From Saturday 10th December Mandell’s Gallery, of Elm Hill in Norwich, will be hosting their annual Christmas show, which this year includes two budding young artists, Lotte Kings and Thomas Steward.

Lotte and Thomas are two emerging artists who will exhibit alongside internationally renowned, professional artists in this festive show with the aim of gaining more experience in presenting their work, discovering how the public perceive their work and building their reputations. Mandell’s Gallery has generously donated this exhibition space in their Christmas show for Lotte and Thomas through somewhereto_, a nationwide project funded by Legacy Trust UK. somewhereto_ aims to match young people aged 16-25 with the space they need to do the things they love within sport, culture and the arts, and the eastern region is being run by the arts and community development charity Creative Arts East.

Lotte Kings, a graduate of Norwich University College of the Arts, explores the relationship between florals and patterns in her work, combining traditional and modern techniques to create her pieces. "I use the traditional technique of watercolour alongside modern technology to distort and transform the image into something else entirely!”

Her fellow exhibitor, Thomas Steward AKA Tommy Human, who is currently studying illustration in Hertfordshire, says his work is mainly focused on “developing his own unique visual language of illustration, as well as striving to create individuality in the stencil art movement”. Rachel Allen, of Mandell’s Gallery, says "It's been a wonderful opportunity to be involved in the project, promoting young artists of today".
 
The Christmas show starts on Saturday 10th December and is open from 11am – 4pm. There will be mulled wine and delicious mince pies to have while you view the art work.
 
If, like Lotte and Thomas, you are aged between 16-25 and need a space or are able to offer a space to young people for such activities, please contact Creative Arts East on 01953 713390, tweet us @somewhereto_EST or get in touch via www.somewhereto.com.

The Encompass Dance and Digital Media Project has appointed a new Project Coordinator. Anna Savill is an experienced Producer with over 10 years film and television experience. She originally trained as a Television Producer at the BBC and worked at the top of this field managing and producing hundreds of hours of broadcast content. Five years ago she re-settled in the West Midlands and has since been working in the film in education sector.

Most recently, Anna has been producing and leading workshops for Film Nation. Film Nation is part of the Cultural Olympiad and introduces young people to film, supporting them in developing social and film making skills and providing a platform for exhibition of their short film projects. Anna is thrilled to have won the appointment at Encompass and is looking forward to working further with the creative partners on this exciting project.

“I’m bowled over by the staggering creativity of this project and it’s enormous capacity to engage young people in dance, digital media and Olympic spirit!” Anna Savill.

Encompass is part of Dancing for the Games which is inspired by London 2012 and part of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands. It has been funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as Arts Council England, Advantage West Midlands and Shropshire Council.

Two Encompass development workshops have taken place this month at William Brookes School with young people engaging in a variety of dance and digital activities. The creative dance team have been exploring Olympic values through geometry and with cutting edge computer technology. A group of young people from the school will continue to consult and advise on the creative content for Encompass as well as participating in project production and documenting.

The project has been accepted as part of the London 2012 Inspire Programme, in recognition that this project has been inspired by the Olympic Games.

Anna will now be recruiting for a Project Assistant to work with her to develop and manage this exciting project. For more information go to www.shrop.net/encompass.

Not content with their Guinness World Record for the Most Contributions to an Animated Film, the Tate Movie Project won the BAFTA in the ‘Interactive’ category of the 2011 British Academy Children’s Awards which took place on 27 November. 

These awards celebrate the very best in children’s film, television, games and online media of the past year and the talent behind their successes.  The success of the Tate Movie Project doesn’t show any sign of slowing down, with a nomination in the 2012 Broadcast Awards for the film ‘Itch of the Golden Nit’ that was the result of the project. The film has been nominated in the 'Best Children's Programme' category, in competition with well-known children's TV programmes including Horrible Histories and the Sarah Jane Adventures. These awards will be presented in February 2012.

L-R Communications Manager Julie Morrow, Chief Executive Moira Swinbank and Programmes Manager Ulrika Hogberg

Jane Burton, Head of Content and Creative Director, Tate said:
'Winning a BAFTA for Tate Movie Project is a brilliant reward for everyone involved in this tremendous collaboration between Tate, Aardman, the BBC and Fallon; and for the thousands of children whose creative energy, enthusiasm and ideas are at the heart of it all.'

You can see a short film from the ceremony with the nominees and the acceptance speech on the BAFTA website.