CCS Connect April 2021

Hi All,

Welcome to the April edition of the CCS Connect e-news. Hope you and your families had a lovely weekend and made the most of the beautiful weather.

Thanks to those of you who shared opportunities and information for inclusion.

If you are receiving this e-news but your not signed up as a member of CCS, please go here to download a membership form. join CCS

I know lots of you are planning outdoor events, workshops and performances for the summer, which is very exciting. If you would like some support in making sure these events are COVID safe, there are a number of sessions coming up in the next few weeks. The next one is Wednesday 5 May, being hosted by West Midlands Culture Response Unit.

Please continue to send us your digital and online opportunities and we will share them in this e-news and via social media. See below for details of how to do this.

If you want to see previous editions of the CCS Connect e-news, they are available on the CCS website - https://www.cultureconsortiumshropshire.com/ccs-connect--news.html

Take Care

CCS Management Group

If you would like CCS to share the online and digital opportunities you have available for children and young people and their families, please contact Alexa Pugh, email, alexa.pugh@shropshire.gov.uk

We’re looking for local workshops, performances, film, animation, virtual tours, exhibitions, talks, mentoring, articles, CPD and resources etc. Content needs to be accessible and age appropriate for children and young people and their families.

The deadline for inclusion of information in the next e-news is Wednesday 25 May.

Please follow the government guidelines on COVID-19 when delivering activity. For updates, take a look at the NHS and Gov.UK webpages.

Please tag us in events on Facebook and we will share them - https://www.facebook.com/cultureconsortiumshrops/

Twitter – Culture Consortium Shropshire @CultureShrop #spotlightshropscyp

Website – https://www.cultureconsortiumshropshire.com/

The West Midlands Centre for Advanced Training (CAT), offers professional prevocational dance training to young people age 11-18years who want to fulfil their potential, learn new skills and be part of a dance community. We work with industry professionals in industry standard studios on Level 5 of the Birmingham Hippodrome campus, to help support young people to achieve their full creative potential. It is a programme designed to work around their academic studies. If you are interested, please can you get back to me with your preferred delivery option and dates so we can allocate a practitioner to your school. These must be delivered by no later than 16 July 2021. We would also be available to have a phone call/zoom call/email about further details to ensure we can tailor this opportunity to your needs.  To book your opportunity or find out more, please contact Alexandra.Henwood@dx.dance

Join us for Ludlow Fringe 2021 - register your interest now! 

It’s happening and it’s decided... this coming year's dates are from Saturday 19th June to Sunday 18th July! 

We know it's been a rough year, and then some! So, we want to do our utmost to support and promote all our artists and performers as best we can, and our fully hybrid programme will accommodate Live, Live-streamed, Pre-recorded and Visual Arts events. 

Use this link to 'Register Your Interest'

This will take you to EVENTOTRON, a fast growing, all-in-one arts management system that Ludlow Fringe now use to bring together artists, live performance events, venues and festivals all around the world. Sign-up and add your proposed event to the site and you will not just be connected to Ludlow Fringe, but to any participating festival or event that you would like to apply to in the future. How cool is that? 

Here's a really handy How To set up your profile on Eventotron.

If you have any further questions regarding your application to Ludlow Fringe, please email nicola@ludlowfringe.co.uk and we'll be happy to help. 

Call to Artists for the Ludlow Fringe Art Trail

19^th June – 18^th July 2021 

We are looking for up to 60 artists, painters, sculptors, makers, photographers, etc, to create or contribute uplifting, inspiring, artworks to be exhibited in and around the beautiful medieval town of Ludlow, and within the magical and inspiring grounds of Stokesay Court, in rural South Shropshire.

For a full copy of the Artist’s Brief please contact  anitabigsby@ludlowfringe.co.uk.

Are you an aspiring children’s or young adult book writer from an underrepresented background? The brand-new All Stories mentorship programme could be for you! This is a unique and free opportunity to be mentored by an expert editor, with 14 mentorships on offer to underrepresented writers unable to pay for support. Applications are open until 31st May, with the mentorships running from September 2021 to February 2022. Find out more and apply at www.allstories.org.uk @AllStoriesWrite #AllStoriesMentorship #representationmatters

