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

Bass Festival has come around again this year’s theme is DNA…

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) forms the building blocks of life and controls the development and functioning of all known living organisms. But what does DNA mean to us individually in the 21st century? Identity, test tubes, control, heritage, science, ID cards, family, databases, samples, genomes, protest?
The fifth BASS festival will explore how DNA varies and develops, whether caused by external forces, or by personal development, enabling us to rethink our evolving identities.

There is a full programme of events and exhibitions celebrating black culture and creativity, take a peek at the flyer and website for all the details.

Just peeped this over at Ideal Skate Supply, looks like they have secured a screening of the Vans film just out. This is a high coo by any standard. The film will be shown at the shop down at The Custard Factory on 24th April, for all the info peep here.

…Just had Kris Vile in the store and we worked out a date for a Birmingham premiere of the Vans Europe DVD. We are going to hold it in the Cinema space at 5.30pm on Saturday the 24th of April. Tickets will be on sale in the store this weekend and for a measly £2 you will get to see Chris Pfanner, Danny Wainwright, Ross McGouran, Flo Marfaing, Sam Partaix and more in the first video to come out under the Vans banner. And of course you will be able to shake Kris by the hand and congratulate him on his section which, so I have heard, is rather good.

This is Tavi Williams of the infamous Style Rookie blog and she is only 13.

From her blog:

13 year old garden gnome with the brain of a wind-up monkey, posture of a crotchety old hag, and tact of Larry David. I enjoy vulgar thoughts, rapping about Rei Kawakubo, and reenacting scenes from the Lion King with 10-month-old babies. I am not cute.

I am currently in the middle of researching youth bloggers for a project at Bright Space and am pleased to see the sheer volume of young people who recognise that blogging is a fantastic way of getting their voices and opinions heard. Tavi is a great example of this and her blog is well worth a subscribe. If you are a blogger or read any blogs written by young folks please get in touch via the comments box I would love to hear more…

6 February – 23 May / Waterhall Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Since the mid-1960s Bridget Riley has been celebrated for her distinctive, optically vibrant paintings that actively engage the viewer’s sensations and perceptions.

The exhibition is a first in a new series of solo artist’s exhibitions from the Arts Council Collection; it includes the iconic Movement in Squares (1962), which Riley credits as the beginning of her breakthrough into abstraction.

The exhibition also includes paintings and over 30 works on paper from the artist’s own collection that have never been exhibited before.

A Hayward Touring Exhibition from Southbank Centre

Admission Free

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.

Had a little heads up from my glamorous pal Alex about this Birmingham based fashion blog. Betty Who? aka Isabel Beresford makes gorgeous bespoke dresses – you could call it Kings Heath Couture. Gorgeous. Peep here.

I design each dress to be totally unique – I never make the same dress twice. betty who? dresses are made with love and care and I hope you like them! If you see something you like but its not in your size I will always do my best to create something similar for you, made to fit! x x x

Lindy Hop, also known as Jitterbug, is the authentic Afro-Euro-American Swing dance. It is an unabashedly joyful dance, with a solid, flowing style that closely reflects its music — from the late 20’s hot Jazz to the early 40’s Big Bands. Just as Jazz combines European and African musical origins, Lindy Hop draws on African and European dance traditions. The embracing hold, and the turns from Europe, the breakaway and solid, earthy body posture from Africa. The dance evolved along with the new swing music, based on earlier social dances such as the Charleston and the Black Bottom.

As a marital aid or just for fun you can now take Lindy Hop/Swing dance lessons in Birmingham, every Tuesday from 7-11pm at King’s Heath Cricket Club.

- Lindy Hop lesson at 7:30pm
- Lindy Hop/Swing dance to 11pm.

Come by yourself or bring a partner. Everyone of all ages is welcome. For full details peep here.