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July 27, 2006
Attention Cultural Ambassador teachers in Gateshead!
Sally Marshall, Cultural Ambassador at Heworth Grange Arts College wants to contact other schools in Gateshead for an Autumn term project:
Dear Cultural Ambassador,
We are looking for six junior/secondary schools, which would be able to be involved in a dance project led by Dora Frankel.
The details are as follows:
Time scale: Sep 2006 – Dec 2006
Workshops are one day per school with a musician.
Cost: £200 only (this has been heavily subsidised)
Number of students involved: 12 – 18
Age range: 9 – 15yrs
We are hoping to have a sharing of all the works choreographed in Feb 2007.
This is a fantastic opportunity to use dance to generate ideas and stimulate children’s minds! The performance opportunity aims to raise the students’ belief in them selves as young individuals.
For further details please contact:
Sally Marshall at Heworth Grange Arts College 0191 4212244
Website: www.dorafrankeldance.co.uk
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 12:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Training needs day - Tuesday 1st of August
Tyne & Wear Learning Network
‘Discovering the training needs you didn’t know you had’
Date Tuesday 1st August 10.00am until 4.00pm
Venue Centre for Life, Conference facilities, Times Square, Newcastle. NE1 4EP
Map www.life.org.uk
Telephone 0191 2438284
See this attachment for more...
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 12:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Busy Ape Arts has a new website
Busy Ape Arts is a community arts organisation working with people of all ages and abilities on a variety of creative arts projects. They are based in the North East of England Busy Ape Arts exists to promote, encourage and facilitate positive thoughts, words and actions through art in all its forms; to create art; and to promote art in people's everyday lives.
They are also a Partner to the Cultural Ambassadors network in Gateshead schools.
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 12:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Theatre Pie Summer School for 13-18 year-olds
A summer drama school for young women.
Download file
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 12:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Music Leader Whole Network Gathering Day
Whole Network Day Gathering, Saturday 2 September
9.30am - 4pm at The Sage Gateshead
Join us in celebrating MusicLeader North East's first year of activities
with a Whole Network Gathering at The Sage Gateshead.
The day is free and will include:
* Presentation by Katherine Zeserson on Understanding the Future
of Music Leadership
* "Life Changing" Workshops with Steve Lewis. A taster session
looking at what you REALLY want do with your life, using your
imagination to explore your dreams and fantasies, how you might
inadvertently sabotage your best intentions and how best to avoid this.
* Creative Evaluation - a two fold workshop that allows us to
evaluate our programme, whilst giving you an opportunity to experience
some new ideas and share good practice in Creative Evaluation.
* Nourish Your Own Creative Skills, including an introduction to
vocal health, steel pans, drumming and percussion and folk, leading to a
performance at the end of the day.
* Quick Fix Remedies. Take some time out at lunchtime to
reinvigorate yourself for the afternoon's activities, whilst reminding
yourself of the importance of remaining healthy in your work.
* Networking opportunities around a FREE lunch
Evaluation taken from the day will inform the future programme for
MusicLeader North East.
Download the booking form
the North East pages of www.musicleader.net to book your FREE place and
return to:
MusicLeader North East, Holy Jesus Hospital, City Road, Newcastle upon
Tyne, NE1 2AS
Email: musicleadernortheast@thesagegateshead.org
We look forward to seeing you on the 2nd of September.
All the best
from everyone in the MusicLeader North East Team
Louise Taylor
MusicLeader North East Coordinator
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July 26, 2006
Calling all History teachers - the Whickham Wanderers are offering talks and resources to Gateshead schools
Whickham Wanderers (The University of the Third Age) have a wealth of historical information to assist with the history curriculum including CDs, photos and a website which specialises in Twentieth Century life in the old Whickham Urban District.
Log on and meet people in Dunston, Marley Hill, Streetgate, Sunniside, Swalwell and Whickham, see how they lived, worked, worshipped, spent their leisure time and were educated. Find dramatic changes in life style from rural views to urban sprawl, mud tracks to the Western Bypass, Shanks's pony to two-car families, shops in front rooms to the Metro Centre and major industries disappearing.
Through times good and bad; war, peace, strikes and depression they managed to party!
We hope we will leave you thinking...
"Was it really like that?"................."I must tell them about"...
"Yes, that is how it was"....................."I did not know that!"...
Go to:
http://www.gatesheadgrid.org/wwu3a/
and look out for more from the Wanderers in the Ambassadors e-bulletins in the autumn.