Working with schools: Support for the arts, culture and heritage sector  As we slowly emerge from lockdown we find ourselves in yet another period of transition as the arts, cultural and heritage sector can start to work with schools again. Some schools are welcoming artists back in, some are more cautious – and for the sector too there are varying degrees of confidence and availability. This session is to give you an opportunity to ask some questions of educationalists, and to share your thoughts, questions and concerns with peers. Our panel consists of: Deborah Steen, Headteacher at Salisbury Primary School Michael Riley, Senior Vice Principal at Ormiston Shelfield Community Academy Ciaran O’Donnell, Head of Music Service in Wolverhampton A teacher from a SEND school - TBC Pepita Hanna, Associate Director at Arts Connect When: Thursday 6th May 2021 Time: 9.30 - 12.00 Fully Funded - however places are limited Book via Eventbrite here: https://bit.ly/3sCz77w If you would like to find out more please contact Helen Frost, Senior Programme Manager helen.frost@wlv.ac.uk

South Shropshire Youth Network is a peer network for organisations & individuals working with young people (8-25 years). Marinke Fontein, the Infrastructure Support Officer for the network, is based at SSYF (South Shropshire Youth Forum). So far, 22 organisations have signed up to the network exchanging good practice, supporting each other and working together. Currently, SSYN is working on setting up a youth consultation that will culminate in a conference to amplify the voice of young people in the area. It will be an online conference with multiple events during the period of 28 June – 10 July, put it in your diary!

The anti-racism toolkit  Unlock gives arts organisations practical steps to take anti-racist action. Unlock has in it over 100 actions that will help creative work places become more inclusive. The process is entirely confidential: at the heart of the Unlock toolkit is a commitment to give everyone equal treatment through trust, confidence, dignity and respect.   Thank you for working with us to make diverse and inclusive change. This is a vital part in your creative practice. Inc Arts Unlock is for: Dance companies, Independent Producers, Museums, Regional theatres, Collections and archives, Visual Arts spaces, Receiving Houses, Festivals and Outdoor arts, Crafts organisations - and more... Home | incartsunlock

Bridging the Access Gap in Shropshire A NEW initiative to encourage more members of the public to take up sign language as an extra language and skill, is now available to residents of Shropshire. The Signs4Life scheme is to help people to communicate and engage with children and adults who may be hard of hearing. Tabassum, Signs4Life partnerships officer, explains “There are more than nine million hard of hearing people registered in the UK. We have already worked with social workers, housing staff, teachers, the local NHS, and Royal Mail. We wanted to open our programs to the general public, who might also have an interest in learning sign language, especially now that many people have been stuck at home during a third lockdown. We are offering a free 6-week BSL program, which you can enjoy and access from the comfort of your homes, delivered through Zoom”. Signs4Life is leading efforts towards a society in which people with disabilities have full access and are working to raise the public and political awareness of disability provision. For more details on the free community program for Shropshire, starting in June, please book via our website for the “Morning Glory” group, starting on Thursday 10th June 2021 https://signs4life.org/in-the-community/ places are limited.

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JOB DESCRIPTION: 

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER 

The Hive is looking to engage an excellent freelance marketing individual to work 2 days a week for this busy and thriving centre.  

We are looking for someone with the ability to harness the power of  digital marketing, and develop and deliver our marketing strategy. We are looking to recruit an experienced freelancer who can take on the key role of marketing our work through all social media platforms and through other media. The successful candidate will work directly with our inhouse designer on any materials needed to market the events and activities at The Hive and its outreach partner venues but will have specific responsibilities.

Please email Interim CEO Cerin Mills at cerin@hiveonline.co.uk 

If you require further details please call on 07753659981. 

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 4th May at 12pm 

Interviews, via zoom on: The afternoon of Thursday 6th May 

hiveonline.org.uk @hiveshrewsbury

The Hive, Shrewsbury has an open call for art submissions on the theme of Reborn. We invite submissions from local artists, and are especially interested to hear from young people and underrepresented groups. All wall-based art forms welcome. The exhibition will act as the centrepiece of our town-centre venue reopening event in July and runs for three weeks. Visit:
http://www.curatorspace.com/opportunities/detail/open-call-for-artwork-submissions-on-theme-of-reborn/5434 for all the details.
**Deadline 16 May 2021

Arts Connect Marketing and Communications Assistant

Arts Connect work across the West Midlands, connecting and supporting communities and enabling children and young people (from 0-25) to enjoy a rich and meaningful arts and cultural life.

Arts Connect are looking for an individual with some marketing experience (this doesn’t have to be in paid employment) who wants to build on their current knowledge, who is genuinely excited by all things MARCOMMS and can’t wait to become a key part of a friendly team. The Communications and Marketing Assistant will need to hit the ground running, using existing skills, experience and creativity to support and excite Arts Connect and their audiences with all things COMMS…An imaginative take on social and digital media is a must.

