Best Believe ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Platform from platform on Vimeo.

Bright Space recruiting youth bloggers for new arts and social media project

 Bright Space is launching a new and exciting social media project entitled Platform (www.projectplatform.org.uk) for 16-19 years olds living in Birmingham. Platform will be a blog featuring articles, reviews, events listings and much more, written by young people for young people and will represent a unique perspective on arts activity in Birmingham.  Bright Space is now looking to recruit 15 young people who are interested in reporting, reviewing and attending the many cultural events in and around the city. This includes theatre, dance, exhibitions, launches and gigs. Deadline for applications is Monday 19^th July 2010.

Successful applicants will receive a £200 bursary and the opportunity to attend a week long intensive summer school, which will highlight the many techniques and skills they will need to become fully fledged Platform bloggers. During the week they will take part in workshops led by industry experts including; journalists, photographers, bloggers and film-makers.  Subjects covered will include:

• Journalism, writing, reviewing and interview techniques
• Podcasting with audio and video
• Photo blogging and social media tools
• Events management, promotion and marketing

 The Platform bloggers will then organise a live launch of the website to their peers, parents, friends and mentors. The group will meet regularly throughout the project with continued access to and mentoring from industry professionals who will support them in creating content, researching articles and building their on-line readership.

The core group will improve skills in; ICT, literacy, independent learning and critical thinking. The  project will also support those wishing to pursue a career within the creative and cultural industries.

The aspiration for Platform is to amplify young people as unique, dynamic, cultural commentators that successfully communicate, inspire and engage other young people, while at the same time propose significant debate about their cultural offer.  It is also hoped that Platform will become a vehicle that cultural organisations, venues and promoters connect with to ensure their programming reflects the breadth and individuality of young people in Birmingham.

How to apply:

• Applicants need to write a 200 word article on a creative passion that they have
• Include their name, address, date of birth and contact details
• Send the completed article with all the necessary contact details to: Bright Space, Studio 222 The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Birmingham, B9 4AA

 Bright Space (www.brightspace.org.uk) is committed to developing and encouraging activity that helps young people find creative progression routes in and beyond the arts. Bright Space works actively to encourage sustainable cross-sector partnerships that broaden the horizons and opportunities available to young people.

For more information about Platform, please contact me – Amy Martin on 0121 772 6932 or email: amy@brightspace.org.uk

FOR over 60 years, the Vogue Talent Contest for Young Writers has been one of the UK’s most prestigious writing awards. Many established journalists started their careers after entering the contest, and recent winners have gone on to become successful poets, playwrights, authors and members of Vogue’s staff. So, what are we looking for? Journalists who can identify a story, and know how to tell it with pace and creative flair. What’s the prize? £1,000, plus a month’s paid work experience at Vogue, with £500 for the runner-up.

How to enter – you must complete all sections:

1. Write about a personal memory. This could be a memory of an extraordinary event, place or person, or simply something that resonated deeply (800 words).
2. Write a short feature article – a contemporary cultural review or a fashion trend (500 words).
3. Write an opinion piece or polemic. This could be about a person, or on current affairs or social issues (500 words).

Accompanying your entry should be a passport-sized photograph of yourself, attached to a sheet of paper listing your name, permanent address, telephone number, date of birth and occupation. The judging panel will include Vogue’s editor Alexandra Shulman, senior members of the magazine’s staff, guest editors and writers. Finalists will be invited to a lunch at Vogue with the judges, after which the winner will be decided.

Closing Date: April 9, 2010.  – Please note this competition is for under 25s only.

For all the info check here

The project is aimed at diverse young people aged 16 -19 from inner city Birmingham (some of whom are not in education, employment and training) but who have some interest/ability in the arts. The project will focus on ideas of guerrilla craft, DIY Craft and Craftivism – with a view to developing a young people led craft collective which will then organise a series of interventions throughout the city.

More info here.

Screen WM has announced that on 14th October Power to the Pixel is bringing a satellite event to Birmingham. The day long event will be held at Novotel Birmingham on Broad Street. This event is free to attend and will be of interest to anyone working in content creation (film, television, animation, games) and digital media.

Power to the Pixel’s London Forum is firmly established as the leading event in the UK film industry calendar for creators to connect with key digital innovators: pioneers who are developing new models of storytelling, film financing and film distribution across multiple platforms.

Power to the Pixel’s Birmingham event will feature sessions directly from the London Forum as well as studio debate from Birmingham. Sessions brought to you from London will include award-winning producer Ted Hope’s keynote presentation. International speakers including Slava Rubin, Co-Founder of New York-based IndieGoGo and Rachel Mordecai, producer and digital content strategist.

To book a place and for more info click here.