What is the buzz group?

Every 3 months we give Arts & Minds members a chance to meet and discuss matters of import. The group is for anyone who wants to have their say and get more involved. We meet at Inkwell and always have cake.

Who was there?

About 15 people came. There was a mixture of people, including a couple of workers, a few regulars, a couple of new faces and a cat.

What did we talk about?

There were 3 main areas of discussion:

1. Arts & Minds Summer Party on June 20th at Inkwell

This event will be for Arts & Minds members to meet, have fun and do something creative. We had some vague ideas about the event at the last Buzz Group but here's what we decided:

• The event will be 11am - 3pm. We will encourage people to bring a picnic. Also to bring cake to share. We will serve teas coffess and possibly soup.
• We will invite the Craft Cafe to set up in the main space so people can do craft activities. 
• We'll invite other organisatiopns/ groups to have a table or stall to tell members about different opportunities in Leeds - ie Swarthmore Centre/ Knitting Group/ Baggage Handlers/ BTCV/ Choir/ Pottery/ Seagulls. If possible they could offer a taster of a creative activity.
• There will be a tombola to raise money for Arts & Minds
• Nigel will run a sound workshop - gathering sound and recording it. This will be edited into a CD/ download.
• There will be an acoustic stage in the garden to showcase the musical talents of our members. Kayla, Dave and Gareth will play and we'll get other acts. Tom with host!
• Ellie will work with someone else (hopefully Alison) to create a poster.

A few people said they'd help out on the day - thank you! Look out for the publicity soon - and put 20th June in your diary!

2. Love Arts Festival

This year's Love Arts Festival will take place in October 2012. the festival aims to celebrate the link between creativity and mental health. We asked the Buzz Group for ideas for events they wanted at the festival. Here's a selection of them:

• Music Nights - including folk, classical
• Poetry Event - possibly link up poets with musicians
• Dance Performances - with Tom leading a Line Dancing Night (!)
• Theatre

We also wnated to identify ways for members  and volunteers to get more involved - by hosting their own event in the Festival. Here are a few ideas:

• An Installation including sound and images to tell the public about Arts & Minds
• Student fundraisers
• Interactive collage/ murals including handprints or people's feelings on tiles
• Mass Drumming Event
• Interactive Poetry - everyone contributes a line of a poem
• Dramatic Performace including members' stories and experiences

We'll take all these ideas to the Love Arts Festival comittee and see what we can do to include them in the programme!

3. World's Longest Bunting

We had a brief chat about the world record attempt for the longest piece of bunting. We gave out packs for people to make their own bunting. There's a meeting to talk about an event as part of the Olympic Torch Relay (Wednesday 18th 1pm at Inkwell) - this will include bunting too!  Some people expressed interest about bjoining a team of volunteers to take bunting workshops into mental health services in Leeds.

All in all a very succesful group! Thanks to all who came and hope to see you at the next one!

Tom 17/4/12

Have a look at the photos here and feel free to comment.

At times the room was packed out with happy, jolly people, some of whom even danced. I remained sober so was not able to strut my stuff.

The plan is to do another big Instrumental gig in the Autumn and meanwhile set up a more informal open mic and songwriting club at Inkwell. More details as we get them.

"Everyone was very welcoming and it was a relaxed atmosphere, yet a lot of work got done"

"Really interesting and enjoyable"

"Had lots of fun and met lots of nice new people. Inspiring"

"Best 3 hours I've spent lately! Excellent teachers"

Thanks to all at Facotry 4 for their hopspitality - Gina, John, Phil, Bernard, lovely folk. Go and see for yourself: www.fac4.co.uk

You can see a selection of photos from the event here

The point I often make about the film group is that making a film isn't easy. We've done it for 2 years now and in the making of every film there are problems, stresses, crises. Especially the comedies. But it's somehow worth it. It takes effort but if it didn't, what would be the point?

It is this spirit of resignation that we are seeking a writer to help one of our fledgling scriptwriters. We have already had one offer but are there more of you experienced screenwriters lurking out there, desperate to lend your services and advice, free of charge, with only a guarantee of a rich tea biscuit and an argument in a brightly lit room? Let me know.

There's no harm asking, eh?

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!

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

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!

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 

• 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!

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

Here's a picture of Linda at the recent "Laugh Your Socks Off" event at the Howard Assembly Room.

I will update this blog every week so look out for some exciting news!

Cheers,

Tom