National Campaign for the Arts

The NCA are inviting artists and arts organisation to contribute to a consultation on the draft Arts Manifesto for the next General Election. 

To read the draft manifesto click on the following link: http://www.artscampaign.org.uk/info/artselectionmanifestodraft.pdf

The draft document has been produced after lengthy consultation with interested parties across the UK . The NCA has held open consultation meetings in Northern Ireland , Wales and Scotland and in all of the English regions in order to hear as wide a range of opinion as possible. The production of the manifesto has been an organic process with the NCA imposing only a very loose structure on the meetings in order to facilitate discussion and the NCA has been careful not to influence ideas being expressed by the participants.

To find out more about the consultation process click on the following link: http://www.artscampaign.org.uk/news/artselectionmanifestotour.html

The consultation closes on Friday 22 May at Noon. Responses received after this time will sadly not be able to be considered when producing the final document.

Bruer Tidman design on Robin Trower CD cover

by Bruer Tidman

One of Bruer Tidman’s paintings has been used as an image for the CD cover of the latest Robin Trower (Procul Harum) album  ‘What lies Beneath’, released in July this year.   Robin Trower saw Bruer’s work at a recent show in Godalming.  For more information about the album go to  http://www.trowerpower.com/music.asp#.

 

For more information about Bruer, who has a studio in South Denes,  go to www.bruertidman.com.

Great Yarmouth Lunchtime Book Club

If you like reading and would enjoy talking about books in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, join the new Great Yarmouth Lunchtime Book Club! Meetings will be held in Great Yarmouth Library, Tolhouse Street, NR30 2SH on the first Wednesday of each month from 1 – 2 p.m. Free tea and coffee will be served.

If you are interested in joining, ask any member of staff for further details, or go along to the first meeting.

No Open Studios in Yarmouth

Norfolk Open Studios starts on 16th May and runs until 31st May.  This year there are 253 entries, only 23 of which are in the Broadland and Great Yarmouth area which stretches between Foulsham to the northwest of Norwich, Aylsham to the north and Great Yarmouth to the east.  The nearest studios to Yarmouth are in Upton, where Colin Giles and Maddy Anna Pickett are opening their studios to visitors.  Full details are to be found on www.nnfestival.org.uk/openstudios, where you can also request a printed catalogue, or phone Norfolk and Norwich Festival on 01603 877750. 

It would be interesting to hear views on why none of the brilliant artists with studios in and near to Great Yarmouth are participating in this scheme.  Is it because it is too expensive, or because people believe there is not enough public interest, or other reasons?

Katarzyna Coleman

Temple 3 by Katarzyna Coleman

Katarzyna Coleman is showing industrial landscapes from around the South Denes area of Great Yarmouth at the Theatre Royal, Norwich.  The exhibition runs from 13th May – 12 July, 2009.   For further information go to www.targetfollow-arts.co.uk.

Out There Festival 2009

Following on from last year’s “Out There” International Festival, SeaChange Arts  has been awarded funding to the tune of nearly one million Euros to develop the festival over the next three years.  Half the funding has come from the EU under the EU Inter-regional Programme, which means SeaChange is working with partners from Amiens, a town North of Paris,  the lead partner for the project, Rouen and an organisation which runs projects throughout Britanny. In England the partners with SeaChange are the Winchester Hat Fair, Brighton Festival, Zap Art and Southampton City Council.  The Great Yarmouth Borough Council is supporting the project along with other funders to complete the match funding.

Plans are already under way for this year’s “Out There” which will take place over the weekend of 19th and 20th September. The festival will focus on street arts and be centred around St.George’s Park.  French tightrope walker Didier Pasquette will be walking across roof tops on the seafront and community groups are already getting  involved in the carnival style opening parade on the Saturday morning. 

Last year the first international Out There festival saw more than 100 performers and artists from Britain, France, Finland, Brazil, Spain, Uruguay, Cuba, Portugal and Belgium take part to entertain the public in various venues in Great Yarmouth.  For more information go to www.outtherefestival.com.

Dumping The Rocks

Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour

This beautiful image is part of a series of photographs by Derek Jackson recording the outer harbour construction in Great Yarmouth.  Derek is showing a selection from this series at the Novus Centre, The Conge, Great Yarmouth throughout May 2009.  For information about the exhibition space at the Novus Centre go to  www.enterpriseGY.co.uk