http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 Blue Monkey Professional Development Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:56:55 +0100 a-n rss generator a-n The Artists Information Company and contributors edit@a-n.co.uk technical@a-n.co.uk http://sites.a-n.co.uk/img/logo.gif http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 Blue Monkey Studio held a Networking Event in Autumn 2006 supported by an Arts Council grant. This took place over 2 days and many artists and art managers came to the Studio. Lots of people asked for more events and expressed interest in other activities for artists to meet and develop their work and careers.I attended this event too and then joined Blue Monkey Studio in November. Some time later Judith and I began to discuss putting together a programme of events for artists locally. We have spent the last few months meeting and talking to interested parties. We were extremely pleased to be given a grant by Willingdon Community School.This meant we could plan an initial event. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 We built a mailing list and sent out questionnaires to ask what artists would like a Professional Development programme to include. After months of talking to interested people, consulting and discussing possibilities, we put together an introductory evening of speakers from 5 organisations to give 10 minute talks on artists' resources already available in the wider area (De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill; Fabrica, Brighton; Talk about the Work, artists' critique group, Claremont Studios, Hastings; also a short introduction to the new Eastbourne Cultural Centre due to open Easter 2008 and to the Eastbourne Open Houses 2008.We had over 90 people book for the Blue Monkey Professional Development and Networking event held on Tuesday 19 June at the Underground Theatre. The evening was a great success. We asked people to give some final feedback so we can tailor any future sessions to their needs. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 We're hoping to run two or more events in the run up to the Eastbourne Cultural Festival ( due to take place in March 2008) which will help artists to prepare for Open Houses and for events which they may want to run. We've applied for a New Initiatives Grant from Eastbourne Borough Council which we hope will enable us to do this. We want our events to be a focal point where people can exchange information and ideas and we hope that we will contribute to the development of a lively and vibrant arts community in Eastbourne. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 APD MEETINGI travelled to Portsmouth on Wednesday for the APD meeting at Aspex Gallery. Artists Professional Development is a group meeting of organisations who run events for artists in the South East coastal region from Bexhill, Eastbourne, Brighton and Portsmouth. The meetings are held at alternating venues. We share information and are discussing the possibility of running a regionwide event.Judith attended a meeting in April and this was the first one I have attended on behalf of Blue Monkey Professional Development. It was also my first visit to Aspex Gallery in its new location on Gunwharf Quays at Portsmouth Harbour. It is housed in a former naval storehouse for ropes and its contemporary fittings reflect the contemporary art it shows.I had lunch on the Quays with a fellow hen Jeannie Driver (www.henweekend.org ) and we watched the boats and ferries moving up and down the harbour as we discussed plans to develop our own practice including showing each other round the art venues of our respective cities. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 Good news this week. We have been awarded a New Initiatives Grant by Eastbourne Borough Council to run two more BMPD events over the coming months. These events will specifically aim to support artists in the run up to the first ever Eastbourne Cutural Festival which will take place in March 2008 to coincide with the opening of the new Eastbourne Cutural Centre.In addition, we have been invited by The Towner Art Gallery to work with them to promote an artists' networking event which will take place on the 18th August alongside new work from Amy Cunningham and Hayley Skipper from the artist collective SpRoUt. The SpRoUt artists will talk about The Space Between project and about their wider practice.SpRout were commissioned by The Towner Art Gallery to develop an ambitious public art project, The Space Between, in partnership with local schools as part of the Building Sights programme, a series of ongoing projects to raise awareness of the Towner’s relocation to the Eastbourne Cultural Centre. