Arts Business Symposium @ Kings Place

This event slipped through the net when I was writing the newsletter this week. It's just on our doorstep, and is particularly topical given the financial instability of many arts organisations today. See you there?

Subsidy Junkies?
A day of practical survival strategies for arts fundraising
Friday 26th March at Kings Place

How can the arts sector build and sustain income when faced with public spending cuts?
This one day symposium brings together fundraising and development professionals working in the arts and cultural sectors to explore this changing landscape, learn practical survival strategies, seek out opportunities and generate new ideas to stay financially healthy.

Programme
The day will include panel discussions looking at different business models in the arts and getting boards engaged with fundraising along with interactive workshops on pitching to business, major gifts ("making the ask") and the importance of looking after your supporters ("donor care").

Speakers include:
Peter Aspden - Financial Times
Alyssa Bonic - Sky Arts
Peter Buchan - BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
Bruce Carnegie-Brown - Shakespeare's Globe Trust
Lucy Cooke - National Maritime Museum
Stephen Crocker - The Lowry
Helen Ellis - Prudential
Keri Elmsley - United Visual Artists
Ginny Greenwood - Tricycle Theatre
Donald MacDonald, CBE - Arts & Business Prince of Wales Medal for Arts Philanthropy 2009 Recipient
Richard Mantle - Opera North
Alec Reed - The Big Give
Lady Solti - Arts & Business Goodman Award 2009 Recipient
Tim Stockil - Creative Intelligence
Vanessa Swann - Cockpit Arts

Booking via Arts & Business Website

Market Estate Radio

They also have a brilliant radio station:
Tune in here: http://www.marketestateproject.com/radio/
They are calling for proposals and ideas for programmes, to be aired on the show - so get in touch with them and you could be broadcasting soon. The station is live until 10th March.

Market Estate - Volunteers Needed!

Last Friday morning I hiked it up the hinterland of York Way to visit Gadi Sprukt, the co-Mastermind behind the amazing Market Estate Project. The large, and now rather desolate, estate is being readied for demolition, but Gadi and his team are ensuring the place goes out with a bang not a wimper. They have selected 75 artists to come together for a gallimaufry of live art, sculpture, installations and performance throughout the flats and common parts.

The tickets for the one-day spectacular on 6th March are already gone - blink and you missed them! But there is still time to get involved. The Market Estate team are looking for volunteers to act as guides and invigilators for the day. In return you will have the chance to see behind the scenes of this unique project, and join the artist celebrations after the show. You will also be well fed and watered. If you are interested, drop them an email at: marketestateproject@gmail.com

Mat Collishaw, Tracey Emin & Paula Rego at The Foundling Museum

Get yourselves down to the Foundling Museum for a unique exhibition from three contemporary art heavy weights; Mat Collishaw, Tracey Emin and Paula Rego.

The Foundling, which charts the history of the Foundling Hospital, London's first home for abandoned children, is an unusal but apt space for this exhibition. Throughout their careers all three artists have explored key themes relating to the museum and its objects; childhood and parenthood, loss and grief, love and exploitation.

Work is festooned around the museum, including the building's facade. For a few pennies more you can get to hear from the artists themselves, as each will be leading their own tour of the exhibition for a few lucky people. Mat Collishaw kicks off the proceedings this Friday - so book fast.

I have just bought my ticket to Emin's tour and talk (I am on a tight budget this month, as otherwise would be tempted to go to all three). I promise a full review to follow then.

The Foundling Tours and Talks:

...WITH MAT COLLISHAW
Friday 19 February, 6pm - 9pm
Artist's tour £10 (includes a drink), admission only £5.

...WITH TRACEY EMIN
Friday 19 March, 6pm - 9pm
Artist's tour £10 (includes a drink), admission only £5.

...WITH PAULA REGO
Friday 16 April, 6pm - 9pm
Artist's tour £10 (includes a drink), admission only £5.

http://www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk/exhibit_temp.php

Image: Foundlings and Fledglings- Our Angels of this Earth, 2009, neon, by Tracey Emin, courtesy of the artist and White Cube

Kings Place Music Programmes

If you are an aspiring young jazz player or a music teacher looking for some professional development – look no further than Kings Place this summer. It’s getting together with the National Youth Jazz Collective to produce a young musicians programme and a CPD programme for teachers. Expert facilitated workshops will be followed by Sunday concerts by NYJC and the summer course students.

If you'd like further information about either strand, then get onto Joanie Magill, Kings Place Outreach Manager:
Tel: 020 7520 1450

Email: joanie.magill@kingsplace.co.uk

Reveal is Coming!

Everyone in the CreateKX office is aware of a very quiet but insistent tick-tocking: The countdown to Reveal has begun.

Our 10 day cultural programme takes place all over King's Cross and launches on 22nd April.

