An ‘egg’hibition to remember

Local artist and Creative Leicestershire member Loz Atkinson has been selected to take part in 'The Big Egg Hunt'.

Presented by Faberge, organized by Elephant Family and supporting Action For Children, it will see London transformed and even try to set a world record in the process. Each corner will hold a secret treasure for the public to discover and experience, hatching wonders and excitement as they journey through the streets of London for a cracking good time.

Loz, has designed and painted one of 200 fibreglass eggs. Each standing 2 1/2 foot tall they will take pride of place on the streets of London from Shrove Tuesday, 21st February, continuing on for 40 days and 40 nights. London will be transfixed by the most astounding and exhilarating egg hunt it has ever seen. Former Bursary winner and Artist Taking the Lead commissioned artist, Shauna Richardson has also designed an egg for the event.


Loz has had works featured in two previous Elephant family events. In 2010’s Elephant Parade London her elephant ‘deliverance’ featured on the Southbank and fetched £10,000 at auction. Whilst in the summer of 2011 her Hornbill creation was one of 150 creatures that turned Edinburgh into Jungle City, with Loz’s artwork appearing on the front cover of the exhibitions accompanying book and raised over £2,000 at auction.
Her egg titled "from little acorns, mighty oaks do grow", which will feature on Liverpool Street in the City, symbolises the fantastic work done by both Elephant Family and Action For Children charities.

For more information on the big egg hunt please visit www.thebigegghunt.co.uk.

Creative Leicestershire February Ebulletin

Click here to see the February edition of the Creative Leicestershire ebulletin.

This month we have lots of opportunities for people working in the creative industries including:

• Many Call-Outs for artists and designer makers for local, regional and national work
• Information from Curve about their Curveball - A Platform for showcasing performing artists
• Lots of resources for organisations working with young people

To make sure you receive the ebulletin, sign up now

Creative Leicestershire Funding Boost

Creative Leicestershire are pleased to announce that we were successful in our Grants for the Arts application to Arts Council England to support our work for the next two years.

The Arts Resilience programme involves:

• A mentoring programme for emerging artists and arts managers with small training bursaries for mentees;
• Training for arts organizations in measuring and meeting social outcomes for public sector contracts;
• Economic impact research into the arts sector and networking with commercial business sector; 
• A project to encourage and stimulate domestic art buying.

Further information about these projects will be released over the coming months, so make sure you receive our monthly ebulletin to find out what's on offer

New Gallery looking for quality work

A new independent contemporary gallery will be opening at Wistow Rural Centre, just east of Leicester, at the end of March. Owner Kate Foster is looking for high-quality locally-made contemporary ceramics, prints & paintings, jewellery, textiles, small furniture/accessories. Space is limited as it's not a huge unit, but please email Kate with examples of your work if you are interested in selling there. e: wistowgallery@gmail.com

Congratulations Ruth Singer

Textile designer, author & tutor Ruth Singer, has won the Haymarket Shopping Centre's Big Idea competition to kick start her creative business. Her mission is to get Leicester sewing & making by opening a studio and running sewing and craft workshops.

To get to this stage, Ruth had to submit a proposal, get past the Dragon's Den style panel of experts and win the public vote. Ruth has won a month's rent-free shop unit in Leicester's Haymarket Shopping Centre and a cash prize of £1000 to spend on the business.

Ruth's Big Idea is to run a craft & design studio where anyone can learn new practical skills. Ruth will use this opportunity in Leicester city centre to run a month of taster workshops and activities for all ages to raise the profile of her studio in the run up to opening in its permanent home later in 2012.

The studio opens in the Haymarket Shopping Centre on 29^th March for a month which will include the following:

Free regular Learn to Sew taster workshops

Easter holiday activities for children 5^th April

A day of activities for local schools 25^th April

Customising clothes workshop tbc

Dressmaking classes 15^th April

Lampshade restyle workshop 1^st April

Fabric manipulation Masterclass 14^th April

Coffee & Craft Mornings

Open studio & Craft Cafe 8^th April

After school activities 18^th April

Handbag making workshop 22^nd April

Sewing machine hire by the hour

Private hire for groups

Full programme will be available online in March

There will be a small retail area with Ruth's own kits & patterns, vintage fabrics, sewing patterns, haberdashery and lots of books including Ruth's own Sew It Up and Sew Eco. Visitors to the studio will also be able to see and buy Ruth's work  including wall panels, customised clothes and small gifts. 

Creative Leicestershire January ebulletin

The Creative Leicestershire January ebulletin is out now!

There is lot's of information and opportunities for those working in the arts, design and media sectors including:

• Jobs with Arts Council England
• Call out for artists for the Rutland Open
• Events from Creative Leicestershire's event programme

You can see a copy of this months edition here but make sure to register now and receive the ebulletin straight to your inbox

Setting up a dance company

Many thanks to Liz Clark and Chris Moore - both based in Leicestershire - for sharing their experiences of setting up a new dance company at our seminar at Curve on 8 December.

Liz has co-created 'Turned on its Head' which has a new interactive approach to work for and with under 5s and their parents. http://lizclark.net.

Chris has set up a mid-scale touring ballet company of 14 dancers which has 70 odd touring dates in the UK this year. http://ballettheatre-uk.com

Their approaches to research and development of their 'products', raising & managing finances, pitching to venues were really interesting.