Arts Council of Northern Ireland Support for the Individual Artist Programme (including Travel Awards) is now open for application. SIAP offers a collection of schemes designed to meet the needs of individual artists working in Northern Ireland. General Arts Awards, Self-arranged Residencies, Major Individual Award and Professional Development Awards will be open.  For more information go to www.artscouncil-ni.org

Closing date is 4pm, 2nd September 2010

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is to invest £700,000 in a new three year programme designed to encourage older people to take part in the arts.  Through funding new, innovative, community-led projects across art form areas such as dance, painting, crafts, storytelling, music and song, the programme will highlight and tackle the social justice issues older people face on a daily basis. The first round of funding opened on the 8th July, with grants of up to £50,000 available to arts organisations, as well as community and voluntary groups.

Arts and Older People Fund: This programme has its own priorities and criteria.  However, all applications should fit within the objectives stated in the Council’s five year plan and within its artform policies.  All application forms and guidance notes are available to download at the funding page on www.artscouncil-ni.org or call: 02890 385 200.

Closing date for applications is 4pm Thursday 19th August

Your voice at the heart of the BBC

Do you have views about BBC radio?  What do you value and enjoy?
And what would you change?

The BBC Audience Council wants to understand what local audiences think about BBC Radio Ulster and UK-wide services BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio 7.

The Audience Council invites you to join it for an informal discussion at Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre on 26 May from 6pm to 8pm.

Your views will inform major reviews of these services by the BBC Trust, the governing body of the BBC.

Rotha Johnston, Chair of the Audience Council, explains:
 
“The BBC Audience Council represents the interests of BBC audiences in Northern Ireland. It advises the BBC Trust which has considerable power to wield on behalf of licence fee payers.

We want to understand the wide range of views about BBC radio – what audiences value and enjoy and where they would like to see improvements. 

“This is a wonderful opportunity to have your say about the services which are important to you, and to know that your views will be heard at the very heart of decision-making in the BBC.”

This is one of a series of discussion events in different parts of Northern Ireland which will feed into the Trust’s reviews.  It is open to anyone with an interest in BBC radio, whether they are occasional or regular listeners.

There will also be an opportunity to share any views you might have about other BBC programmes and services.

We hope you can join us for a light supper and what promises to be a lively and informative discussion.

To reserve a place or find out more contact Trish Davey on 028 9033 8854 (textphone 028 9033 8100) or email patricia.davey@bbc.co.uk
Please let us know if you have any special requirements.

Information about the BBC Audience Council is available at: 
www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/audiencecouncil

Individuals or Groups based in the Borough of Craigavon with an interest in arts and creativity to its Annual General Meeting & Networking Event:

The AGM will take place from 6.00pm Tuesday 25th May 2010 at the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Oxford Island. 
This will be followed by a networking event entitled ‘Working Together’ which begins at 7pm and will include refreshments and a keynote speech from renowned playwright and writer Martin Lynch.

If you are interested in contributing to the arts locally we would be delighted to see you.  If you would like to join the C-aim committee or would like to nominate someone, nomination forms will be available at the meeting.

If you would like to attend, please contact the Arts Administrator on 028 38311679 or e-mail glenn.dickson@craigavon.gov.uk to reserve your place.

Application forms will only be considered from constituted groups based within the Borough of Craigavon and completed forms must be returned no later than 12pm, Tuesday 25th May 2010.  Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

For further information please contact the Arts Administrator on 028 38311679 or download the application pack below.

Festival Challenge 2010 Cover Letter

C-aim Festival Challenge Application Form

Festival challenge Fund Guidance and Criteria

John Hewitt International Summer School 2010

At The Market Place Theatre, Armagh, Monday 26^th – Friday 30^th July 2010

The summer school will include readings, talks and debates from top Irish and International writers, speakers and artists.  Attending this event will offer a unique opportunity to develop your skills and abilities over a week of events and activities. 

If you were born or are a resident in the Borough of Craigavon and can demonstrate in your application your involvement or interest in creative writing and literature, you are eligible to apply. 

If you would like to apply please download and complete the application form below.  Closing date for applications has been extended and is now Friday 16th July 2010.

 C-aim-BursaryApplForm-20103

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is offering Small Grants ranging from £500 to £1,000 for community arts projects.

The aims of the funding are:
To support grassroots arts initiatives that foster ‘a shared future’ and that promote the inclusion of the new immigrants, asylum-seekers and their families as well as travellers.
To encourage communities that experience difficulties with cultural and ethnic diversity to use community arts as a way to take up the challenge of social inclusion.
To give community and arts organisations the opportunity to develop small scale, new or innovative inclusive projects that will make a difference at local level. 

For more information go to www.communityfoundationni.org .

Call for artists to work with local communities and schools in North Belfast to develop large scale temporary artworks to decorate the Waterworks Park for Belfast Children’s Festival Goes to the Park on 22 May 2010. Outreach programme runs from March to May 2010.

For an application pack and further details please contact Sally Maidment, Project Coordinator, New Lodge Arts & Young at Art, at:
T: 028 90230660
E: sally@youngatart.co.uk 
Deadline for submissions: 1 March 2010

The successful candidate will have a positive, solution-focused approach; be highly self-organising with the ability to prioritise workload; and have 3 years experience in the last 5 working directly in project development and delivery within the arts and cultural sector.

To download an application pack please go online or contact Emma Duggan at:
T: 028 90323059
E: emma@craftni.org
www.craftni.org/cni_aboutus
Deadline for applications is 12 noon, 01/03/2010

If you are creative, and you enjoy a challenge, why not try your hand at learning one of the oldest crafts known to mankind?

After an absence of several months, the popular Blacksmithing workshops are returning to Tannaghmore Farm on Saturdays in March, April and May. With new equipment and now with two qualified blacksmiths as instructors, the workshops promise to be bigger and better than ever!

Participants in the workshops will learn how to forge and shape metal, turning recycled car parts and even old washing machines into decorative craft items such as gates, ornaments and sculpture.

Two artist-blacksmiths, Eamonn Higgins and Stephen Murphy, who both learned their trade in England, will be on hand to demonstrate techniques and pass on their skills.

It is hoped that by working together, students will create a piece of public art to be displayed in Tannaghmore Gardens for visitors to admire.

Classes are free of charge, and have proved popular with both women and men. Anyone over 16 with an interest in the arts is welcome to come along. Booking is essential as places are limited. Please call Craigavon Borough Councils Arts Development team on 028 38311686, or 0777 8373472 to reserve a place or for more information.