Salary: £18,709 – £20,130 pa

Closing Date: 10/05/2021

Full details and how to apply: https://www.artsconnect.co.uk/job-arts-connect-marketing-communications-assistant/

Severn Arts Production and event management services tender

We are looking to appoint an Event Manager or Event Management Company to join us in the delivery of our upcoming summer Festival Same But Different.

For full information on services required, timeline and how to apply please follow the link to the Arches Worcester Festivals website. Production and event management services tender opportunity - The Arches Worcester Festivals

Deadline for proposals: 12 noon on Friday 7 May 2021.

Poetry participation project - The City Speaks

Anyone could be a part of this project that will bring short-form creative writing and poetry to the streets of Worcester this summer, based on three themes: hope, joy and things I’ve missed.

Find out more and submit your work on the Festivals website.

Deadline for submissions: Sunday 2 May 2021.Please circulate to your wider networks or anyone that you feel might be interested.

Severn Arts https://www.severnarts.org.uk/

The BFI Future Film Festival is the UK’s largest festival for emerging filmmakers aged 16-25. Would you like your short films to be considered for inclusion in our Festival in February 2022? We have cash prizes up for grabs to support your next film and your career.
Your short must be 10 minutes or under in length, have been produced in the last two years and be an interesting and original concept, with good production values and an entertaining subject matter. Submit films in several categories. Check our website:
http://www.filmfreeway.com/BFIFutureFilmFestivalnd to see all the details.
Deadline 6 August 2021

BBC Young Composers Competition is for people aged 12-18 of all technical ability, backgrounds and musical influences. Winners participate in a tailored development programme with a mentor composer on a project with the BBC Concert Orchestra, culminating in a performance or broadcast opportunity. No restrictions on instrumentation, which may include voices, acoustic and/or electronic instruments and computer-generated sounds. Full details are available online at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4mY3MbSJ5G2LvSbzZPbc85G/bbc-young-composer-2021
Deadline 28 June 2021

Music for Youth National Festival – REMIX 2021 is a hybrid festival for young people, offering a blend of online and live activity, reflecting the times and impact of change on young people and their music making. We want to celebrate the ways teachers, music leaders and young people have adapted, innovated, reimagined, and rearranged how they make music together. Submit video or audio recordings of up to 10 minutes long, presented in any form. More details coming soon! Check our website: www.http://birthday.mfy.org.uk/national-festival-2021 for updates.
Deadline 24 May 2021

Arts Council England publishes first phase of Let’s Create Delivery Plan Despite there no longer being a specific goal, outcome or investment principle linked to children, the Delivery Plan is explicit in its support for cultural learning and ensuring that there is a focus – across themes and actions – on the creative lives of children and young people  CLA have produced a summary here Arts Council England publishes first phase of Let’s Create Delivery Plan – Cultural Learning Alliance OR read the full Delivery Plan documents.

• Summer Schools Fund Opens to Help Pupils Prepare for High School

The Department for Education (DfE) is providing the Summer Schools Fund to help support pupils making the transition from primary to secondary school. This transitional period has been identified by Ofsted research as a time where performance can take a significant dip.

The aim of the programme, drawing on the evidence of good practice, is to deliver a short summer school offering a blend of academic education and enrichment activities.

Pupils leaving primary school in 2021 may have missed a significant proportion of key stage 2 (KS2) face-to-face teaching and therefore missed valuable preparation for secondary education. They are likely to need additional support with English and maths, for example, to make it easier for them to access the secondary curriculum. A summer school gives an opportunity to offer that face-to-face support before they start a new school.

Summer school also offers an important opportunity to support pupils’ wellbeing. Schools should include enrichment activities, such as team games, music, drama or sports activities.

Schools are free to run a one- or two-week summer school and may choose to involve different pupils over that time, according to their needs. This could mean that more pupils benefit from a shorter summer school.

Funding will be made available to state-funded secondary and special schools, non-maintained special schools and pupil referral units. It will also be made available to alternative provision for any pupils whose education was funded by the local authority outside of state place funded schools, including independent schools, non-maintained special schools, and other providers.

Funding is calculated on the basis of a school’s existing year 7 cohort. Schools with a very small number of year 7 pupils will receive no less than £1000 should they choose to participate.

Each school’s own allocation will be published after the Easter holiday.

Applicants must complete the online opt in form before the end of April.

• Triangle Trust 1949 Fund Launches New Grants Programme

The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund has launched a new grants strategy for 2021. The Trust’s primary focus for 2021 is to help support the needs of young carers (round 1) and young people caught up in the criminal justice system (round 2). This marks a shift from previous years when the Trust focused its funding on unpaid adult carers and adult offenders.

In recognition of the huge impact the pandemic has had on children and young people across the UK, especially that those with caring responsibilities are disproportionately affected, the Trust has focused its funding on providing support to young carers and young adult carers to address learning gaps linked to the pandemic.

