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March 21, 2006
Change of Address
The Arts Development Team leave Gateshead Visitor Centre this week to join the rest of Cultural Services at their new home.
The new address is:
Arts Development Team
Gateshead Old Town Hall
West Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HE
Our new telephone numbers will be announced shortly.
Our fax number will remain the same and should be live again from Wednesday 29th March: 0191 490 1394.
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March 20, 2006
Publication of the Rose Report in full
The publication of the Rose Report ends two generations of 'look and say' and hybrid approaches to teaching English. Jim Rose has recommended that Synthetic Phonics becomes the primary teaching technique within the National Curriculum.
The report can be viewed or downloaded from the site below:
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/rosereview
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March 16, 2006
Saltwell Park Show
Saltwell Park Show
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th April 2006
10.00am - 4.00pm
Explore Britain's Best Park ... and enjoy local crafts, horticultural societies, walks, music, storytelling and more!
Free admission and free park and ride every 15 mins from Gateshead Civic Centre
For further information telephone Cultural Services, Events Unit, 0191 433 6900
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March 14, 2006
The Preschool shop is open this Saturday
Margaret Hanson of the Preschool Learning Alliance sends this message to Early Years staff:
SATURDAY OPENING
For all you busy people out there,
The Pre-school Learning Alliance Shop is open this coming Saturday 18th March
10.30am – 12.30pm
Come along and take advantage of our competitive prices
Everyone welcome!
The Pre-school shop is situated in John Haswell House,
8-9 Gladstone Terrace, Gateshead (opposite the Swallow Hotel car park).
For further information telephone 0191 477 1254.
Don’t forget our weekday opening hours:
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Thursdays
11 – 2pm
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March 9, 2006
Calling all Early Years practitioners and musicians
Music Leader North East
Early Years Network Day
Saturday 1st April, The Sage Gateshead
10am – 4.30pm
Fee: £10
Join Music Leader for a day of:
· Networking
· Skills sharing
· Trouble shooting
· Music workshops from ‘Music and the Deaf’
· Plus great food and great company!
Read on for more details and the booking form:
Download file
Download file
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Science Exhibition at DLI Museum
An interactive, hands-on exploration of optics and senses.
Saturday 11th March to Sunday 23rd April
The DLI Museum & Art Gallery
Aykley Heads
Durham
DH1 5TU
T: 0191 384 2214
F: 0191 386 1770
W: www.durham.gov.uk/dli
Open every day from 10.00am - 4.00pm (until March 31st)
and from 10.00am - 5pm (from April 1st)
Adult £3
Adult concessions £2
Child £1.25
Family ticket £7
Shop, cafe, free parking.
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Creativity on the National Curriculum in Action website
The whole site is worth bookmarking. There is a creativity page on the left-hand menu, too.
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New Writing North
Our Cultural Partner, New Writing North, send regular news bulletins.
The latest is attached below.
NEWS FOR WRITERS FROM NEW WRITING NORTH
1 March 2006
New Writing North's Holly Hooper writes:
So much for getting this newsletter out on time! Apologies to anyone who was waiting with baited breath, frantically pressing the ‘send/receive’ button on their email in the hope that the New Writing North newsletter would appear… The truth is that I have had a fortnight with a veritable A-Z of illnesses (please, no sympathy!), and consequently I’ve been a bit behind with everything.
