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

Take a gander at Chris Unitt’s Halloween line up of spooky things to do in Brum, but do make sure to check the details before heading out! All the links and info is at Created in Birmingham. You could of course go and look at some dead bodies at the Bodies Revealed Exhibition at the Custard Factory previously blogged about here. I am going to stay indoors and make this…

Pumpkin Cauldron

Ingredients

1 pumpkin, 25cm/10″ in diameter
2 tbsp olive oil
6 chicken thighs, skinned, boned and chopped
2 leeks, trimmed, washed and sliced
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
2 red peppers, seeded and sliced
120g/4oz smoked streaky bacon, de-rinded and chopped
30g/1oz plain flour
570ml/1 pint chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1 cinnamon stick
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
salt and pepper

Method

1. Heat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
2. Take the top off the pumpkin to make a lid and scoop out the seeds. Cut away the flesh from the insides, making sure you do not cut through the skin. Cut the pumpkin flesh into 1cm/½in cubes.
3. Heat the oil in a large pan and quickly fry the chicken until golden but not coloured. Remove.
4. Add the leeks, garlic, peppers and bacon to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are starting to soften. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the stock, bring to the boil and season well. Add the chicken, pumpkin cubes, bay leaf and cinnamon stick.
5. Pour the mixture into the pumpkin and put the lid on. Lightly oil the skin of the pumpkin with a little more oil and place on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the stew is piping hot.
6. Stir in the chopped parsley and serve straight out of the pumpkin cauldron.

Once again we can stay in doors but feel like we still have our fingers on the creative pulse of Birmingham. Thank god.