !@weareBCA!


Selfie Slot Car Championship Workshops – Dunstable, !15th - 20th Feb!

Selfie Slot Car Championship - Race Day – Dunstable, !5th March!

Handbag by Geraldine Pilgrim!Leighton Buzzard, 15th April 2016 !

Follow BCA on Facebook !https://www.facebook.com/Bedford.Creative.Arts!

News from Bedford Creative Arts !@weareBCA!


Open Forum 2016 is a series of FREE events for practicing visual artists offering advice and support. !

Saturday 19 March 2016 artists one to one’s. Full details http://www.bedfordcreativearts.org.uk/index.php/events/open-forum-1-1-day/!

How do artists establish themselves? Panel Discussion: Sunday 20 March 2016!Panelists: Emma Hill (Eagle gallery) Catherine Hemelryk (NN Contemporary Art) Alex Michon (Transition gallery) Chaired by Matt Roberts. Full details !http://www.bedfordcreativearts.org.uk/index.php/events/open-forum-panel-how-do-artists-establish-themselves/!

The aim of Open Forum is to provide advice to artists in regions where the commercial sector is less visible.!


Over to the room. Who wants to say something about their creative business or creative need?!

Shout outs!Circus of Illustration!Love Conquers All Exhibition and Drink and Draw at Pavilion at the Park!http://www.circusofillustration.com/!http://pavilion.attheparkbedford.co.uk/!


Addison Accounts - Accounts Workshops !http://addisonaccounts.co.uk/!

Also Harpur Trust 450 Years grants!http://www.harpurtrust.org.uk/450th/450th-grants-programme/!

Peter McDonald-Ryder from the Media at Bedford College. The media students are looking for a female actor 20-25yrs to play major role in locally produced short film. Also highlighting the media students' ability to produce showreel content for local individuals and businesses. Contact Media at Bedford College via http://www.bedford.ac.uk/our-courses/subjects/media!

Shout outs!Martin Steers!Home Counties Community Media!http://www.hccm.org.uk!A new social enterprise supporting groups and organisations with media, marketing and communications !


Darren Rose !WinterRose Photos!https://www.facebook.com/WinterRosePhotos/!Looking for collaborations and gallery exhibition venues. !

Richard Slade !http://www.neotists.co.uk/!A collective for creative professionals in St Neots!Run PechaKucha St Neots, St Neots Film Club and more…!

Shout outs!Zoe-Lee Skelton!RagnBow https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/RagnBow!Handmade Accessories !


Hazera Forth!ForFest from Friends of Refugees Bedford!https://twitter.com/foRfestBedford!https://www.facebook.com/FOR.Bedfordshire!Looking for creative collaborations and festival event ideas. !

Kris Hughes in collaboration with John Garden!My Girl The River – Single out 16th March. Album Launch June. !America, Alt. Country, Folk Singer Songwriter !https://www.facebook.com/mygirltheriver/!https://twitter.com/mygirltheriver!https://www.johngarden.net!Asking for help to build profile via word of mouth and social media!Also promoting https://www.facebook.com/bighouseconcert/ !

Shout outs!Michelle Deardon of Musical Mud maker and performer of ceramic instruments -didjeridus and ocarinas promoted !ICE JAM at Gallones Bedford!https://twitter.com/Gallonesbedford!A relaxed child friendly music making social. Next happening 4th March!


Laura Pottinger !The Place Theatre Bedford !http://www.theplacebedford.org.uk!Folk from Megson re-schedueld for 24th March. !

Rosillio de Blas!http://www.rosilliodeblas.com!Art investigating issues of power relationships and inequality. Next art project in development and requires a means of melting large quantities of stainless steel knives to liquid!

Next up: Rural Business !

@CardCrush!@Semlep!

3rfMarch 2016!Jordans Mill, Langford Road, !Broom, Bedfordshire, SG18 9JY!7 – 9 pm!


Our focus for March creative networking is rural business. What are the needs of rural creative business? How is rural funding accessed? How can rural businesses and creatives collaborate? The evening will be an open discussion of these questions and more!

Steve Mackie, Business Development Manager, Jordans Mill will speak about how rural funding restored the property and redefined the business, and about collaborating with local creative business!

Paul Bylass, founder, The Design Orchard, a product design consultancy based in Clophill, will talk about how a Rural Development Programme transformed an agricultural building into a creative studio!

Jane Roemer, business advisor, SEMLEP will be available to answer rural funding questions!

Bridget Lewis, founder, Card Crush Greetings, based in Stotfold and Network Leader at WIRE BEDS will join the conversation on behalf of her business and Women In Rural Enterprise Bedfordshire network. !

@DesignOrchard!@JordansMill!

Grow your Creative Business!


Creative Bedfordshire annual conference Friday 4th March 2016, from 9:30am – 3:00 pm at Gateway, University of Bedford. !Booking essential. Tickets £20!

For full event details and tickets:!www.cbconf2016.eventbrite.co.uk !

Conference highlights!


The focus this year is Growth. The day kicks off at 9.30am with a series of talks covering key business topics across Pricing, Finance, Intellectual Property, Briefing Social Media, Pitching a Business Collaboration from well known local guest speakers!

Addison Accounts, Stanmore IP!Bedford Creative Arts!Keeping It Social!Pavilion at the Park!

A social lunch will be followed by a panel discussion. The panel members include the founders of two thriving creative businesses in Bedfordshire and a regional business support advisor: !

Arabel Lebrusan, Bespoke and Limited Edition JewelsNila Holden Artisan Cakes and CookiesAruna Bhagwan, Velocity Business Adviser North Bedfordshire. !www.cbconf2016.eventbrite.co.uk !

Thank You!

Creative Bedfordshire is a network of creative people and businesses in Bedfordshire and offers regular networking events

and professional development opportunities. Sole traders, freelancers and creative businesses of all kinds are welcome to

attend. It is funded by the economic development teams at Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council and is run by

Bedford Creative Arts. For more information email [email protected]!

Follow us on Twitter @creativebeds or join our mailing list by emailing [email protected] with ‘Creative

Bedfordshire’ in the title.!

CreativeBedfordshire