January 2020

Archive for January, 2020

KWMC selected for new environmental programme

Knowle West Media Centre has been named as one of ten cultural initiatives that will receive support to become more environmentally sustainable.

The Accelerator Programme, from Arts Council England and Julie’s Bicycle, will provide organisations with space, resources, time and expertise to develop new and innovative approaches to environmental practice. This includes expert mentoring and a residential training programme.

Sustainability has long been vital to KWMC’s work and ethos – from the construction of our strawbale building to our projects with communities.

As part of the Accelerator Programme, we will be exploring how we can support the community of makers and creatives at KWMC: The Factory to adopt more sustainable making practices. This could include increasing Factory members’ understanding of the lifecycles of materials and products, and helping them incorporate circular economy principles into their work, such as reuse, recycling and responsible waste management.

Factory Digital Fabrication Technician Fiona Dowling commented: “I’m really looking forward to immersing myself fully within the Accelerator Programme and identifying ways for us to improve sustainability practices across the training courses, memberships and services we offer at KWMC: The Factory.”

This is the second Accelerator cohort to receive support from Arts Council England and Julie’s Bicycle. As well as KWMC, the second cohort includes our fellow Bristol organisation Brunel’s SS Great Britain, and the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.

Andrew Ellerby, Senior Manager, Environmental Sustainability & Combined Arts, Arts Council England, said of the programme: “The Arts Council is committed to supporting the cultural sector’s increasing ambition when it comes to addressing climate change, and through our work with Julie’s Bicycle we want to nurture their creative and innovative approaches to sustainability practice. It’s been fantastic to see the first Accelerator cohort’s projects grow and develop over the past 18 months; the proposals set out by the second cohort are equally exciting and I look forward to seeing what they can achieve.”

Julie’s Bicycle and Arts Council England have worked together for over a decade to support cultural organisations in becoming more environmentally sustainable. This collaboration led to policy intervention in 2012 when the Arts Council became the first cultural body in the world to make environmental action part of its funding agreement with National Portfolio Organisations (NPOS).

Keep an eye on @kwmcthefactory on social media to find out more about how we’re putting learning from the Accelerator programme into practice.

Image by Holly Webb.

KWMC supported by business ‘scale up’ initiative

We’re excited to announce that KWMC has been accepted onto a new programme supporting creative businesses in the West of England.

The Creative Scale-Up programme, funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, will see £4 million invested across three regions in the UK – the West of England, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands – giving creative businesses bespoke support to help them grow their business and become ready to take on investment.

The West of England Creative Scale-Up programme was launched on 22 January 2020 and includes 15 businesses in its first cohort.

Businesses, including KWMC, will receive a package of tailored business support over six months, including mentoring, facilitated face-to-face peer support, training and workshops. We will also be supported to engage with networks of investors.

Being part of the Creative Scale Up programme will enable us to develop and expand the work of KWMC: The Factory, our micro-manufacturing hub and maker space at Filwood Green Business Park. KWMC: The Factory was established in 2015 and supports a diverse community of creative people, technologists and businesses to develop new skills in digital manufacturing and business development, create and test new products and prototypes, and connect with other makers.

Other businesses on the West of England Creative Scale Up programme include: Arcadia Ltd; Crack Industries Ltd, Luke Jerram Ltd; Trigger Stuff Ltd; Waller&Wood; Cognitive Paths (Cables and Cameras); Complete Control (Uk) Limited; Limina Immersive Ltd; Auroch Digital Ltd; The Wardrobe Theatre CIC; Encounters Festivals Ltd; We Are Anagram Ltd; Visuable Ltd; MAYK Theatre CIC.

Following the launch of the West of England programme, Tim Bowles, West of England Mayor, commented: “I want our region to become the go-to place for the creative and cultural sector. We’re already internationally renowned but I want the world to know that the West of England will welcome talented people and businesses with open arms, and help them grow into the big names of the future. That’s what our Creative Scale Up programme is all about.”

There will be two further Creative Scale Up cohorts starting in April and June. Find out more here.

Community stories offer new understanding of “physical activity”

The government recently published new guidelines about how much physical activity we should do and the types that most benefit our health. But are they understandable? Are they useful? How do we incorporate physical activity into our lives?

In 2019 KWMC worked with groups across Bristol to explore the guidelines and how they could be communicated more effectively, and support people to tell their own stories about physical activity.

The project, How Do You Move?, was a collaboration between communities in Bristol, KWMC, and researchers at the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West). It included workshops with different groups in Bristol to explore how they interpreted the guidelines and how they’d like them to be communicated: many people were keen to hear recommendations from ‘people like them’.

This has inspired four new films where residents tell their own stories of physical activity and how it can be incorporated into everyday life:

– Abiir lives in Easton and has four young daughters. She spent her childhood in Germany, and is now a keen advocate for increasing cycling in the Somali community.

