The Mix

Issue 3 - May 2009

MARKETS & EVENTS

Arts @ The Loft: We've had a great deal on recently and have decided that we now need time to reflect, evaluate and refine the work we do, whilst getting on top of our new database system. To give us time to do this properly we have cancelled the Salsa themed market scheduled to take place on Sunday 03 May. We apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment caused but will be back at The Loft better than ever on Sunday 07 June (coinciding with the Farmers Market), with the Specialist Jewellery Showcase - the open-air Courtyard will also be available for stalls too.

Pudsey Market Place: We had a great turnout and a brilliant atmosphere at our first market of 2009 on Easter Sunday, all helped by the terrific support of the local press and shops in Pudsey Centre. Our next Pudsey Market on Sunday 14 June.

Coming Soon - Leeds Bar Week @ Brewery Wharf, Saturday 16 May
Leeds' Best Bartender Competition, DJ competition and all sorts of exciting things with cocktails! Another fun day at Brewery Wharf, be sure to get it in your diary now.

The Dragon Boat Festival: 27 & 28 June (Saturday & Sunday)
Featuring a world craft market by the riverfront in Leeds, along with a wide range of day time 'Planet Leeds' concerts and performances. Stalls available for all art and craft traders and Fairtrade retailers - performance opportunities for Leeds based performers too. Fabulous fun for all the family on the Leeds Waterfront.

The Waterfront Festival: 11 & 12 July (Saturday & Sunday)
Featuring over 40 trading stalls and the 'Waterfront Art Walk'
We are currently looking for artists to line the canal from Brewery Wharf to Clarence Dock throughout the Sunday, exhibiting and selling their work. For just £5 you can book an 8 foot designated space on the waterfront. The art walk will be serenaded by local jazz musicians performing acoustically and promises to be a real highlight of the Sunday. The event is heavily supported by the businesses in and around Brewery Wharf and will benefit from highly visible publicity and promotion.

We are also still in negotiations to secure market dates at Granary Wharf when it is resurrected later in the year and are planning a host of other exciting market opportunities in the city and suburbs.

For full details and prices please contact Sophie on 0113 247 0066 or e.mail: sophie@artsmix.co.uk

THE CREATIVE WORKSHOP

Laura Wellington has been appointed as the Creative Development Co-ordinator for the workshop, and is the new cheery face who will help with hiring space, renting equipment, courses, technical questions etc…

We have had a good spring clean, and Laura is eager to welcome you down to the new ‘improved’ workshop and to hear your thoughts. For more information or to arrange a visit please call 0113 391 2547 or email: laura@artsmix.co.uk

ARTSMIX 4 BUSINESS


03 April saw the artsmix 4 business team enter Sugar Mill to hang a selection of work from around 20 members of the artsmix* 4 business programme. Sugar Mill, a new managed office space located just off Dewsbury Road, houses numerous offices spaces over its three floors.

Over 30 pieces of original artwork were hung along the corridors, animating the space and providing excellent exposure and sales opportunities for the our artists.

Another success - Oliver Neilson has sold 2 pieces exhibited on our office walls, and 3 more from the Tiger 11 exhibition, as well as getting commissions from the Arts @ The Loft market. He's certainly one to watch!

For more information, please email Gina on: gina.yates@artsmix.co.uk

MEMBERSHIP

We have expanded our membership offer and have added a range of further benefits to assist and save you money too.
We are delighted to have appointed Amy Bewick as our Membership Secretary. Amy may well be known to many of you already as in recent months she has been working alongside Gina Yates developing members opportunities within the business community and managing the gallery space at the ‘Arts @ The Loft’ markets.
We have three different levels of membership with different benefits, see: www.artsmix.co.uk/membership-scheme for full details.

ENTERPRISE SUPPORT

We are running the following workshops to help artists increase their businesses acumen:
Tuesday 28 April- Trademarking- How to register your company name.
Tuesday 26 May- How to write a business plan.
Tuesday 30 June- Taking the mystery out of book keeping - simplifying the accounts, book keeping and legal requirements of your business.
Tuesday 28 July- Marketing your business- how to utilise research and marketing to build the success of your business
Tuesday 25 August- Turning interest into sales- how to turn interested customers into buying customers.
Tuesday 29 September- Networking- How to get your self known within your industry and meet the right people to advance your business.
This training is free to Artsmix Social Enterprises and SOA/SOI postcodes, only £5 to Artsmix Members!

