BBC Peforming Arts Fund

The BBC Performing Arts Fund aims to seek out and support aspiring individuals and community groups who, for reasons of lack of existing support, personal background or circumstance, would not have been able to achieve their greatest potential without the Fund's support or intervention.

Each year the fund focuses on a different artform and run two grant schemes; one for individuals and one for community groups. This year the fund is focussing on DANCE

The Community Dance scheme is inviting applications from community groups that bring their communty together through Dance. The aim is to encourage more participation in, and increase the audience for Community Dance. Deadline Tuesday 12 July

The Dance Fellowship scheme is designed to give upcoming dancers, choreographers and producers a glimpse of the professional world. Dance companies, organisations, venues and festivals from across the UK can now apply for grants to host a bespoke placement for a talented Fellow. Deadline Wednesday 20 July

For more information about the fund and to apply go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund/dance

Public sector commissioning of the arts

Linden Rowley has been doing some indepth work with Leicester and Leicestershire councils on how they can use and commission arts, heritage and sports activity to address the key public sector issues (in health, adult social care, community safety, economic development and for children & young people). If you are a community artist or arts organisation and want to know more about the commissioning process, come along to the free seminar which Linden is running for us at the Leicester Creative Business Depot on 30 June. 5.30pm tea/coffee for 6pm start. Book at http://commissioning.eventbrite.com/

Mentees required

We are looking for emerging artists and arts managers based in our patch who would benefit from a mentor in music promotion; writing; theatre; fundraising or arts management. It's free and applications are required by 24 June. Full info here: http://www.creativeleicestershire.org.uk/mentee_info.doc

Degree Show Time

Degree Shows at De Montfort and Loughborough University are both starting next week. DMU will be showing the final work of 795 creative graduates across art & design from 17 to 23 June (http://www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/art_and_design/degree-show/index.jsp) and Loughborough's School of the Arts shows run from 18 to 23 June http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/sota/degree-shows.html

On 15 June DMU's Technology Degree Show projects include the making of a game for an iphone; the uses of biometric technology; the design and implications of a compact loud speaker and much more. See http://www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/technology/degreeshow2011/.