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 TOUR OF EASTBOURNE CULTURAL CENTRE, ARTISTS' PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING EVENTOn Saturday we donned yellow waistcoats, hard hats and boots for our tour of the Cultural Centre. This is due to be ready in Spring 2008. The event was organised by Towner Gallery in partnership with Blue Monkey. Matthew Rowe, Artistic Director, took us round the spaces - some for showing the Permanent Collection, other spaces large enough for huge international shows. From the cafe on the top floor you can stare at the South Downs. In the adjoining Congress Theatre we listened to members of SpRoUt, an interdisciplinary collaboration of artists, talk about their year-long workshops with schools and the final 4 pieces of work produced. We completed the afternoon by serving wine and giving everyone the opportunity to talk to each other. see: www.sproutart.co.uk ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 NEXT BMPD EVENT Plans are underway for the next BMPD event. We have negotiated the date: 21 November, and the Court Room is booked at Eastbourne Town Hall. The evening will focus on preparations for the Open Houses events during the first Eastbourne Festival next March. We will invite a number of artists who have run or participated in Open Houses in other towns. We hope artists will gain valuable information about planning and organising. We have a number of meetings set up ourselves in order to run this event in the best way we can. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 BMPD EVENT 21ST NOVEMBER 2007 Julian Sutherland-Beatson, organiser of Eastbourne Open Houses, will be giving an update on Open Houses news at our event at Eastbourne Town Hall on Wednesday 21st November. A panel of experienced artists will lead discussions at the event. So far Joanna Sancha, Sue Barnes, Barbara Burns and Elda Abramson, who are all experienced at organising artist-led activities, events and Open Houses, have agreed to be panelists. They will each talk for 5 - 10 minutes about their experience of organising events and will then respond to questions and issues raised by the audience.http://www.eastbourneartists.co.uk/ ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 We have been working on paper and email flyers, checking info, and AIR insurance for our next event. BLUE MONKEY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BMPDProfessional Development and Networking Event for ArtistsPreparing for Eastbourne FestivalWednesday 21 November 20076.00 – 9.00 pm THE COURT ROOM, TOWN HALL, GROVE ROAD, EASTBOURNEFREE – BUT BOOKING REQUIREDBMPD are holding an Artists’ Professional Development and Networking Evening on Wednesday 21 November from 6.00 to 9.00pm. The event will be held in the Court Room, Town Hall, Grove Road, Eastbourne. (see map http://www.eastbourne.gov.uk/council/contact/town-hall)This evening is part of a programme of events to support artists as they prepare for the new Eastbourne Festival in March 2008 (http://www.eastbournefestival.co.uk/) We have invited a panel of guest artists (Elda Abramson, Sue Barnes, Barbara Burns, Joanna Sancha) to share their experience of organizing Open Houses and other artist-led events. Julian Sutherland-Beatson will give an update on Eastbourne Open Houses (http://www.eastbourneartists.co.uk) After 5 minute introductory talks there will be time for artists to discuss their plans, ask questions and share information about events they are setting up for the Festival. Do come prepared with questions and issues which you'd like to raiseThis will be followed by networking time for artists to mingle with a drink and talk to each other informally.Please bring any promotional material to share.This event is free, but numbers will be limited, so please book a place by contacting Roz Cran or Judith Alder at BMPD, Blue Monkey Studio, Unit 9 Commercial Mews North, Rear of 46 – 52 Commercial Road, EASTBOURNE, BN21 3XF. Telephone 01323 723877 e-mail bluemonkeystudio@btinternet.com ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 Another meeting today to review progress on the planning of our next Event on 21 November. We went to visit the Court Room and check out the facilities. Water and coffee machines are available. We can mark on an outline plan how we would like the room laid out for the evening.We continued discussions at the studio, updated each other on our progress and put in dates for future meetings. Next we made broad outline plans for the year ahead and made timings for putting in funding applications. We hope to have at least one page of our new website up and running in time for this next event. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012 LAST POSTWe had our third BMPD event last night in the Town Hall, Eastbourne. And about 50 artists came. We will post pictures on our new website which is now up and running. It is:www.bmpd.org.ukThis new site is at a basic stage but we plan to develop it and post useful information for artists on it as well as link to other helpful sites.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/385012