Meanwhile, their office telephone number is: 496 1238.
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 11:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August events in Gateshead
Walking Club
Kibblesworth Village Millennium Centre, Saturday 5 August, 10am - 3pm
Exploring GatesheadÕs countryside in all its glory between 5 and 7 miles over some uneven terrain and stiles. Free event. For information telephone Annabel on
0191 411 1375
Farm Life - Fields
Bill Quay Community Farm
Saturday 5 August, 10am - 12noon
A journey around the fields at the farm looking at history, folklore, management, boundaries and other field facts. Suitable for children 8 - 16 years. Cost £1.00 Numbers limited please book in advance, tel. 0191 433 5780
Explore & make sculptures inspired by the Park
drop-in sessions.
Monday 7 August
10am - 12.30pm
Saltwell Park bandstand in the Grove
With artist:Sam McGeever
In the event of bad weather the workshops will take place in the Training Room situated near the bowling greens.
Suitable for children aged 8 - 14 years old. No booking required.
Into The Deep
Thornley Woodlands Centre, off the A694 near Rowlands Gill
Thursday 10 August, 2pm to 4pm
Help to make an underwater scene that visitors can ÒswimÓ through for the rest of the holiday. Suitable for 5 years to 11 years. Cost £1. Numbers limited please book in advance. To book please call 01207 545212
Holiday Activities at Watergate
Watergate Forest Park, off Whickham Highway at the top of Lobley Hill
Tuesday 15 August, 2pm - 4pm
Wildlife crafts and games suitable for 5 - 11 years. Cost £1.00. Numbers limited please book in advance, tel. 01207 545212
Teddy Bears Picnic
Derwenthaugh Park, signed from the Winlaton Mill car park off the A694
Thursday 17 August, 12noon - 3pm
Bring your favourite bear and a picnic to enjoy an afternoon of bear activities. Suitable for all the family. Cost £1. Numbers limited please book in advance, tel. 01207 545212
Playday at Lamesley Pastures
Lamesley Pastures. Access from the car park of the Ravensworth Arms Hotel, Lamesley, Thursday 17 August, 1pm - 3pm
Make kites and play games with a nature theme. Free event. Numbers limited please book in advance, tel. Clare Ross 0191 433 3443 or Jayne Calvert 0191 433 3524
Explore & make sculptures inspired by the Park
drop-in sessions.
Saturday 19 August
10.30 - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm
With artists Joe Hiller and Paul Merrick
In the event of bad weather the workshops will take place in the Training Room situated near the bowling greens.
Suitable for families. Under 8Õs must be accompanied by an adult. No booking required.
Red Kite Safari
Thornley Woodlands Centre, off the A694 near Rowlands Gill
Sunday 20 August, 1pm - 4pm
A * mile walk with the Northern Kite project to look for red kites, spectacular birds that can be seen soaring above the woods and fields around Rowlands Gill. Suitable for all the family. Cost £1.00 Numbers limited please book in advance,
Explore and make sculptures inspired by the Park
drop-in sessions.
Tuesday 22 August
1.30 - 4pm
Saltwell Park bandstand in the Grove
In the event of bad weather the workshops will take place in the Training Room situated near the bowling greens.
Suitable for children aged 2 - 6. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No booking required.
One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing!
Thornley Woodlands Centre, off the A694 near Rowlands Gill
Thursday 24 August, 2pm - 4pm
Enter the Lost World of Thornley Wood where in a quiet corner of the wood a lonely dinosaur has survived for millions of years. The trouble is - we have to find it! Suitable for 5 - 11 years. Cost £2.00. Please book in advance, tel. 01207 545212
August Bank Holiday Flower & Vegetable Show
Saltwell Park
Saturday 26, Sunday 27 & Monday 28 August
For information tel. 0191 433 6900
Batwatch - Saltwell Park
Stable Block, Saltwell Park
Tuesday 29 August, 7.30pm - 10.30pm
After an introductory talk there will be a walk around the Park to watch bats hunt and feed on insects as darkness descends. Torch essential. Suitable for all the family. Cost £1.00. Numbers limited please book in advance, tel. Kelly Anderson 0191 433 5918
Pond Dip
Watergate Forest Park, off Whickham Highway at the top of Lobley Hill
Wednesday 30 August, 2pm - 4pm
A chance to delve into the underwater world of a pond. All equipment provided. Suitable for 5 - 11 years. Cost £1.00. Numbers limited please book in advance, tel. 01207 545212
Be a Wildlife Explorer
Norwood Nature Park. Access off Swallowtail Drive, Lobley Hill Road, Teams
Thursday 31 August, 1pm - 3pm
Be a wildlife explorer! Nature games, fun and discovery. Involves a 1/4 mile walk around the Nature Park. Free event. Numbers limited please book in advance, tel.