But the wait is over. Here is what we’ve got in store for you this issue:
PEOPLE’S PLAY WINNER ANNOUNCED
GREATER NORTH INTERNATIONAL PROJECT 2006
NORTHUMBERLAND WRITER LANDS BOOK DEAL
BRIDPORT PRIZE 2006
SEAN O’BRIEN THEATRE PRODUCTION
HEXHAM BOOK FESTIVAL
POETRY COMP FOR THE OVER 50S
CHARITY ANTHOLOGY SEEKS SUBMISSIONS
VACANCY AT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH THEATRES
YOUNG EUROPEAN PLAYWRIGHTS FORUM
COMMISSIONS ON OFFER FROM HOTBED FESTIVAL
WARP X FILMS SEEKS TALENT
TRAINING FOR ARTISTS FROM HELIX ARTS
VACANCIES AT THE SAGE GATESHEAD
WORLD BOOK DAY EVENT WITH CLEWLOW & BRENCHLEY
POETRY READING AT BRIDGE HOTEL
GRANTS FOR THE ARTS INFO
COMMON PURPOSE JOB OPPORTUNITY
GENERAL EVENTS INFO
PEOPLE’S PLAY WINNER ANNOUNCED
New Writing North is delighted to announce the winner of the 2006 People’s Play competition, run by NWN in conjunction with The People’s Theatre. Newcastle-based Alison Carr is this year’s winner for, My Mam Was An Ice-Cream Blonde, the story of a young girl with OCD, who is searching for her real mother. Alison works in journalism, and has had several plays produced by amateur companies – this, however, will be her first proper stage production. My Mam Was An Ice-Cream Blonde will be performed at the theatre between 16 and 20 May 2006, and she will be presented with her winner’s cheque on the opening night. We’ll bring you more information nearer the time, but if you want to get your tickets early, contact the theatre on 0191 265 5020 or go online at www.peoplestheatre.co.uk
GREATER NORTH INTERNATIONAL PROJECT 2006
THE FESTIVAL OF THE EUROPEAN SHORT STORY (CROATIA 7-13 MAY 2006)
CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS OF INTEREST - deadline 13th March 2006
New Writing North, in partnership with Arts Council England, is seeking interested writers, promoters, publishers and other literature professionals working in the north of England to take part in a group visit to FESS. The project is a continuation of the Arts Council's commitment to professional and artistic development across the literature sector and will build upon a successful visit to the Calabash Literature Festival in Jamaica, last May.
Now in its fifth year and taking place in the Croatian cities of Zagreb and Rijeka, the festival will showcase the best short story writing from across Europe. This project offers a unique opportunity to experience an innovative literature festival and the potential for developing exciting pan-European partnerships.
The visit will involve attending festival events and offer the opportunity to meet with festival organisers, publishers, writers and other partnership organisations. All participants will be fully subsidised to attend. To be considered for involvement in this project, please supply a short written proposal indicating the benefits it will bring to you, your work and the wider literature community. Please email to sandra@newwritingnorth.com by 13th March 2006. Arts Council representatives from the North East, North West and Yorkshire regions will select participants by 20th March 2006.
Anyone who is chosen to join the visit will have to be able to attend pre and post visit meetings on 28 April (Yorkshire) and 2 June (Manchester). Do not apply if you are unavailable for these dates.
This activity is subject to funding by Arts Council England.
MAJOR BOOK DEAL FOR NORTHUMBERLAND WRITER
Congratulations to Paul Torday, whose debut novel, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, has been picked up by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. The book tells the story of Dr Alfred Jones, a scientist working for the National Centre for Fisheries Excellence who is charged with the task of introducing Salmon to the Middle East. Paul’s novel will be published in February 2007 – we’ll no doubt bring you more information nearer the time!
