mac, Britain’s liveliest arts centre, re-opens its doors in 2010 following a £15m makeover. mac offers an array of contemporary visual art and digital media exhibitions, dance and theatre performances, music, cinema, literature, poetry and comedy events. Embracing a broad spectrum of creative disciplines, we need Artist Tutors who can deliver in a broad range of areas: performance arts including dance, drama, music; movement and yoga classes; practical applied areas such as jewellery, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, drawing and painting; digital media including music technology, digital photography and animation.

Proposals from artists who specialise in teaching a particular medium or genre are welcome, and we also invite submissions that are cross art form, address different learning needs and reflect the diversity of Birmingham’s communities. As part of mac’s team of artist tutors, you will also have opportunities to deliver additional future outreach and collaborative projects.

mac is now seeking to recruit a team of experienced Artist Tutors to join us in shaping the delivery of the creative learning experience at mac.

For further information and how to apply please visit www.macarts.co.uk/index.php?pid=14

Stage 1 closing date for applications is 5pm Friday 19 February 2010.

Longhouse has commissioned Jonnet Middleton to carry out a period of research as part of the Action Research programme. Below is a press release for her Unitypanda project.

Unitypanda

Unitypanda is an ambitious and fun project for people to come together to knit pandas. The Unitypanda project is being tested out with the people of Coventry 16-20 January 2010 at the Coventry Artspace shop at Unit 22, City Arcade. Members of the public of all ages are invited to come along and knit a small part of a panda, be they experts, ex-knitters or pure beginners.

Local people can take a break from their shopping in the winter cold by dropping into the Unitypanda shop in Coventry town centre. Anyone interested in a spot of knitting can cast on around the large pandaknitting table and enjoy a hot cup of tea with some friendly company. The aim of Unitypanda is simply for people to have fun making pandas together.

For the four days of this initial Unitypanda trial run pandaknitters are sought to test out the knitting pattern. Advice from experienced knitters or helpful comments from novices are invaluable for perfecting the adorable little Unitypandas. Through trial and error the pandamaking system will be fine tuned until the pandas start to multiply like hot cakes.

In April 2010 Unitypanda sees its official launch at the Coventry Artspace shop and at venues nationwide. It is hoped that scores of knitters pooling their time and effort will create a hundred Unitypandas or more. All the knitted pandas will go on tour in an art exhibition in autumn/winter 2010-2011.

As the saying goes, many hands make light work. Every panda stitch is helpful and everyone can knit as much or as little as they like. As the needles start clicking hind legs and paws will start taking shape and a good time will be had by all. It’s anyone’s guess how many pandas will appear when a lot of people each make a tiny effort, and that’s part of the fun.

Knitters will follow an original pattern from 1946 which commemorates the arrival of the giant panda “Miss Unity Panda” to London Zoo. The lovable 10” knitted creature is made up of 24 parts, some being larger and more complex than others. Pandaknitters choose which part of the panda they have the time and skills to knit. Panda parts range from an ‘ear’, a quick and easy knit, to an ‘upper half fore leg’ which suits the more experienced knitter.

Would be participants don’t even need to knit to join in the panda fun. Help is required to cut rags for stuffing, sew the pandas up and embroider eyes and noses. People are more than welcome to simply share their memories of knitting around the pandaknitting table. Perhaps someone even remembers Miss Unity Panda arriving at London Zoo 66 years ago! In keeping with the 1940’s theme, music from the wartime era will enliven the proceedings. Parents are welcome and a selection of panda books and toys are available for children.

All the Unitypandas created with the help of Coventry residents will be on show in a touring exhibition from September 2010 to January 2011 ‘Material Actions’ organised by Textile Forum South West. Unitypanda is devised by West Midlands based artist, Jonnet Middleton and funded by Coventry Artspace and Longhouse. For more information call the Pandaline on 07974 694 584.

Pandaline: 07974 694 584

Opening times: 10-30 – 4.30, Sat 16, Mon 18 – Wed 20 January 2010.
Coventry Artspace shop, Unit 22, City Arcade, Coventry.

Follow Unitypanda on :

http://unitypanda.wordpress.com
http://www.facebook.com/unitypanda
https://twitter.com/unitypanda
https://friendfeed.com/unitypanda

Beyond Bricks provides opportunities for artists and residents to work together to respond to the social, economic and environmental changes taking place in local area. The programme is a series of temporary creative activities that celebrate the culture and pride of local community as well as its heritage and its future.

Beyond Bricks is entering its second year following on from a successful programme in 2009 and this year Beyond Bricks will take place in nine different neighbourhoods in the Birmingham and Sandwell Housing Renewal Pathfinder area. To find out more about the programme and last year’s projects please go to www.beyondbricks.net

The programme is an exciting collaboration initiated and led by Urban Living and Arts Council England, West Midlands. Delivery of the programme is managed by local community arts organisation, Multistory.

A number of commissions are now available on the Beyond Bricks programme. Please click on the documents below to find out further information about the commission and how to apply.

• Beyond Bricks Documentation Brief (pdf)
• Beyond Bricks Evaluation Brief (pdf)
• Beyond Bricks Press & PR Brief (pdf)