Clare Ross 0191 433 3443 or Jayne Calvert 0191 433 3524
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 11:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Nurturing Creativity in Young People - the report
This story is courtesy of the DCMS website:
Government Welcomes Report On Creativity In Schools
The Government has taken a major step to making Britain the world's creative hub. A report – Nurturing Creativity in Young People – is published today and follows an independent Review, led by the leading educationalist Paul Roberts. It sets out what more the Government can do to nurture young people's creativity.
Jointly commissioned by DCMS and DfES, the Creativity Review examines key issues such as:
The role of partnerships between schools and the creative and cultural sector,
The opportunities for creative activity in Extended Schools and Early Years' settings,
The development of a Creative Portfolio to celebrate each young person's creative achievements,
The education workforce's role in developing creativity,
Clearer pathways into Creative Industries for young people,
Creating spaces for creative activity through the Building Schools for the Future programme, and
Ensuring Creativity is prominent in the Every Child Matters Framework.
DCMS ministers, David Lammy and Shaun Woodward, and DfES minister Andrew Adonis today welcomed the report at the Creative Economy Programme's Education and Skills breakfast, held at the Design Council.
Nurturing creativity in young people - A report to Government to inform future policy
'Nurturing Creativity in Young People' follows the Creativity in Schools Review, which was led by Paul Roberts, Director of Strategy at IdEA (Improvement and Development Agency). Jointly commissioned by DCMS and DfES, the report sets out what more the Government can do to nurture young people’s creativity.
The report can be read or downloaded at the DCMS site:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/publications/archive_2006/nurturing_creativity.htm
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 11:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
New Culture in Education Directory in the making
One of our projects this year is to update the popular Culture in Education Directory, which will appear in hard copy form and on this website, so watch this space...
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 11:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 25, 2006
Summer activities and workshops at Seven Stories
http://www.sevenstories.org.uk 
This summer we've a fantastic line up of activities and workshops for
you. In this edition you'll find all the latest information and don't
forget if you have any queries you can call us on 0845 271 0777 or email
Read on for the full programme...
Children's Workshops for 6+
Drama Mondays Exploring book characters through drama
For ages 8-12. 31 July, 7, 14 and 21 August.
Snapshots Tuesdays Story-based workshop using photography and writing
scripts or captions. For ages 8+ years. 8, 15, 22 and 29 August.
Puppetry Wednesdays Creating puppet characters for story-making. For
ages 6-11 years. 26 July, 2, 9, 16, 23 and, 30 August.
Animated Information Thursdays Illustrating your way through the world
of information. Choose your own favourite subject and create your own
information book. For ages 8-13 years. 27 July, 3 , 10 , 17 , 24 and,
31 August.
Workshops run from 11 - 12.30, 1 - 2.30, 3 - 4.30
Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult. Over 8s may be left in the
workshop but parents/carers will be asked to stay in the building.
Pre-booking is advisable as spaces are limited. Ring 0845 271 0777 or
email
Special events for all the family
Family Fun weekends-Every Saturday and Sunday during the summer
holidays our special family fun weekends are filled with new activities
and storytelling based on your favourite characters from the world of
children's books.
29-30 July Rainbow Fairies
5-6 August Thomas the Tank Engine Railways
12-13 August Mr Men and Little Miss
19-20 August Happy Birthday Seven Stories
26-27 August Harry Potter
Williams Wordmonger, Man of Letters - Help our resident Wordsearcher on
his quest around the building as he hunts for jokes, rhymes and silly
sentences. Friday 28 July, 4 and 11 August, Wed 16, Friday 25 August and
1 Sept. 11-12.30 and 2-3.30.
Happy Birthday Seven Stories
Monday 14 - Saturday 19 Characters live in and around Seven Stories
but make sure you Watch Out for the Wolf! Is he really a bad guy, or can
he come to the birthday party on Saturday? It's up to you. Fun for all
the family.