LAUNCH OF THE 2006 BRIDPORT PRIZE
The Bridport Prize is once again seeking entries for their prestigious literary award, which is open to writers of poetry and prose. It is one of the biggest prizes of its kind, with First Prize winners scooping £5,000. The Bridport is also a useful stepping stone, as individuals who make the shortlist have their work either read by a literary agency or submitted for other awards (including the National Short Story Prize, worth £15,000, and the Forward Prize for poetry.) Previous recipients include Kate Atkinson, Tobias Hill, Helen Dunmore and Carol Ann Duffy. Each entry costs £6, and the deadline for submissions is 30 June 2006. Entries can be sent by post or submitted online – see the website for complete details of how to apply: www.bridportprize.org.uk
SEAN O’BRIEN RESURRECTS THE BIRDS
No, it’s nothing to do with the Hitchcock film or the Daphne Du Maurier story that inspired it, but read on…Hexham-based theatre company, threeovereden, has joined forces with poet Sean O’Brien to take a fresh look at Aristophane’s classical comic tale, The Birds. O’Brien’s interpretation, written originally for the National Theatre, tells the story of two young men who go in search of the perfect utopia, having become disillusioned with the modern world. The Birds is on tour throughout March and April, taking in Hexham, Hartlepool, Northallerton, Dipton, Middlesbrough and Newcastle. For more information about where and when, see the company’s website – www.threeovereden.com
THE HEXHAM BOOK FESTIVAL
The Hexham Book Festival is taking place on 31 March and 1 April at the Queen’s Hall in Hexham, so here are some advance details of the line-up:
Poety Café event (poets TBC!) and reading group forum with Lesley Glaister, who will be discussing her new book, As Far as We Can Go (Fri 31, 8pm)
TV’s The Hairy Bikers promote their new cook book (Sat 1, 11.45am)
David Almond event (Sat 1, 1.30pm)
Chris Bostock event (Sat 1, from 12.30pm)
William Leith and Candida Crewe in discussion about their latest books, The Hungry Years and Eating Myself (Sat 1, 2.30pm)
Crime writing event with Val McDermid and Natasha Cooper (Sat 1, 4.30pm)
Football-themed event, with Harry Pearson reading from his hit book, The Far Corner, and Ian Horn getting poetic about the beautiful game (Sat 1, 6.30pm)
An evening of women’s fiction, hosted by New Writing North’s very own Claire Malcolm! Carol Clewlow and Helen Cross will read from and discuss their books, Not Married, Not Bothered and The Secrets She Keeps (Sat 1, 6.30pm)
All events are £3 (excluding the Lesley Glaister event, which is donations only and the Poetry Café, which is free) and festival passes are also available, at £10. For more information, see the festival website – www.hexhambookfestival.co.uk
POETRY COMPETITION FOR OVER 50S
Why should the kids have all the fun? Tyneside-based Blinking Eye Publishing is calling for entries for their poetry competition, which is exclusively for the over 50s. Entries to the competition can be on any subject and in any style, and the winner will have a collection of their work published by Blinking Eye (including 100 copies to give to friends, family and admirers.) Blinking Eye will also be publishing a collection of commended submissions. The closing date for entries is 7 August, and the competition will be judged by prize-winning poet Jo Shapcott, who is also president of the Poetry Society. To get your entry form, send an SAE to Jeanne Macdonald, Blinking Eye Publishing, PO Box 549, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE30 2WT. Alternatively, you can save the stamp and download the form from www.blinking-eye.co.uk
CHARITY ANTHOLOGY NEEDS YOU!
North East writer Mark Robberts is editing an anthology of short stories and poetry, which will raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance when it goes on sale for Christmas 2006. Mark is keen to hear from any artists, writers or people with publishing/PR experience who can give a few hours to help with this project. For details of how to submit your work, or to volunteer your skills, email markrobberts@msn.com
VACANCY AT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH THEATRES
NAYT (National Association of Youth Theatres) is seeking to employ a Projects Producer, who will be responsible for coordinating the National Development Programme and coordinating/producing events. The salary on offer is £23, 650 and the deadline for applications is midday on 6 March. For an application pack email nayt@btconnect.com or write to NAYT, Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 7AX with your name, address and telephone number. The pack is also available online, at www.nayt.org.uk/projectsproducer.
YOUNG EUROPEAN PLAYWRIGHTS FORUM
As part of the New Plays from Europe 2006 festival in Germany, the Young European Playwrights Forum offers 20 young writers from all over Europe to take part in workshops and discussions, attend productions and exchange ideas. The results of the workshops will be presented to a public audience. The Forum takes place in the second half of June, and participating writers should be aged 35 or under, and must have already written at least one play (which has either been staged or performed as a reading.) To apply, send your play, a short CV and contact details to biennale@staatstheater-wiesbaden.de or to Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, New Plays from Europe, Christian-Zais-Strasse 3, D – 65189 Wiesbaden, Deutschland. The deadline for entries is 15 March, and entries in English are perfectly acceptable!
