Creative Leicestershire's contribution to Leicester Comedy Festival was a panel discussion about how to get on in comedy and build a career. Arthur Smith, Zoe Lyons and festival director Geoff Rowe, chaired by Julian Hall, comedy critic of the Independent, talked about how to get started, the perils of the open night circuit, the importance of Edinburgh and how much money you can lose doing it, the pros and cons of getting an agent, among other topics. A keen audience of aspiring performers and writers asked some searching questions, and there were really good biscuits.

Bursary Winner Lunchbox Films @ Leeds Young People's Film Festival

We're happy to announce that Lunchbox Films film, 'Dr Markus & The Tomb of Gloom' has been accepted into the Leeds young people's film festival! The film was made by year 5 pupils at t.Hubert's Primary School, Birmingham and was made under the Creative Partnerships shceme. It will be judged by a panel of industry experts and young people. For more info visit: www.leedsyoungfilm.co.uk

Well Done!

To view the film go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3I8xdfNuz4

Past Bursary Winner Comedy Festival Review

Rob Gee: Fruitcake - Ten Commandments From the Psych Ward.

Comic, poet and reformed psychiatric nurse, Rob Gee presents an idiot’s guide to insanity, fresh from a sell-out tour of Canada. Fruitcake is a rollercoaster ride of comedy and poignant observation charting a night shift on an acute psychiatric ward. Read Rob Gee's Review in Chortle here

Maria Allen published by Tindal Street Press

Maria Allen's first novel is published by the estimable Midlands publisher Tindal Street Press this month. Before the Earthquake is a historical literary mystery from Loughborough-based Maria who is half English and half Italian.

You can order it straight from http://www.tindalstreet.co.uk/books/before-the-earthquake

Try our Freelancers Quiz

Ever wonderered what it takes to be a creative freelancer? Well now we know, as the national occupational standards have been released. There 62 different areas of knowledge/skill in all. Just to celebrate we have created a quiz which we have been trying out on unsuspecting graduates and mentees, so you can see what you can/can't do.
http://www.creativeleicestershire.org.uk/index/information.htm

Jo Cope in BBC New Brands series

Jo Cope, designer maker and Creative Leics bursary winner, is getting lots of coverage for her original approach linking fashion and product design. She will be featured on the first of the BBC 1 New Brands series for new product designers. Her work is also in the San Serif design book 'Articulado'. For more on her work see www.jocope.com

Do you run art classes or workshops?

Our Artslink website has now been completely rebuilt by the ever-enthusiastic Reach Marketing. It's an online directory for people to find participatory arts classes or workshop leaders in Leicestershire, Rutland or Northamptonshire. (Working in Northants is a new departure for us!)

We are working on building up the numbers of companies/artists registered on the site until March when we'll be publicising the site more widely. As ever it's free to register.