Saturday 19 Join in the first birthday party fun at Seven Stories.
Cake, cards, balloons - and of course, party games! Fun for all ages
(but remember to Watch Out for the Wolf...)
A celebration of Storytelling
Catch stories old and new for all the family to listen to or join in
with. Half hour sessions.
Wed 26 July-Chris Bostock
Wed 2 August - Robin Ellwood
Wed 9 August - Claire Morgan
Wed 23rd August-Chris Bostock
Mon 28 August - Adam Bushnell
Coming soon...
Author and Illustrator Events
Check out the website for full details. Coming highlights include:
Philip Ardagh 22 August, Horrible Science Roadshow 23 Sept and Michelle
Paver 30 Sept.
Seven Stories from Seven Stories
Due to changes in scheduling the TV programme Seven Stories from Seven
Stories is now due to be aired from Sunday 3rd September for seven
weeks. For updated information log onto our website
www.sevenstories.org.uk
We hope you all have a fantastic summer holidays and see you soon!
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The Museum of My Life Project - three artists needed
The Museum of My Life Project
New Writing North would like to recruit three visual artists to work on its ’Museum of My Life’ project.
‘The Museum of My Life’ is a creative writing, heritage and visual arts project involving 6 museums and their key community partners throughout the North East of England. This project will be led by New Writing North in partnership with MLA, North East and the North East Museums Regional Hub, with funding from HLF and The Foyle Foundation. The aim of the project is to encourage the use of the arts in museums and follows a successful pilot scheme that took place in Sunderland in 2004.
For more read on...deadline 15th August 2006
The whole project will involve 6 museums. In September / October 2006, we will begin working with three of them: Preston Hall Museum, Stockton on Tees (Victorian social history and local history), Captain Cook Museums (the voyages and life of Captain Cook), Middlesbrough, Museum of Antiquities (the museum of Hadrian’s Wall), Newcastle. The project in each museum will take place in two stages:
Stage 1 September – November 06: A writer and museum professional will encourage two community groups (identified by the museums) to engage with museum collections by writing creatively in response to them.
Stage 2 November 06 – February 07: The community groups will be encouraged to explore their own individual heritages by curating their own ‘museums of their lives’. At this stage the visual artist will join the professional writer and museum staff who facilitated Stage 1 to help deliver phase 2. The artist will encourage the groups to interpret their own histories visually and help curate an exhibition in each museum which will be promoted to the public. The museum professional will also help the group to curate their exhibition and the writer will encourage them to write in response to it. The nature of the exhibition will be informed by the group, the artist, and the museum professional; examples of ideas include assemblages of objects, photography, film based work or a combination of media, but this is flexible. The idea of the exhibition is that it reflects the personal histories of everyday people living in contemporary North East, as identified by them.
Stage 2 will culminate in an exhibition in each museum. The whole project will culminate in an anthology of written work, featuring a selection from each of the six museums. This will be distributed through libraries and museums throughout the north-east.
The Community Groups
The nature of the groups in each museum is to be confirmed. In Stockton on Tees, the groups are likely to made up of a cross section of people who live in one community: Ingleby Barwick, just outside Stockton. In Middlesbrough the groups will be a primary school group and an older people’s group, and in Newcastle the groups will be made up of older people.
Timescale
The project will take place in two phases. Phase 1 will involve 3 of the museums starting the project in September 2006. Phase 2 will involve the other 3 museums starting in February 2007.
The first phase of the project is focussed on creative writing, so actual project delivery for the visual artist will not begin until November. However, we would like the visual artist to be involved in devising the project with the other two creative professionals (writer and museum professional) from the beginning.
The plan is that each community group will have 9 sessions with the writer and museum professional in stage 1 of the project. Stage 2 will consist of at least 9 sessions, with the visual artist, writer and museum professional. They will work with two community groups and, where possible, the community groups will meet on the same day. This is flexible, and may change in each museum.