– Ben is a community activist in Bedminster. He’s retired and spends a lot of his time working with local people to improve the neighbourhood, particularly to make it more pleasant and accessible for walking.

– Lesley works full-time managing a large university department, as well as juggling family life. She came to running later in life and is now an active part of the running community in Staple Hill.

– Vince lives in Bedminster and has strong links to Knowle West and Hengrove where he grew up. Despite health issues, he’s used the support available in South Bristol to help maintain both his mental and physical wellbeing.

The films were launched on 22 January at a celebration event at KWMC to mark the conclusion to the research and you can watch them online here.

Zoe Banks Gross, Engagement Manager at Knowle West Media Centre, said: “At KWMC we use digital storytelling to elevate voices from the community and inspire people to make change. It’s great to launch these films after working with local people to develop this project.

“We used the Bristol Approach, KWMC’s co-design methodology, to develop the workshops and it also informed the film-making process. It was refreshing to bring artists and members of the community into the creation of the workshops, which is unusual in academic research. Funding from the Brigstow Institute, University of Bristol allowed this project to get off the ground.”

To find out more contact Zoe or call 0117 903 0444.

New placements on offer through Creative Workforce scheme

We’re delighted to be part of a new scheme supporting more young people to work in the creative industries, which launched in January 2020.

Creative Workforce for the Future has been developed by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and will help young people bridge the gap from education to work and gain the experience they need to sustain creative careers in sectors such as film, broadcast, digital production, animation and post-production.

Participants will undertake placements at creative and cultural hubs in Bristol and Bath, including KWMC, to develop their experience, CV, portfolio and industry contacts. They will also have access to a Talent Network offering industry expertise and advice.

Creative Workforce for the Future will also support small to medium-sized companies to develop a more inclusive workforce in the region’s cultural and creative industries.

The scheme will draw on the wealth of talent that already exists in Bristol but which is currently under-represented in the creative industries, supporting young people aged 18-30 from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and/or who identify as being from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. In Bristol, 11% of the city’s working age population are from ethnic minorities – but this is not reflected within the film and TV sector workforce.

Young people on placement at KWMC will work with our creative agency Eight on a range of video production briefs, mentored by experienced filmmakers, to develop skills in shooting, editing and pre- and post-production. Our placement is only open to young women as it aims to address the gender imbalance within the UK film industry, where women are consistently under-represented in roles behind the camera.

According to data gathered by BFI Filmography, reviewing over 100 years of UK feature film, less than 5% of directing credits and just over 2% of Director of Photography credits were female.[1] The gender imbalance affects other crew positions too: the BFI found that fewer than 1% of films have crews that are more than 50% female.[2]

Mena Fombo, Head of KWMC’s programme for Young People & Emerging Creatives, said:”We’re really excited to have two young people joining our team on Creative Workforce for the Future placements. They have some brilliant ideas and have already got us thinking about how we can develop our programming, with their input, while we support their growth as professionals in the sector.

“Central to our work is a commitment to diversifying the creative industries. There are many talented emerging creatives across the region who simply haven’t had access to the opportunities that exist in the sector: there is a lot of unused and unsupported talent out there. The sector needs to change and we are excited to support that change by enabling new voices, new ideas and new ways of working to emerge, to produce better and more representative content.”

West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles said: “I want to ensure that everyone, regardless of background, has an opportunity to have a career in the creative industries. Bristol is one of the BBC’s three key sites, along with London and Manchester, and the BBC Natural History Unit is soon to be expanded as a core part of the region’s production activity. It is also the home of Channel 4’s new Creative Hub. These businesses need skilled employees now, and this demand is expected to increase.”

Channel 4’s Managing Director Nations and Regions, Sinead Rocks, said: “The creative industries need to be more representative of the UK as it is today and so we’re delighted that Creative Workforce for the Future will be nurturing and developing fresh, untapped talent with a particular focus on young people from under-represented groups in really tangible ways.”

Find out more about the scheme and how to get involved here.

About the scheme

Creative Workforce for the Future will be delivered by WECA’s partners in the Network for Creative Enterprise, led by the University of the West of England and Watershed, with hubs including The Guild Bath, Knowle West Media Centre, Spike Island, and Rife Magazine at Watershed, who are joined by new hubs Bristol City Council’s Bristol Museums and Creative Youth Network. They will work with business networks in the region including Bristol Media, the Royal Television Society, Creative Bath, TechSpark, Bristol Games Hub, the West of England Design Forum and Engine Shed, and the Channel 4 Creative Hub which launched on 15 January in Bristol.

Creative Workforce for the Future is identified in the West of England Employment and Skills Plan, developed by WECA in partnership with businesses and skills providers, in line with the region’s Local Industrial Strategy. It is supported by investment from the West of England Combined Authority and the European Social Fund and is being delivered as part of the Bristol + Bath Creative R+D programme.