For details, please call Parminder on 0113 216 2367 or email parminder@artsmix.co.uk

For further information on how we can help your ideas and talents develop into a business, please contact Karen on 07825 508 466 or email karen@artsmix.co.uk

EMERGING ARTISTS AWARDS

The Emerging Artists Awards Evening at the Loft was a tremendous success, attended by a range of artists and business people who were delighted by the entertainment provided and the nominated art on show. Each of the winners received a cash prize and will further benefit from an exhibition of their work and the mentoring of their award sponsor.

The 2D Award, kindly sponsored by Ben Huckerby of Ben Huckerby Design, was presented to Oliver Neilson, a fine artist who uses found materials to serve as an inspiration and as a canvas for his exciting and unique work

The 3D Award, kindly sponsored by Keith Armstrong of Applied Acumen, was presented to Giles Edsall who works in origami, be this creating delicate intricate works of art or large site responsive pieces.

The Enterprise Award, kindly sponsored by Jonathan Maud of Rushbond PLC, was presented to Deborah Sanderson as Artistic Director of Urban Angels Circus who create innovative performance art and can often be found in an oversized shopping trolly in Leeds Centre!

An additional artsmix* Award, sponsored by David Criddle of Eudaimon Holdings, was also given to applaud the work of Miram Laville, a fine artist who specialises in using mixed media and is inspired by by natural forms and shapes.

We would also like to thank James Abbott Donnelly for generously volunteering to photograph this event and for doing it so well. Anyone wanting images of the event (or indeed wishing to book an events photographer) please contact: laura@artsmix.co.uk

EXHIBITIONS

31st Jan - 30th April
Deli-cattessen Exhibition: Featuring the work of Oliver Neilson and Sabiha Hussain.

30th March - 29th April
Tiger 11 Exhibition: Featuring the work of Miriam Laville and Sarah Hughes.

June 2009
artsmix*@ Trinity: We will return to Holy Trinity church for another exciting site-responsive exhibition

VACANCY

We are looking for a number of crew members to assist in the set up and take down of markets and events in the Leeds area. Experience in similar work would be beneficial but is not essential. This is casual work, often at weekends, so applicants must be flexible. This could also be a very effective way for stall holders to cover the costs of their stalls!

Please contact Amy@artsmix.co.uk or 0113 247 0066 for more details or to apply.

SUCCESS STORY

Catherine Cornfield

I studied Fine Art at University and was awarded a BA Honours in 2002. Continuing to develop my understanding and knowledge of the art world, I then attended the University of Greenwich in London gaining a Masters in Arts Management in 2005. I rediscovered my love for painting whilst living abroad and felt a sense of renewed energy and inspiration from the various countries I had visited and people I met and was drawn back to her home and painting in the UK.

I first discovered Artsmix when it was the Mosaic arts market and I was thrilled that I could have my own regular arts stall for as little as £20 a month. I had a break from full time painting and promotion as I had a baby. When I started painting again full time, I found it increasingly difficult to find exhibiting opportunities and involvement within the arts. I discovered Mosaic had really expanded and changed its name to Artsmix and I was contacted by Gina, the Artsmix 4 Business manager. I was excited about the support and opportunities working with Artsmix could provide and I became a member.

Since joining I have been involved in various arts markets, had an exhibition at the Loft, received support from the Artsmix 4 Business manager, and I am currently working on a site responsive project with other Artsmix members, which will end in a June exhibition at the Holy Trinity Church.

The exposure to my work through the markets and exhibitions has lead to an increase in sales as well as further exhibiting opportunities. It also gives me more freedom and time to paint rather than constantly having to promote my own work, as there is always so much going on through Artsmix.

I am so excited by all the excellent opportunities and support Artsmix can provide for artists, the team are extremely enthusiastic about the arts and work very hard to gain exposure for us all. I am really enjoying working with them on future events.