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The three finalists of the BP Portrait Award 2009 have been named. They are Annalisa Avancini for Manuel, Michael Gaskell for Tom and Peter Monkman for Changeling 2. The winner will be announced on 16 June. The exhibition of 56 best portraits out of a record 1,901 entries will open at the National Portrait Gallery, London, on 18 June. The BP Portrait Award is the most prestigious portrait competition in the world, highlighting the very best in contemporary portrait painting. Open to everyone over the age of 18, the competition and resulting exhibition aim to encourage artists to focus upon and develop the theme of portraiture in their work.

As well as a significant first-prize of Â£25,000 and three runners-up prizes, the competition also includes a special prize for entrants under the age of 30, continuing the Award's role as a showcase for young artistic talent. Anyone selected for the exhibition is also eligible to enter for the BP Travel Award.

Submissions for the BP Portrait Award 2009 are now closed

Workshop at Pad Preston

			the cumbria network artist forum - artists talking point , interests , exhibitions and more

Launch of new support network for emerging and creatives in Lancaster and Morecambe

The City Council, Lancaster University and Lancashire Artists Network are teaming up to launch a network for emerging creatives in Lancaster and Morecambe area. As well as regular sessions offering targeted practical help and advice on setting up a creative business, the Young Creatives Network offers the opportunity for people to come together to discuss ideas and pursue avenues for new work and collaboration. The network is open to anyone from the following sectors: advertising, craft, architecture, design, designer fashion, film & video, games, marketing, music, performing arts, publishing, TV & Radio and visual arts. Individuals must either have been trading for under three years, be just setting up or have a serious commitment to starting out as a creative practitioner. A selection of creatives involved in the network will also have the opportunity to n display their work as part of a Christmas selling exhibition at the Peter Scott Gallery. Bill Kindon, Principal Economic Development Officer for the City Council said: We are delighted to be partnering with LAN and the Grow Creative project at the University to establish this network. There is a wealth of creative activity taking place in the Lancaster area and its important for us to connect people now for when the Storey Creative Industries Centre opens next year as part of the move to make Lancaster a hub for CI and somewhere people really feel they want to stay and can successfully grow their businesses

Any emerging or young businesses interested or finding out more should contact the Grow Creative Project Manager, Charlotte Stuart c.stuart@lancs.ac.uk; 01524 593412

Sizzle is back with a vengeance, ready to help steer the Creative Industries forward to a bold future in these challenging times.

-The University of Cumbria was formed on 1st August 2007 formally, from an amalgamation of St Martins College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts, and the Cumbrian campuses of the University of Central Lancashire. The University has campuses in Carlisle, Newton Rigg, Penrith, Ambleside and Lancaster and a specialist teacher-education centre in London. The University also has strong links and close partnership working with the four FE Colleges in Cumbria (Lakes Colleges, Furness College, Carlisle College and Kendal College) to enable HE delivery locally across the county. In addition, the University is the lead institution of Cumbria Higher Learning, a Distributed Learning Network for Cumbria.

For more information about the new university, visit www.cumbria.ac.uk.

Made in Lancashire Art & Craft Made in Lancashire is expanding to include the artists and craftspeople of Lancashire! We have secured funding to create a support network to assist the designer makers of the county. We will be helping them to promote their work and improve their businesses. Talented and creative artisans will be invited to apply to become members of Made in Lancashire Art & Craft, which will give them access to a range of services. These will include the opportunity to market their products under the brand Made in Lancashire either at local shows or at individual Craft events.		Made in Lancashire Art & Craft is dedicated to promoting high quality, innovative hand crafted items that have been created in Lancashire, by carving, engraving, sculpting, moulding, spinning, stitching, weaving, dyeing, painting, drawing, fabricating and printing. It offers active help with the development of high quality brands and provides a stamp of recognition â‚¬Å¾ Â¢ that helps consumers to identify the very best of the county hand crafted products. All products must have been totally crafted in Lancashire, or a substantial final process must have been undertaken within the county. This condition must conform to the Trading Standards guidelines on the place of origin. So remember to check out where our local Craft events are in time to start your Christmas shopping, when you can impress your friends and family with high quality and unique gifts! Please note that many of the craftspeople of Lancashire are makers of more practical items, and so not all of the products will be classified as gifts.


	OPPORTUNITIES: Northern Art Prize The major new prize for contemporary artists in the North of England. This prize is awarded by nomination from a range of directors and curators of public galleries and museums across the North of England. A national panel of artists and arts professionals will select a short list of four, all of whose work will be exhibited in a group show at Leeds Art Gallery. The winner will receive 16,500 and three runners-up will receive 1,500 each. To know more and get involved please go to www.northernartprize.org.uk Tel: 0845 6801357 Or email: info@northernartprize.org.uk

OPPORTUNITIES: Creative Lancashire Insight Out North West

Creative Lancashire is the creative industries development service for Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool.

Here you will be able to find information on a whole range of business support, network events and finance tailored to meet the needs of your creative and digital business.

Creative Lancashire.org

Sharon Lowe | Creative Industries Development Officer / Insight Out NW Programme Manager
Creative Lancashire | c/o LCDL | Robert House | Starkie Street | Preston | PR1 3LU

Wray Scarecrow Festival.

usually in May

WWW Scarecrows
Wray Lancashire scarecrow

Wray Scarecrow Festival. All through the winter the quaintly snowed-in rural folk of Wray Village have been eccentrically passing the time engaged in their indigenous craft - making fabulous scarecrows! The streets, lanes and alleyways of this picturesque village will be populated by tableaux and fantasy creations on all kinds of themes - politics, TV and more. I think we can expect some royal scarecrows for sure. There will be delicious and cheap home-made refreshments in Wray Institute all week. There will be a display of costumes and flowers 'Moments in Time' with music at Holy Trinity Church. David and Goliath Rap Mon-Fri Wray school 11am + 2pm. The Festival kicks off today with the St George's Day celebrations, and finishes with the big fair on May Monday. Don't miss this. You just have to go. If our council had any sense they'd organise special buses. See www.wrayvillage.co.uk/scarecrows.htm for a stack of info or tel: 01524 32878.

yahoo group ArtAnonymous

Art Anonymous is for artists around the world working in painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture or, any medium. Discuss artists, art in general, your work, materials, methods, business issues or, anything having to do with your life as an artist. Receive technical help from other artists and give help when you can. Share secrets, tips, favourite painters, and favourite books.View homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ArtAnonymous/

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