Sources

[1] https://filmography.bfi.org.uk/credits
[2] https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/features/infographic-women-uk-film-1911-2017

Discounts and deals in 24hr Flash Sale

The 24-hour Culture Flash Sale is back for 2020: for one day only, discounted tickets and offers are available at a host of venues across Bristol and Bath!

These include shows, events, exhibitions, workshops, gigs, talks and plays from over 30 arts organisations and venues.

The sale begins at 10am on Wednesday 15 January and runs until 10am on Thursday 16 January 2020.

Read on for details of discounts on our discounts, as well as offers from other organisations involved in the Culture Flash Sale.

Please note: web pages for booking tickets are now live but discount codes and special deals on free tickets will only be activated at 10am on Wednesday 15 January – if you book before this time the discounts and deals will not apply.

£15 off: Colour, Pattern, Surface course

Love bright patterns and bold colours? Create your own textile designs in this six week course! Learn how to paint with transfer and disperse dyes, screen print with laser-cut stencils, and create designs for digital embroidery.

Deal: £15 off the usual price of £185. Visit our online shop during the Flash Sale and use the code flashtextiles20
Date: Thursday evenings from 27 February to 2 April 2020. 6.15pm – 8.15pm
Venue: KWMC: The Factory, Filwood Green Business Park

£5 off: Make your own…Laser-cut Jewellery

Design your own jewellery and stand out from the crowd! Learn how to design and make laser-cut pieces in wood and acrylic at this weekend workshop at KWMC: The Factory. Beginners welcome! Ages 16+

Deal: £5 off the usual price of £55. Visit our online shop during the Flash Sale and use the code flashjewellery20
Date: Saturday 1 February, 10am – 2pm
Venue: KWMC: The Factory, Filwood Green Business Park

Gallery

: Laser-cut jewellery course at KWMC: The Factory

Free music studio access when you book the Audio Lates course

Audio Lates is a ten-week beginner course that aims to give you the skills to start writing and recording your own music. Learn the basics of digital software including Logic Pro X, MIDI, sampling and synthesisers, and pick up handy hints and tips on mixing and arrangement.

Deal: Book for Audio Lates during the Flash Sale and receive four hours’ free access to the KWMC music studio at the end of the course.
Date: course runs Tuesday evenings from 28 January to 31 March 2020. 6.30 – 9.30pm; free studio access to organised with KWMC at the end of the course.
Venue: KWMC, Leinster Avenue

Free producer support when you register for our January Project Night

Project Night is a free evening every other month for anyone who makes art or creative projects in a community setting. Join other creatives to eat together and share ideas and feedback in a supportive environment.

Deal: The first four people to reserve their place at the January Project Night during the Flash Sale will also receive a free one-hour session with a KWMC Arts Producer to provide producing advice, guidance or support for a project you’re working on. E-mail martha.king@kwmc.org.uk after 10am on Wednesday 15 January and quote flashprojectnight20. To claim your free producer session you must attend Project Night in January 2020.
Date: Project Night takes place on Thursday 30 January, 6.30 – 8.30pm; producer support session to be arranged with KWMC at a mutually convenient time (weekdays only).
Venue: KWMC, Leinster Avenue

Free CD when you register for a behind the scenes exhibition tour

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the exhibition 100 Years of Knowle West Style with local makers and artist Holly Beasley-Garrigan. The exhibition marks 100 years since the first council estates were built in Bristol and explores what this South Bristol estate has meant to people for over nine decades. The interactive exhibition includes archive film, photography, music, video and more. It includes commissioned work by artists Holly Beasley-Garrigan, George Lovesmith and Lukus Robbins, made in collaboration with local residents.

Deal: Reserve your free ticket to February’s behind the scenes tour during the Flash Sale and receive a free CD by South Bristol artist Kala Chng, whose music features in the exhibition. CDs available while stocks last. One CD per attendee. To claim your free CD you must attend the behind the scenes tour and collect it in person. CDs will not be posted.
Date: Saturday 8 February, 11am – 1pm.
Venue: KWMC, Leinster Avenue

Other deals in Bristol and Bath

Search #CultureFlashSale on social media and read the full list of Flash Sale offers on the Visit Bristol blog.

About the Flash Sale

The Flash Sale is co-ordinated by the Bristol Arts Marketing Network in co-operation with Arts Marketing Bath, Bristol and Bath Cultural Destinations Project, Visit Bristol and Visit Bath. This is the 12^th edition of the sale and sees 35 organisations across the two cities taking part.

Contact Us

Knowle West Media Centre
Leinster Avenue
Knowle West
Bristol
BS4 1NL
+44 (0) 117 903 0444
enquiries@kwmc.org.uk

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