Participating museums are:
Phase 1: Preston Hall Museum, Stockton on Tees (Victorian social history and local history); Captain Cook Museums (the voyages and life of Captain Cook), Middlesbrough; Museum of Antiquities (the museum of Hadrian’s Wall), Newcastle
Phase 2: Baillifgate Museum, Alnwick; Monkwearmouth Museum Sunderland; Durham Cathedral
The fee for visual artist on this project is £2,200 (equivalent of 11 days planning and project delivery; this will be reviewed if more work is required on curating the exhibition)
Requirements
The visual artist will be expected:
· To work with the museum professional and the writer to devise a programme of work which encourages groups to identify the ‘museums of their lives’
· To work with the group and other creative professionals to identify a way of helping the group to communicate their heritages to the public through an exhibition
· To encourage people to create work that is of quality
· To be aware of each member of the group’s specific needs
· To work with the other creative professionals to plan and put together an exhibition that the wider public will want to see
· To attend the launch of the exhibition in the allocated museum
· To attend the book launch at the end of the project
· To contribute to evaluation about this project
· To attend steering group meetings and other management meetings when necessary
Person specification
· Experience of working with a number of different types of community groups – from disenfranchised young people to older community groups.
· Confidence and ability to encourage people from a variety of backgrounds to be creative
· High expectations and the ability to encourage people to create work that is of quality
· A flexible approach and the ability to work using different media
· To be able to work independently and self manage projects.
· Experience of working on long term projects
· Experience of and an interest in working collaboratively with other creative professionals
· An interest in working in museums
If you are interested in working on this project please submit your CV and a covering letter, stating why you are interested and if possible, images of your own work to Anna Disley at New Writing North, 2 School Lane, Whickham, NE16 4SL or anna@newwritingnorth.com by Tuesday 15 August.
For an informal conversation about the project please call 0191 488 8580.
This project is supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund, The Foyle Foundation, Museums Libraries and Archives North East and The North East Regional Museum’s Hub
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 2:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 20, 2006
The Smart Justice Festival - Saturday 2nd September
SmartJustice for young people arts project
The Smart Justice Festival
Saturday 2nd September, Pelaw Youth Centre,
Shields Road, Gateshead 10 am – 4pm
Come along to try out different arts activities and watch film, drama and music produced by local young people on a SmartJustice theme. There will be an opportunity to find out more about why so many young people are getting sent to prison and a chance to have your say about crime and punishment.
Dance, DJs, Graffiti, Video, Drama
Free food and lots of fun!
Ring to find out more or book a place by calling Helen on 0191 382 8241 or
Pelaw Youth Centre on 0191 438 6636.
Booking essential—don’t miss out!
www.smartjustice.org/youngpeople
Funded by: Northern Rock Foundation, Arts Council North East, Gateshead Council, Tyne and Wear Community Foundation, Awards for All
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 6:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dance City Summer Schools
Open this link to find out what Dance City has to offer over the summer!
http://www.dancecity.co.uk/summerschool.html
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 5:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 7, 2006
Orange young writers’ festival - for secondary students
This news come courtesy of one of our Ambassadors Cultural Partners - New Writing North
Orange young writers’ festival
31 July - 25 August 2006
Tired of monkeying about in the summer holidays? Then get writing!
Get writing poetry, stories and scripts this summer. Come for a week-long workshop and get your work published! FREE events for 11-18 year-olds in Alnwick, Darlington, Durham, Hexham, Stockton and Sunderland.
Get writing
If you’ve got a way with words and love writing poetry, stories and scripts, you could spend a week working with professional writers who really know what they’re talking about. You’ll get great tips and ideas, and receive advice that will help you to seriously improve your writing.
Each workshop lasts for five days, and they’re aimed at young writers who are interested in creative writing and want to learn more. You don’t have to be the world’s greatest speller, as long as you’ve got plenty of ideas and enthusiasm. It’s a chance to meet other young people and to write creatively in an informal way – don’t worry, we make sure it’s nothing like school!
All the classes are run by professional writers from the region who have published books, produced magazines or had their plays performed, so it’s also a perfect opportunity to find out what being a professional writer is really like.
Get published
Everyone who attends the Orange Young Writers’ Festival will have the opportunity to contribute their best piece of work to the festival anthology which will be published and launched in the October half-term holidays. You will also have the chance to attend the launch events, and bring your friends and family along.
Get involved
To get a taste of the festival and find out about other opportunities to develop your work, check out www.wordmavericks.com, our website for young writers. You can get tips from our writer-in-residence, ideas for writing your stories, read the latest news from the book world and, best of all, you can post your work and get feedback from other young writers!
How to book your place
First choose the workshop you would like to take part in. There are six venues to choose from, each featuring different writers.
All the workshops are free, but places must be booked in advance and you must have your parents’ or guardian’s permission to take part. If you just turn up on the day we will be unable to let you join in as places on the workshops are strictly limited.