Registered charities, not-for-profit social enterprises and community interest companies that are working within the UK and have a UK office can apply for grants of between £10,000 and £60,000 for a duration of six months to two years. (A maximum of £30,000 per year can be requested.)

The funding is not for standalone new projects, rather it’s to support work that ‘amplifies the impact’ of existing work with young carers (up to the age of 25) and develops existing support around learning and access to education and training.

Projects should start after 1 November 2021 for the following types of work:

• Providing support to young carers and young adult carers who have fallen behind with their learning due to their responsibilities and the impact of Covid-19.
• In/with local primary and secondary schools to identify, support and raise awareness of young carers. Projects may provide support directly to young carers as well as helping schools to develop whole-school approaches to raising awareness of caring and supporting children and young people who have caring responsibilities.
• Providing support to young adult carers to continue in higher and further education and training.

The deadline for applications is 11 May 2021 (12noon).

Localgiving - Magic Little Grants 2021 helps charitable organisations with projects that:
• improve mental wellbeing
• enable community participation
in the arts
• reduce the impact of poverty
• improve biodiversity and
green spaces
• promote sustainability
Grants of £500 will be awarded to successful organisations. See more information online at:
localgiving.org/magic-little-grants/
Deadline 31 October 2021

Please forward this e-newsletter to interested parties. Apologies for any cross posting. If you have been sent this e-news by a colleague and would like to sign up to become a member of CCS and receive the e-news direct please email alexa.pugh@shropshire.gov.uk

Please note: this information has been forwarded to you because we think it may be of interest. We make every effort to ensure that any information that is forwarded is appropriate, however CCS (Culture Consortium Shropshire) can accept no liability for any inaccuracies or omissions contained in this e-news. Forwarding the creative sector opportunities does not represent any endorsement of projects or initiatives by CCS and readers should take their own steps where necessary to check the reliability of any organisations or projects featured.

If you are interested in any of the opportunities or events we ask that you get in touch with the relevant named persons, using the contact details within the text.

Get in touch

To find out more information about CCS, please contact:
Alexa Pugh, member of CCS and Arts Development Officer, Shropshire Council. email: alexa.pugh@shropshire.gov.uk

Funded by

Free Branding and social e-commerce webinars

The importance of branding, social e-commerce and making the most from your website will be the focus of a new series of webinars to help businesses in Shropshire.

Firms are being urged to sign up to a new programme of four webinars from Buy-From Creative Agency which will help you make positive changes and adapt to an ever-changing world.

The classes, which are free thanks to the Marches Growth Hub Shropshire, will run every Tuesday from 2 March to 23 March 2021, and small and medium sized businesses are being urged to register as soon as possible.

On Tuesday 2 March at 9.30am the class will focus on Branding Your Business and will include the importance of a clear brand, how and what your branding communicates to your customers and why branding is much more than a logo.

Maximising the use of Instagram will be the focus on Tuesday 9 March at 9.30am, looking at a guide to all new features on the social media platform and that all-important insight into how to make hashtags work for you. The use of influencers will also be explored.

On Tuesday 16 March at 9.30am the class will look at social e-commerce – the newest trend. It will cover Instagram shops, optimising your business profile and building an audience.

Finally, on Tuesday 23 March at 9.30am the subject will focus on why having a website is more important than ever, covering online shopping trends and predictions, what websites work best for which business and choosing the right platform for you.

The series is free and places can be booked by clicking here.

Magic Little Grants 2021 Open on 1 March

Six funding trusts from the People’s Postcode Lottery and Localgiving will be working together to award more than £1 million in small grants to some 2,000 charitable organisations in England, Scotland and Wales over the next six months.

Unlike previous years when projects had to deliver sports or physical activities, this year (2021) the funding aims to support organisations carrying out projects that address the following themes:

• Improving mental wellbeing
• Enabling community participation in the arts
• Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty
• Supporting marginalised groups and promoting equality
• Improving biodiversity and green spaces
• Enabling participation in physical activity
• Responding to the climate emergency and promoting sustainability
• Increasing community access to outdoor space.

Organisations that receive a grant will also be awarded a year of free membership (funded by the player’s of the People’s Postcode Lottery). This means that the grant recipient will not have to pay the £80 + VAT membership fee, although they will still be required to set up a direct debit upon registration.

Also new for 2021, charitable organisations that are schools or connected to schools may apply. This is in addition to registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs, SCIOs) social enterprises, and other not-for-profit community organisations.

Applications will be accepted from 1 March 2021 to 31 October 2021.