HOTBED THEATRE COMMISSIONS ON OFFER
Hotbed, the Cambridge New Writing Theatre Festival, is seeking to commission theatre writers to produce new short dramatic pieces. The festival is running from 6 to 16 July and the loose theme for 2006 is ‘confessions’. There are two categories of commission, for 20 minute main stage productions and 5 minute monologues, paying £400 and £200 respectively. Each successful commission will be given at least 3 performances, and the best work will also have one night at the Oval House Theatre in London. Only new plays will be considered, i.e. never previously performed/read in public. For more information, email the Artistic Director, Paul Bourne at paul@menagerie.uk.com or write to him at Hotbed 2006, The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. The deadline for initial entries and ideas is 31 March.
WARP X FILMS SEEKS NEW WORK (SOON)
Warp X Films has recently secured funding from the UK Film Council and FilmFour to produce low-budget UK films, and will soon be searching for talented new writers, directors and producers. They’re still in a fledgling state at the moment, but more information is available at www.warpfilms.com
HELIX ARTS TRAINING FOR ARTISTS
The Arts Council England is supporting a scheme to train arts practitioners in their work with the youth justice sector. The training will enable participants to deliver the PLUS Enrichment Programme, which seeks to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of young people up to the age of 18, who have offended or are at risk of doing so. The course is free and will take place on 4 and 5 April at a venue in the North East, TBC. For more information and to apply, contact Rowena at Helix Arts on 0191 241 4931 or at Rowena.on@helixarts.com Alternatively, you can download a form at www.helixarts.com/pages/news.html The closing date is 5pm on 3 March – so get cracking!
VACANCIES AT THE SAGE GATESHEAD
There are currently a handful of job vacancies at the Sage Gateshead. MusicLeader North East (managed through the Sage), provides access to continuing professional development, networking and information, and advice and guidance to music leaders at every stage of their career. They are looking for 1 (or 2, part-time) Strand Leaders to manage the Network and IAG strands of the service.
The Sage is also seeking to employ a temporary Marketing Officer vacancy, to cover a 6-month maternity leave period. They say: “We’re looking for an efficient and creative person with an eye for detail to help to promote all aspects of our work, including events from club nights to symphony concerts; our unparalleled learning and participation programme; and the landmark building itself and its facilities�.
For application packs for these jobs, call 0191 443 4598.
WORLD BOOK DAY WITH CHAZ BRENCHLEY & CAROL CLEWLOW
A last-minute notice to remind you to catch Carol Clewlow and Chaz Brenchley in conversation about reading and writing at Newcastle Central Library tomorrow (Thursday 2 March.) It’s a celebration of World Book Day, and the event is free, with a start time of 2pm. Both authors will also be signing copies of their latest books. For more information, call the library on 0191 200 5424.
POETRY READING AT BRIDGE HOTEL
The High Level Bridge Poets are having a public poetry reading on Sunday 12 March. There will be new work from Bob Cooper, Sheree Mack, Lisa Matthews, Angela Readman and Maggie Tate. The venue is the Bridge Hotel in Newcastle, and the event starts at 7.30pm. Entry is £2 (£1 concessions.)
ARTS COUNCIL: GRANTS FOR THE ARTS
Rachael Ogden, Literature Officer at Arts Council England, North East writes:
“Grants for the arts is Arts Council England's funding programme for individuals, arts organisations and other people who use the arts in their work. In February 2006 the following grants were awarded to literature projects:
Hydrogen Jukebox in Darlington were awarded £5,410 to continue their series of monthly live spoken word events and new commissions
An individual poet was awarded £4,000 to complete a first full-length collection
For information on Grants for the arts, including eligibility and how to make an application, see the website: www.artscouncil.org.uk or contact rachael.ogden@artscouncil.org.uk�
COMMON PURPOSE JOB OPPORTUNITY
Jackie Carr from Common Purpose writes:
“We are currently recruiting for a Programme Co-ordinator who will be responsible for providing admin support for our programmes for emerging leaders (Navigator) and very young leaders ( Your Turn).