Get on the phone
Contact Holly Hooper at New Writing North
Telephone: 0191 488 8580
Email: holly@newwritingnorth.com
When you have booked, we will write to you to confirm your place on the workshop and give you all the details that you will need to take part.
Book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!
Read on for the courses...
The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick
Week One (for 11-14 year-olds): 31 July-4 August
Week Two (for 15-18 year-olds): 7-11 August
Be inspired by the beautiful surroundings of The Alnwick Garden, including the Poison Garden, the Grand Cascade waterfall and the giant Treehouse. The workshops are led by poet Linda France and children’s novelist Ann Coburn.
Darlington Arts Centre, Darlington
Week One (for 11-14 year-olds): 31 July-4 August
Week Two (for 15-18 year-olds): 7-11 August
Get poetic in workshops run by Teesside poets Andy Croft and Maureen Almond.
Gala Theatre, Durham
Week One (for 11-14 year-olds): 14-18 August
Join stand-up poet Kate Fox and scriptwriter Carina Rodney for a week of performance-related writing.
Week Two (for 15-18 year-olds): 21-25 August
Screenwriter Rachel Mathews and stand-up poet Kate Fox will help you polish up your scripts and verse.
Queens Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
Week One (for 11-14 year-olds): 14-18 August
Dramatist Fiona Evans and screenwriter Rachel Mathews lead workshops on writing the perfect script.
Week Two (for 15-18 year-olds): 21-25 August
Poet Subhadassi joins scriptwriter Fiona Evans for a week of varied writing to get your creative juices flowing.
Arc, Stockton-on-Tees
Week One (for 11-14 year-olds): 14-18 August
Novelist Marion Husband and poet Bob Beagrie teach you how to perfect your prose and poetry.
Week Two (for 15-18 year-olds): 21-25 August
Scriptwriter Carina Rodney and novelist Marion Husband teach you the arts of stage and page.
Sunderland City Library & Arts Centre
Week One (for 11-14 year-olds): 31 July-4 August
Poet Lisa Matthews and short story writer Celia Bryce will help you produce some small-but-perfectly-formed masterpieces.
Week Two (for 15-18 year-olds): 7-11 August
Prose and script writer Carol McGuigan joins poet Lisa Matthews in workshops that give you the chance to try out loads of different writing styles.
The writers
Maureen Almond was born in Ferryhill, County Durham, and has been writing for over ten years. Her collections of poetry have been published by local presses, as well as in many anthologies.
Bob Beagrie has lived in Middlesbrough all his life and has been involved in lots of writing, reading and publishing projects across the Tees Valley. He has had three poetry collections published and won the Biscuit Poetry Prize in 2001.
Celia Bryce was born in Jarrow. She writes short stories and drama for adults and is working on a children’s novel. She has been teaching creative writing for over ten years.
Ann Coburn writes children’s fiction. She also writes theatre plays (and the occasional screenplay) for both children and adults. Her most recent books include Glint and Dream Team. She lives in Northumberland.
Andy Croft is the author of numerous books, including 34 books for teenagers, mostly about football. His books of poetry include Nowhere Special, Just as Blue, Great North and Comrade Laughter. He lives in Middlesbrough.
Fiona Evans was born and brought up in Sunderland. She is a writer and drama worker who has written predominantly for community groups. Her first professionally produced play, We Love You, Arthur, was a hit at last year’s Edinburgh festival.
Kate Fox is a full-time poet, performer and workshop leader. She performs gigs all over Europe, and as a performance poet has reached the finals of the UK National Slam Championships 2006 and the City of Culture Slam 2005. She’s also worked as a stand up comedian and a commercial radio journalist.
Linda France was born in Wallsend. She currently lives half a mile south of the Wall, near Stagshaw, Northumberland. Her poetry collections include The Simultaneous Dress and The Toast of the Kit Cat Club. She teaches creative writing at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Marion Husband is a short story writer and novelist, whose two novels, The Boy I Love and Paper Moon were published by Accent Press. In 2005, Marion was awarded the Andrea Badenoch Fiction Award. She lives in Stockton.
Carol McGuigan writes drama and prose. Seven of her plays have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and five produced on stage. She has short stories in two new anthologies. Recently she began work on her first novel for which she won a Northern Promise Award.