The full website is still in development, but here's the teaser site to spark your imagination. You can sign up to the Reveal newsletter to hear exclusive programme news and events, or follow Reveal on the CreateKX twitter feed.

In the meantime I'll be twisting the arm of Susanna Roland, Reveal Producer, to share some insider info on the blog... if I can make her stay in one place for long enough.

New Year, More Fun

Happy new year, all!

2010 was heralded in to the CreateKX office with much sneezing and snuffling. Bad weather, colds, and the annual detox - January is a challenge to us all. To ease the winter blues I have spent the last 24 hours compiling the most exciting January newsletter ever.

My personal must-see this month is Resolution! Over the next 6 weeks the Place is hosting its annual platform for the newest contemporary choreography. Resolution! has been showcasing up and coming talent since 1990, and the UK’s best choreographers gave us a first taste of their talent here.
This year features 102 companies in 34 performances – catch these rising stars while you can.
Resolution! runs until Saturday 20th February. For full listings, and to book visit The Place online: http://www.theplace.org.uk/634/whats-on/listings.html

Some of the other highlights for January include:
The pioneers of photography at the British Library
An exclusive screening of Ria Pacquee's street level portait of King's Cross - commissioned by Camden Arts Centre.
The UK's first A Capella festival at Kings Place
Love, and other Magic Tricks arrives to Camden People's Theatre

...Or if you're in need of a post-Christmas health-kick, then why not pop down to the Lexington for a spot of Rock Aerobics?...

Sign up for our monthly newsletter at the CreateKX website, and never be at a loose end again!

Image courtesy of Hitchhike Dance Collective, for Resolution! 2010

Christmas Quiz!

Christmas is almost here!

And it wouldn't be Christmas without a festive quiz, to tease those little grey cells. We are too full of mince pies and merriment to make our own, but luckily those clever people over at the Wellcome Trust have been a bit more proactive!

New Scientist magazine asked staff from the Wellcome Library to chose items from the Wellcome Image Library and also to create false descriptions for them.

We've had a go at guessing the real explanations behind the 10 objects offered - and have done pretty badly. Go on, see if you can do any better! In the meantime Happy Christmas, and see you in 2010.

Taster question:

Take a look at the picture above. Which of the following is its real purpose?

a). an ether dispenser

b). an enema syringe

c). a room fragrancer

d). an air pollution measurer?

Find out the answer, and play the whole quiz at: http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/curiouswellcome

Lambs Conduit Street - Christmas Shopping

Don't miss the annual Lambs Conduit Street winter fair, taking place this Thursday, from 4-8pm. Art, retail, mulled wine and Christmas lights... what more do you need?

Art and Craft where you least expect it!

One of the most sited 'great things about London' is the access to and sheer number of cultural venues and activities available only a short bus/tube/bike ride away. Well at the moment, the opportunity to take part in and / or enjoy some art or craft have sprung up in a couple of suprising places.

In the case of Kristy and Coralie's Christmas Cooler, the term 'sprung up' applies literally. Best friends Kristie and Coralie have set up their pop up shop in an old victorian bath house near Kings Cross on the Caledonian Road. They have trasformed the building with vintage furniture to create a perfect environment for some crafty Christmas cheer.

Everything is for sale and wherever possible it is handmade or secondhand, making it a great place pick up some distinctive Christmas presents over homemade soup, mulled wine or tea and cake. Their tagline is 'Drink, Shop and Do' and from 'Smack my Stitch up' (Upcycling your old clothes)to 'Play with clay, 80's style' (Lional Ritchie's video for 'Hello' is the 80's reference), there certainly are some great craft orientated events on offer in this very different socialising experience.

It must be said that their events are probably more aimed at those of you who have emotional reactions to handbags, heels and cute little cupcakes crafted out of colourful wool, but it certainly is a plug for a gap in the market. The resurgance in interest in the crafts such as crochet and knitting is testament to that. I think some jaded londoners looking for a new hobby, a chat and a bit of entertainment over a cocktail could have a wonderful evening or 2 at the Christmas Cooler. Full details of their events are available on their website.

Another unexpected art experience can be had at the St Pancras Hospital in the form of the Celestial Bodies exhibition. Artist Amber Garnet is exhibiting her illustrations on a planetary theme, which as well as being unusual artworks in their own right, the godesses portrayed have their own characteristics and personality traits. The hospital is far from a large gallery space, but any artists from around the area may be interested in sending in their work for consideration.

-Drink Shop and Do will be open 12pm to 12am, Thursday to Sunday for the three weekends in December (from the 3rd to the 20th)

9 Caledonian Road, N1 9DX

www.kristieandcoralies.com

- Celestal Bodies is showing until 18th February.

The Gallery Space, South Wing, St Pancras Hospital

St. Pancras Way, NW1 0PE

www.celestialbodiesexhibition.co.uk