We are looking for someone who is an efficient planner, has excellent organisation and office management skills, a keen interest in IT and be able to demonstrate a proven ability to manage a demanding workload with minimal supervision.
Further details and the application process can be found via this web link http://www.commonpurpose.org.uk/home/public/about-us/work-for-us/vacancies/70.aspx�
GENERAL EVENTS INFO (28 FEB-13 MARCH) – By John at Literature North East
March sees the return of a number of regular events to the calendar, including a new season of First Thursday lunchtime readings organised by the English department at Newcastle University. First up is poet Maureen Almond, who will be reading from a selection of her work.
On that same day, just across town at the Lit & Phil, Middlesbrough's Mudfog Press celebrates the launch of Discoverers, an anthology of short stories edited by Chrissie Glazebrook. A selection of writers will read their short stories from this collection, including Tara Bergin, Pauline Plummer, Diane Cockburn, Norah Hill, Linda Innes, Michael Edwards, Patrick Belshaw, David Hetherington and Bob Beagrie.
Not to be missed this month is Krisztina Tóth, one of the most highly acclaimed young Hungarian poets and the winner of several awards, including the Graves Prize, Déry Tibor Prize and József Attila Prize. Krisztina appears alongside David Hill, a British poet who has translated many of her poems. They will read from her collections Snow-dust and Fading Rouge in two languages. Trivia fans may be interested to learn that as well as being a distinguished poet and translator, Krisztina also designs and produces stained glass windows in her native Budapest.
First Thursday: Maureen Almond Newcastle University: 13:15, Thu 2 Mar 2006
Discoverers: Mudfog short stories Lit & Phil: 19:30, Thu 2 Mar 2006
Northern Voices presents: Hungarian Poetry evening Lit & Phil: 18:00,
Mon 6 Mar 2006
For more details on these and the rest of the month's events, see
www.literaturenortheast.co.uk. If you promote literature events in the North
East and your event isn't listed, please get in touch with
john@literaturenortheast.co.uk.
*********
All information is correct at the time of going to press.
New Writing North is funded by Arts Council England and some of our project work is supported by the CSDI programme which uses funds from the European Union, ERDF and ESF programmes to support the development of work opportunities and training for writers.
New Writing North
2 School Lane
Whickham
Tyne & Wear
NE16 4SL
Tel: 0191 488 8580
Fax: 0191 488 8576
www.newwritingnorth.com
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March 8, 2006
Junk Music at the Newcastle Science Festival
As part of the Newcastle Science Festival our Cultural Partner Michael Freeman is leading free workshops...
Junk Music and Eco Magic
Saturday 11th March
Time:10:30 am
Entry: FREE
Venue: The Discovery Museum
Please note booking is required for this event.
Musician Martin Freeman and magician Martin Duffy will be using junk and recyclable materials to create music and magic. Audience members will be able to join in and create music and tricks themselves.
For further details please call 0191 277 2174 or e-mail discovery@twmuseums.org.uk
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Seminar on Poorly Performing Schools
The Centre for Public Policy Seminars is holding a Seminar on Effectively Improving Poorly Performing Schools at The Royal Commonwealth Society in London on Thursday 11th May 2006.
Limited number of places still available.
Despite major investment in education and emphasis on improved standards, the NAO has found that 1,500 schools are performing poorly. Their report looks at how to identify poor performance and support schools at risk; how to turn around poorly performing schools; and how to sustain a school after recovery
Headteachers are crucial to sustaining performance and improvement, but their numbers are declining. This is a crucial issue to be addressed. This CPPS seminar, with key national and local players examines the findings of the NAO report. With case studies it asks what action is needed by each of the stakeholders involved. What more is needed?
To ensure a delegate place, speak to our booking department: 00 44(0)1422 845004
We can send you a booking form by fax, or you can book online at our website: www.cppseminars.org.uk
To see further details of this event and others we are running, please use the links below.
http://www.cppseminars.org.uk/site/dpb.cfm?do=ref&fldCPPSref=PPS/144&varDetProgBiog=det
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The Sage Gateshead - residential course
Learn shadow puppetry at Ridley Hall, Bardon Mill, Northumberland!