Rachel Mathews is a scriptwriter and film director. She has made three short films, including the award-winning Danny & His Amazing Teeth. Rachel has written for BBC Radio 4, Live Theatre in Newcastle and a half-hour play for BBC Choice TV.
Lisa Matthews is a Newcastle-born poet, novelist and creative writing tutor, and is now based in Whitley Bay. She is co-founder of the Blue Room women’s writing group in Newcastle, and has worked as a writer-in-residence in schools, community settings and on websites throughout the region.
Carina Rodney has lived in the North East for the past 10 years, and is an experienced playwright and screenwriter. She is currently developing a television series, and is writer-in-residence on the WordMavericks young writers’ website.
Subhadassi was born in Huddersfield and moved to the North East in 1992. In 1998 he began to write full-time. His full-length poetry collection, peeled, was published in 2004. He lives in Northumberland.
Posted by Barbara-Ann Brown at 12:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
TakeOff Festival of International Theatre
The TAKEOFF festival, England's leading festival of professional international theatre for children and young people, is coming to Gateshead...
from Monday 9 - Saturday 14 October 2006.
Find out more by visiting the CTC Theatre website
Posted by Peter Bolger at 9:48 AM | Comments (0)
July 6, 2006
Red Kites in Gateshead - two stories for schools and teachers
Northern Kites: Adopt-a-Kite Scheme
Looking for a unique way to get young people interested in local wildlife?
Then, why not get your school to adopt a red kite!
Red kites are magnificent birds of prey that are being reintroduced back into northeast England after an absence of 150 years! Northern Kites, the project returning these birds to our skies, provides an opportunity for schools to adopt one of the kites released in Gateshead’s Lower Derwent valley.
The scheme is free to join; all we ask is that schools give their kite a name. Schools will receive information about red kites, the Northern Kites Project, and individual updates on the whereabouts and activities of their adopted kite. They also receive an education resources pack linking kites with different elements of the National Curriculum through various classroom based activities.
More kites will soon be available for adoption. If your school is interested in adopting a kite, then please contact Melanie Hills, Access and Education Officer at the Northern Kites office for more information on (0191) 4961555 or email melanie.hills@rspb.org.uk For further information on the Project visit www.northernkites.org.uk
Northern Kites is a joint initiative between English Nature, Forestry Commission, Gateshead Council, The National Trust, Northumbrian Water and the RSPB with additional funding from The Heritage Lottery Fund and SITA Trust.
Northern Kites: Kite Watch Event
Come and see the first breeding red kites in northeast England for nearly 200 years!
The Northern Kites project has returned red kites to our region with the ultimate aim of re-establishing a breeding population. Two of the red kites released in Gateshead’s Lower Derwent Valley, as part of the Project, have successfully bred this year. The kites, named Flag and Red Philip by their Adopt-A-Kite schools, built their nest in close proximity to the Nine Arches Viaduct in the Derwent Walk Country Park. Even though the nest cannot be seen, good views are available of the parents bringing food in and out of the nest site.
As a result, Gateshead Council and Northern Kites are working in partnership to run a Kite Watch Event based at the Viaduct in the Derwent Walk Country Park. Visitors, including school groups can come along to see these special kites flying in the wild. The event is running from 10-5pm, everyday until the end of July 2006 with staff and volunteers on hand to provide information.
For further information on the event contact the Thornley Woodland Centre on 01207 545212 or the Northern kites office on 0191 4961555 or visit www.northernkites.org.uk
Northern Kites is a joint initiative between English Nature, Forestry Commission, Gateshead Council, The National Trust, Northumbrian Water and the RSPB with additional funding from The Heritage Lottery Fund and SITA Trust.
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July 5, 2006
Holiday activities at Seven Stories
Knickerbocker Glories at Seven Stories!
Seven Stories the unique Centre for children’s Books is celebrating its first birthday this summer. There’s holiday fun for all the family as you take a journey through our exhibitions and explore layer on layer of new creative activities.
Read on for more...
Bookable workshops for 8+ throughout the summer
Mondays Music & Drama Workshops: Inspired by current exhibits, explore books and pictures through music and drama. 11 am—3 pm.
Tuesdays Snapshots: Work creatively with photography and computers to make your own illustrated story. 11am-1pm, 2-4pm.
Wednesdays Puppetry workshops: Create your own performance with puppets you’ve made yourself. 11am-1pm, 2-4pm.
Thursdays Animated Info: Cartoon your way through the world of animation. Choose your favourite subject and bring it to life! 11 am—3 pm.
