Welcome to the 18 April 2008 edition of the Bristol Creatives E-bulletin. If you have any comments, or suggestions for future editions please email sally@bristolcreatives.co.uk.

Bristol Creatives News

As you many have heard our funding has recently come to an end. We were originally granted seed funding by the Arts Council England South West and Bristol City Council in 2006 to set the network up as a two year pilot scheme to see if there was enough demand for a creative network for visual and applied artists in Bristol.

During this time Bristol Creatives has gone from strength to strength and we now have over 900 members working in a wide range of creative disciplines from across the city. Most of us are self employed, sole traders, small partnerships or individuals with creative talents.

We have just prepared a business plan for the future sustainable development of the network, which reflects the feedback we have had from our members. The next step is to apply for more funding to set Bristol Creatives up as a social enterprise and to develop a range of revenue generating initiatives including:

- an online gallery selling members work for a small commission;

- optional paid membership that includes public liability insurance;

- a resource centre where members can access training and pay-as-you-go use of state-of-the-art photo editing, web design, image manipulation, film editing and audio software;

These new initiatives (if funded), will in the future, fund our core activities, which include:

- managing and promoting the website;

- sending out e-bulletins;

- hosting networking events;

- promoting the network and representing the interests of independent visual and applied artists.

We will keep you informed as to how these funding bids are progressing, and in the meantime will continue to manage the website and publish these irregular e-bulletins.

We'd like to thank you all for your continued support and hope that you will continue to recommend us to your colleagues and friends as a unique free facility and the best source of information about all that is creative about Bristol!

Best Wishes

Sally Reay
Bristol Creatives Project Manager

Made In Bristol

0117 - Made in Bristol will launch this September and will feature over 300 of Bristol's leading design, digital, animation and marketing companies along with interviews and in depth features on many of the city's creative entrepreneurs and movers and shakers.

They are also looking for artists, photographers, furniture makers, fashion designers, jewellery designers, etc to feature in this publication you must submit your details for consideration by Friday 25 April, to find out more visit www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/node/1456

Bristol Urban Art Show

Lost behind the jangling of Morris Dancing and Maypoles, May 1st has long stood as the date to remember the common struggles and achievements of workers around the globe.

After the huge success of December's 12 Days Of Xmas show in Bristol's Old Bridewell Police Station, STEAL FROM WORK now present their second major group art show.

To find out more visit /www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/node/1457

Spike Island: The Open

The Open at Spike Island is an annual event which takes place on the first May Bank Holiday weekend.

Whilst the Galleries are open all year round, The Open is the only time during the year when visitors are able to explore every corner of this vast building at their own pace. You are invited to meet the artists and designers working here, see their work and attend the programme of exhibitions, events & activities that will take place over the long bank holiday weekend.

For more information visit www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/node/1460

Plan 9: We Used To Be Painters

We Used to be Painters underlines how artists have tried to assimilate rapid developments in the media available to them. By doing so the exhibition demonstrates changes in how we make, keep and view moving image.

For more information visit www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/node/1459

Desperate Men - Call for Artists & Performers

Desperate Men use a pool of regular performers who work on our animations and performances. Over the summer we sometimes have busy weekends when we just don't have enough hands on deck. So we are currently open for CV's from performers of any age, shape and species.

Our animations are interactive and character-based and we look for people who can engage and animate the public. We are also interested in seeing CV's from costume designers/makers.

For more information visit www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/node/1461

Ace Craftworks' FREE Arts Group

Ace Craftworks hosts the ever popular FREE Arts Group starting Thursday the 8th of May 12.30- 3.00 and every Thursday following.

To find out more visit www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/node/1454

Bristol Design Festival

Plans for the second Bristol Design Festival are well underway - if you want to exhibit, sponsor, volunteer, include your own independent show as part of the festival, run a workshop or speak at a seminar visit www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/node/1462

Basic & Advanced Pension Seminars For Artists

The highly successful Pensions for Artists seminar programme has already provided free advice to over 600 people working across the arts. ArtsMatrix and Business Link South West are teaming up to bring the seminar back to the South West, for two dates in April.

For more information visit www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/node/1158

Painting and Sketching Outdoors

"I'm looking to meet up with other artists who enjoy painting/ drawing outside. Venues could be landscape or townscape. If it's raining, perhaps the inside of a church or café. I would hope to meet up a few hours each month or possibly more

For more information visit www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/node/1154

West Bristol Arts Trail

The first ever West Bristol Arts Trail will take place on October 18th & 19th 2008. Do you live in Hotwells, Clifton, Clifton Wood or Spike Island?

Visit www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/node/1160

Latest News & Event Calendar

Don't forget to visit www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/ regularly for up-to-date news, opportunities and details of exhibitions, courses and arts trails.

We have just added a new category - workshop facilitator - to the Bristol Creatives online Creative Directory. So if you run creative workshops of any kind and are looking for ways to promote what you do then log in at www.bristolcreatives.co.uk and follow the instructions below to list yourself for free.

Bristol Creatives Members Privileges

Don't forget that your free membership of Bristol Creatives entitles you to post your own articles and announcements in News, details of forthcoming events, courses, gigs and exhibitions in the Event Calendar and list your business in the new Creative Directory. Just visit www.bristolcreatives.co.uk and log in and select 'create content' under your name on the right hand side of the screen, then choose from one of the following options:

forum topic - to create a new topic for discussion in the Forum
local event - to create an event to appear on the Event Calendar
member directory listing - to list your business in the Creative Directory
story - to create an article for News

Email sally@bristolcreatives.co.uk if you have any problems logging in.

Please forward this E-bulletin to anyone who might be interested and suggest they join Bristol Creatives so that they can benefit from the free membership facilities mentioned above and can subscribe to future Bristol Creatives E-bulletins.

Best Wishes

Sally Reay
Bristol Creatives Project Manager