May 5th-7th 2006.
Background and form below:
Download file
Download file
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Headway Theatre Co. invite you to...
"The Big Bad World"
at:
1pm Monday 27th March 2006 at Caedmon Hall,Gateshead
1pm Tuesday 4th April 2006 at the Buddle Arts Centre, Wallsend
1pm Wednesday 5th April at The Customs House, South Shields
1pm thursday 6th April at Alnwick Playhouse
Over the last nine months, Headway Theatre Co, in partnership with Cramlington Adult Training Centre, have worked with people of all abilities on a project designed to promote social inclusion and positive images of learning disability.The result is a vibrant and magical theatre performance which takes you on a journey around the world - through magic gardens, a bizarre bazarre, the coloured seas and icy fjords. The show includes live music, giant puppets and even a special appearance by King Kong!
It would be great if you could come along. We promise you will be thoroughly entertained. Tickets are free and available from the venue box office or from Headway Theatre Co. All the venues are fully wheelchair accessible. If you have any other special requirements or need directions to the venue please contact us on 01670 351962.
Hope you can make it.
Frances Allan
Director
Headway Theatre Co
46-50 Bridge Street
Blyth
Northumberland NE24 2AP
Tel 01670 351962
Fax 01670 367516
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Musicians in Residence
One of our Cultural Partners, Michael Freeman (of Junk Music fame) has offered the following to anyone who may benefit:
Musicians in Residence is a scheme funded by Arts Council England to support musicians and promoters in the
region. Voluntary and community groups who want to book professional musicians for events or festivals
can receive a subsidy of up to 40% of the fee.
Deadline: (January and May each year)
Contact: Musicians in Residence
Tel: 01653 668 551
Email: office@musiciansinresidence.org
Web: www.musiciansinresidence.org
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Charity Fashion Night
One of our Culltural Partners is Anh Mao of Anh Mao Couture. Anh has been involved in Chinese arts and crafts workshops in schools and community projects in Gateshead for many years.
She's having a charity evening on Thursday 30th March in aid of Mencap. Gateshead teacher and their friends are welcome.
"Girl Night Out"
An Evening of Therapy and Indulgence
in aid of MENCAP
Fashion Show "Black Magic Collection"
Sponsor by Mao Couture
£5.00 per ticket
On Thursday 30th March 2006 7.00pm - 9.30pm
at the Derwent Manor Hotel
Castleside, Nr Consett.
Retail Therapy - Fashion, Shoes, Handbags, Accessories.
Beauty Therapy - Make up, Skin Care, Hair and Nails.
Lifestyle Therapy - Massages, Aromatherapy, Exercise and Diet.
Chocolate Therapy - those times when nothing else will help.
Contact: Anh Mao 0191 2869293 / 07946646733
Email: maocouture@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.maocouture.webeden.co.uk
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Book your favourite sports online now!
You can now book a range of sports activities in Gateshead online through the new Council website.
Simply join the Gateshead Active online booking scheme which gives you 13 day advance bookings at selected Gateshead Council leisure facilities for sports including badminton, five-a-side and squash.
The online booking form can be found on the Council website: www.gateshead.gov.uk
www.gateshead.gov.uk/Leisure%20and%20Culture/sports/Prices%20and%20booking/Booking.aspx
To use the online booking scheme you must be a Gateshead Active Card holder. You can fill a form in online to apply for a Gateshead Active online booking membership number and PIN. Please note: Conditions of use apply.
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The Sage Gateshead's Weekend Schools 2006 - 2007
Weekend School 2006 – 2007, for young people aged 7 - 19 years.
The Sage Gateshead Weekend School offers top quality provision for the most talented and committed young musicians of the Northeast and Cumbria, welcoming learners from all styles of music (classical, jazz, folk, world and popular music) across a wide range of instruments and voice.
The next Open Day is on Sunday 12th March where people can come and find out more and there's a Spring Festival on 25th March, displaying some of the talents of our young musicians.
The information and application form is attached here (deadline 3rd April).