Special events for all the family
Wednesdays Storytelling: Catch stories old and new for all the family with half hour sessions from 11 am – 4 pm.
Fridays Book Tasters: Not sure which books to read next? Discover new books with Seven Stories staff. Bookable sessions for families with children 4-7 years and 8-12 years.
Watch out for William Wordmonger as he shares jokes, wordplay and nonsense of all kinds….
Specially for Under 8’s
Drop in to discover all sorts of activities. Will you dress up and create a character? Help the Jolly Postman in his Post Office? Write a story? Make a book? Different choices every day to tempt you!
Specially for Under 5’s
Join the Story Party every day in the Bookshop at 11 am with games, stories, rhymes and drawing specially for our youngest visitors. And don’t forget to explore the building – it’s full of fun surprises!
Happy Birthday Seven Stories
Monday 14 – Saturday 19 August
Characters live in and around Seven Stories but make sure you Watch Out for the Wolf! Is he really a bad guy, or can he come to the birthday party on Saturday? It’s up to you. Fun for all the family.
Saturday 19 August
Join in the first birthday party fun at Seven Stories. Cake, cards, balloons – and of course, party games! Fun for all ages (but remember to Watch Out for the Wolf…)
Family Fun Weekends!
Every Saturday and Sunday during the summer holidays our special family fun weekends are filled with new activities and storytelling based on your favourite characters from the world of children’s books.
15-16 July – Yo Ho Ho! Pirates
22-23 July- Ha Ha Bonk Jokes
29-30 July – Rainbow Fairies
5-6 August – Thomas the Tank Engine Railways
12-13 August – Mr Men and Little Miss
19-20 August – Happy Birthday Seven Stories
26-27 August – Harry Potter
Check final dates and times when you book as all workshops are subject to change. Full information on the website.
Author and Illustrator Events
Check out the website for full details. Coming highlights include Tony Ross and Jeanne Willis (7 July; adult event. 8 July; family event); Allan Ahlberg (11 July; adult event); Philip Ardagh (22 August; family event); Horrible Science Roadshow (23 Sept; family event) and Michelle Paver (30 Sept; family event).
Two Fantastic Exhibitions:
What's in the book? The 17million books of Janet & Allan Ahlberg. The Ahlberg’s were a unique artistic partnership. Immerse yourself in their world to discover how they played with words, pictures and book design to create modern classics like Peepo, Burglar Bill, and The Jolly Postman. Whether you listen to Allan’s poems and rhymes, share jokes, post a letter or look at artwork, there’s something here for all ages to enjoy.
Incredible Journeys transports you into the magical worlds of story. Enter the forest, topsy turvey world or dragon’s lair and discover classic books, manuscripts and artwork for such favourites as Alice in Wonderland, The Borrowers, The Gruffalo and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Every day there’s also a great choice of creative activities to join in. There’s something for all ages with storytelling, gallery trails, dressing up and craft activities.
Seven Stories from Seven Stories, ITV Sunday 23rd July.
The cameras have been rolling at Seven Stories for the filming of Seven Stories from Seven Stories, which will be featured on ITV Tyne Tees, Border and Granada TV from Sunday 23rd July for seven weeks.
Seven well known authors – David Almond, Paul Bajoria, Adele Gerras, Ann Coburn, GP Taylor, Melvin Burgess and Michael Rosen – have written a new short story for the programme, based on the seven basic plots. Artists Yvonne Gilbert and Kate Pankhurst are amongst the illustrators who have enhanced the stories and TV Personalities Kevin Whately, Jill Halfpenny and Denise Welsh are amongst the celebrities reading the stories in the Seven Stories winged arm chairs in the Artist’s Attic.
Check out the website for updates of author and illustrator events this autumn, and see original material from the programme.
Don’t forget you can catch Storytime everyday in the Bookshop at 11am.
Access to events is through normal admission to the centre for which standard admission charges apply. Events outside of normal centre opening hours may be subject to an individual price.
For bookings please call 0845 271 0777.
For more information and updated event details please refer to www.sevenstories.org.uk
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BBC Blast! back on tour
The Blast Tour has started, with the state-of-the-art truck offering free workshops, master classes and showcase opportunities across the UK. We have liaised with your regional offices and key organisations in each area and we will be delivering a very rich and exciting programme of activities. For more info check the website - young people can book online.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/opportunities/blast_on_tour/
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