Un-Valentine's Day

This time last year we had an event called LOVE ARTS at Yorkshire Dance. This was partly an attempt to counter the slushy mushy nonsense we all have to endure at this time of year - whether we are in a relationship or not. A chance to do something creative, positive and worthwhile. This was a great event and people liked the name. So much so that LOVE ARTS became the title for our arts festival in Autumn 2011 - see www.loveartsleeds.co.uk for an archive of what we did. We're holding the 2012 festival all through October this year - get in touch if you have anything you think we might include in our programme.

So, what can you do to if you're not a fan of "VD" (ho ho)?

Sign up to a FREE photography course, of course!

Join Mindy (Photographer) and Tricia (Time to Change) for a digital photography workshop at Inkwell, Chapel Allerton – starting Wednesday 7th March. Every Wednesday from 1.30pm until 3.30pm (until 25th April). Classes are FREE, but there are limited spaces. All materials are provided, along with tea, coffee and biscuits, bring your own digital camera if you have one or we will provide one.

Cocntact Tricia: tricia.thorpe@nhs.net or 07577 770972

And see the poster if you want to tell people about it.

And what am I doing this Un-Valentine's Day? Learning to use a spanking new video camera in order to make films for the Film to Change Project. Good. (By the way, you can see previous films here)

Do you agree with my Un-Valentine's Day stance? Feel free to leave a comment below!

Tom

Instrumental - gigs for mental health

Last week we met up at Dock Street Market to talk about our second 'big gig'. But we don't like the 'Big Gig' as a title. From now on we shall be known as INSTRUMENTAL. 

We have various people on board already. Mike Jolly from Cloth Cat is sorting the bands. We have THE RESPLENDENTS already confirmed http://www.theresplendents.com/ Dave Lynch is sorting the acoustic acts. Sarah Kennedy is managing the door. Christian & Donna are going to distributie posters and help out on the night. Gill Crawshaw from Volition said she would manage an 'information table' so there's plenty of info for people about mental health services and creative courses etc. We are currently having a logo designed and will print a poster soon. Donna and Abi have agreed to take photos on the night.

So far the plan for the night is as follows:

Saturday March 24th, Swarthmore Centre, 2 Woodhouse St, Leeds, LS3 1AD

4pm: Set up equipment & sound checks

7.30pm: First Band

12am: Finish

We need people to sign up to help set up, run the door and clear way. See the advert here

Please phone Tom on 0113 24311221 or email tom.bailey@artsandmindsnetwork if you are able to help out on the night!

Buzz Group/ E-Bulletins/ Submit Artwork

A small but perfectly formed Buzz Group was held last week at Inkwell. We discussed subjects far and wide - see the report here if you want to know what we talked about. The Buzz Groups are a great way to get to know others and help out more in the running of Arts & Minds. The next one is on Monday April 16th, 2pm at Inkwell.

Meanwhile, I've been wrestling with our new e bulletin system - and I THINK I've worked it out! Aplologies if you get repeats of emails - or if you don't get any at all! I'm finding that if I open them in Outlook I can't see the Arts & Minds logo, but it's fine in Yahoo Mail! Any answers techy folks?

I'll post individual bulletins as links - unless I really want you to pay attention, in which case I'll blah on about it all over the place.

Discounts on Carriageworks Tickets: click here

Free Course at the Art Gallery: click here

Another thing: We need your artwork. I'll do an ebulletin in a bit but basically: we're holding an event in March at Factory 4 and we want your artwork to print on bags. Needs to be black & white to be printed A5. You can email me your images. 

This is going to be a fab event - TUESDAY MARCH 13th, 2  -5.30pm - Get it in your diary now!

Anyway, have a happy Wednesday evening and see you soon I hope!

Tom 

Big Gig 2012 - can you help?

After the success of our Big Gig at the Swarthmore Centre in 2011, we are planning another one! We have a small team of folks who put the gig on last time - but we need more people to do the following...

• Design Poster/ Leaflet
• Distribute Publicity materials
• Get gig in papers/ on radio
• Manage Web Presence (helping Dave)
• Help Set up on the night
• Help Run the Door
• Help Clear Away on the night
• Help find acts.
• Get people to come!
• Manage ‘information area’ – leaflets, displays about mental health/ arts stuff
• Photographer – need decent shots of each act
• Previewer/Reviewer – to go on blogs/ Websites

 Any offers? Email me on tom.bailey@artsandmindsnetwork.org.uk 

We plan to meet on Tuesday January 24^th, 5pm at Dock Street Market, 28 Dock Street, LS10 1JF

we'd like to see lots of people there who are interested - especially someone who can design a poster! Do come and see us.

See www.dockstreetmarket.com for directions!

New Website & Buzz Group

We really do have a new website now. A few teething problems meant it took longer than we anticipated to get it working... Please tell us what you think. The aim is for it to be SIMPLER, both in design and navigation. Over the next few weeks we will be building up more information and putting more links to interesting sites. The website, we hope, will expand as time goes on. 

It is now possible to upload your own work on to the gallerry - and I'll send out details of how to do this soon. 

In fact, if you are a visual artist and want to do this we will be looking at the gallery on Wednesday as part of our Buzz Group on Wednesday. The group is for anyone who's interested in getting more involved with Arts & Minds - help with planning events and getting new ideas off the ground. And there's tea and cake and stuff. Wednesday 18th Jan, 2 - 4.30pm, Inkwell, 31 Potternewton Lane, LS7 3LW.

Meanwhile, it's supposedly the 'most depressing' day of the  year today, so here's a picture of me with a lampshade on my head.

See you soon,  hopefully!

Tom