If you know of anyone who may be interested, please ask them to contact Alexandra Marsden, Weekend School Co-ordinator 0191 4434675.
Download file
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March 2, 2006
Open workshop and lecture for AS and A-Level students at Newcastle University School of Music
SOUNDS UNFAMILIAR?
Open schools workshop and lecture
Thursday 16 March at 2.30pm
King's Hall, Armstrong Building
Newcastle University
Read on for full details...
Dear Teacher,
I am writing to inform you of a free workshop/lecture which may be of interest to your AS or A Level music students. You may have seen this advertised in the Newcastle Science Festival schools’ brochure.
The workshop will take place on Thursday 16 March at 2.30pm at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the King’s Hall of the Armstrong Building and will last about an hour and a half. In conjunction with the new Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning for Music and Inclusivity, the workshop will examine the physical changes in both stringed and keyboard instruments since the late 18th century, and will explore other physical and acoustical issues (including tuning systems with unequal temperament), looking at how they affect the tone quality of the instruments and the way players exploit these sounds (for example issues of vibrato and portamento).
The workshop will include demonstrations on period instruments and will be given by The Music Collection which comprises SUSAN ALEXANDER MAX (fortepiano), SIMON STANDAGE (violin), TREVOR JONES (viola) and JENNIFER WARD CLARKE (cello): some of the leading exponents of historic performance practice of their generation. It will focus on particular passages in the works to be performed in the evening concert (at 7.30pm in the King’s Hall), encouraging students to listen in particular ways in order to appreciate how the ensemble exploits the different balances between the earlier instruments.
The evening concert celebrates the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth and is part of the Newcastle Early Music Festival. The programme includes Mozart’s Trio in B flat, K.502 and Mozart’s two wonderful Piano Quartets. This concert is free but you are asked to apply for tickets, available from Olivia Cameron on 0191 2228463 or email o.h.cameron@ncl.ac.uk.
If you are interested in attending either the workshop or concert, please contact Olivia Cameron (details above) for more information.
Yours faithfully,
Alison Lewis
Administrator (Public Lectures & Lunchtime Concerts)
Business Development Directorate
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
6 Kensington Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
DDI: ++44 (191) 222 6093
Email: a.m.lewis@ncl.ac.uk
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Letter to teachers from Seven Stories
Dear Teacher
Some people say there are only seven stories in the world but a thousand different ways of telling them. Seven Stories is about the thousand ways…
Seven Stories, the Centre for Children’s Books is a great place to nurture a lifelong love of literature in the children and young people you care for. Filled with energy, unexpected encounters and the sheer enjoyment of busy creativity, you will find seven floors packed with different experiences to explore. Here you will find familiar characters and stories and new ones waiting to be discovered!
From exhibitions of original artwork and manuscripts to hands-on activities and the chance to meet and talk to authors and illustrators, we offer approaches to books and reading that will
· engage different learning styles
· motivate children and young people to read for pleasure, and
· encourage them to express their own creativity through speaking and writing, making and drawing.
Seven Stories offers activities and experiences for all ages, linked to fundamental curriculum and literacy targets and designed for enjoyment and creative buzz.
A schools or group visit to Seven Stories costs £3.50 per child with 2 free adult places for every 10 children. On the reverse of this letter you’ll find our Exhibition plans for 2006 for you to select from.
To book a visit to Seven Stories or to find out more, contact us on 0845 271 0777. Checkout out our website for our full events programme and current offers for schools and groups at
http://www.sevenstories.org.uk
To hear more about the workshops and preview the centre, sign up for one of our Teacher Previews. Previews are normally held once a month, on the second Thursday, from 5.00 p.m. until 6.30 p.m. Admission is free and includes light refreshment. Pre-booking is essential.
Read on for the exhibition programme for 2006
Exhibition programme for 2006
Until mid October 2006 Incredible Journeys
Incredible Journeys celebrates reading and our rich and diverse modern children’s literature – a literature that opens wide a window onto imaginary lands and imaginary lives and invites us to travel near and far, inside and outside, by book.
Featuring original materials from some of the best-loved and most influential writers and illustrators for children from the last 60 years, this exhibition acts as a focus for our Storycatcher Visit for KS1 and 2, as well as inspiring students from KS3/4 to explore literature, illustration and book design.
April - Dec 2006 What’s in the Book? The Seventeen Million Books of Janet and Allan Ahlberg
A wonderful opportunity to take a look at the stunning and much-loved picture books of Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Creators of such classics as The Jolly Postman, Burglar Bill and Each Peach Pear Plum, Janet and Allan Ahlberg have been firm favourites with young children and their parents since their first book was published in the early 1970’s . Novels such as Woof!, wordplay with the Ha Ha Bonk Joke Book and a fabulous selection of poetry (step forward Mrs Butler) ensure that there is plenty in this exhibition to appeal to older readers, too.
Burglar Bill invites groups at Foundation Stage, KS1 and KS2 to make a visit and children will be encouraged to explore the Gallery with hands-on resources and the chance for creative expression encouraging story-making, reading and writing.
Art and Design students at KS3 and above are also warmly invited to join Burglar Bill and friends to explore the process of creating picture-books – perfect for those who hope to create their own picture-book classics in the very near future!
From Mid October 2006 Westall’s Kingdom
Look out for this exciting exhibition exploring the life and work of North East based writer Robert Westall. From some of life’s biggest themes, such as war and conflict, to the smaller concerns of everyday life, Robert Westall’s immensely gripping and readable books address issues that interest and affect young people.
Rooted firmly in his own experience of growing up in the North East, Westall’s books are known and respected nationally and internationally. The Machine Gunners, for example, has been translated into many different languages and is widely studied in schools. Details of schools and group visits to follow –watch the website!
From early 2007 Great British Picture Books
Another blockbuster exhibition to watch out for! Great British Picture Books will feature the best in our long tradition of picture book illustration. Again, watch the website for details of group visits and programming.
To book a visit to Seven Stories or to find out more, contact us on 0845 271 0777.
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What's on at Life Science Centre
Our World - A new exhibition all about you!
Opens 8 April 2006
From the frozen Arctic to the scorching desert and life in a modern city, uncover the things we all need to survive and discover how people have developed amazing ways to cope with extreme climates and habitats.
You will be transported to some of the most diverse and challenging places in the world to see how different environments mean different lifestyles, for both humans and other animals.
The Dome
Opens 8 April 2006
This state-of-the-art dome theatre seats 65 visitors and is capable of screening the very latest Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) shows.
The first show to be screened in the Dome is called Lifeseeker and has been specially created for the Centre for Life. Enter, sit back and prepare for a journey to some of the most extreme environments on Earth and beyond in the search for life... but maybe not as we know it!
Opening Times:
Monday-Saturday: 10am - 6pm (last admission at 4pm)
Sunday: 11am - 6pm (last admission at 4pm)
Admission prices:
Adult: £6.95
Child: £4.50
Concessions: £5.50
Family Ticket: £19.95 (two adults and two children or one adult and three children)
Information Line: (0191) 243 8210
www.lifesciencecentre.org.uk
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Adam Hart Davis launches the Newcastle Science Festival
Adam Hart Davis will be giving a talk on '‘Why Does a Ball Bounce?’ to launch the Newcastle Science festival.
The lecture will take place at Centre for Life Conference and Banqueting, at 1:30pm on Tuesday 7th March.
Please ring 0191 234 8292 for more details and to book a place.
The website for the festival is: www.newcastlesciencefestival.co.uk
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Children's Art Workshops
Saturday mornings
10am-12noon
The Mushroom Works
Each workshop, run by artists from the Mushroom Works studios will work with a different art form or technique.
March 11th Glass Painting
March 18th Printing and book making
March 25th Storytelling and illustration
April 8th Easter card making
April 15th Collage
April 22nd Textiles - bag and rug making
To book, telephone 0191 224 4011
For more information, visit www.mushroomworks.com
The Mushroom Works
St Lawrence Road
Ouseburn
Newcastle
NE6 1AR
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