Central Station » Common https://thisiscentralstation.com Thu, 07 Jun 2018 08:28:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 My Creatve Scene: Manchester https://thisiscentralstation.com/my-creative-scene/my-creatve-scene-manchester/ https://thisiscentralstation.com/my-creative-scene/my-creatve-scene-manchester/#comments Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:54:41 +0000 genny http://thisiscentralstation.com/?p=893 Papergirl’s guide to Manchester

Papergirl is coming to Manchester. Papergirl is an art project from Berlin where in the style of American paper-boys, rolled art pieces will be distributed by bicycle in the streets of Manchester to random passers-by. You can submit as many pieces or copies as you like before 1st September.

But what are you going to submit? Here’s our essential guide to Manchester.

Start the day off with some breakfast at Koffee Pot.  The art maybe on the shutters but the food is good and you’ll need bags of energy for the day ahead
[Koffee Pot, 21 Hilton Street, Stevenson Square,Northern Quarter, M1 1JJ]

Pop round the corner to Magma to indulge in international design magazines and books. Check out Papergirl Berlin in Urban Interventions, featuring 256 pages of personal projects in public spaces.  Try to resist spending a month’s wages on books and t-shirts. Instead opt for an issue of boneshaker magazine, full or articles, stories and anecdotes about people doing great things with bicycles (look out for issue 3 in October).  Don’t forget to pick up a free copy of Article magazine on the way out – made in Sheffield, Article features art, design, music and urbanism.[Magma Books, 22 Oldham Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M1 1JN]

Further down Oldham Street you’ll find Mooch N4, a small gallery representing some of the best emerging street artists. Their current show ‘Natural Selection’ is a series of work on canvas and pieces of salvaged wood, by Sheffield based Faunagraphic and Rocket01. The exhibition closes on Saturday 14th of August. Pop round for a brew and a chat Wednesday-Saturday, 11am-6pm.
[Mooch N4, 88 Oldham Street, Northern Quarter, M4 1LF]

Check out Papergirl Manchester artist TXLW exhibition at the Chinese Arts Centre. TXLW describes her work as evolving, endearing, sporadic and predominantly image based. Notes to Self visitors are invited to write a note to self and place it in a TXLW bird box. Pick up a TXLW handscreened notebook with recycled paper whilst your there.
[Chinese Arts Centre, Market Buildings, Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester,M4 1EU]

Now you’ve found your inspiration head down to Fred Aldous to pick up some materials. Established in 1886, you’ll find everything you need to turn your ideas into art.
[Fred Aldous, 37 Lever Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M1 1LW]

So your pockets are busting with art materials and you could probably do with re-fuelling. Go straight to Common for some food*, drink, art and music. Get out your sketchbook and start working on your Papergirl Manchester submission, whilst checking out the exhibition ‘An Apple A Day’ by DR ME.

*I recommend the veggie chilli.
[Common, 39 to 41 Edge Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1HW]

It’s time to print your Papergirl Manchester submissions at Hot Bed Press, where the printmaking facilities cost just £2.00 per hour to members. Hot Bed Press is a not-for-profit open access print workshop, dedicated to supporting anyone with an interest in printmaking. Facilities include equipment for screen printing, etching, drypoint, collagraphs, relief printing and other related processes. They also host a series of courses and workshops.
[Hot Bed Press, Printmakers' Studio, 1st Floor, The Casket Works, Cow Lane, Salford, M5 4 NB]

Now you have created your Papergirl submission, drop it off at Nexus Art Café where you can enjoy some tea and cake, take a look at the latest installation and take part in the events from crafternoons to life drawing.
[Nexus Art Café, Dale Street, M1 1JW]

Now you have submitted your work to Papergirl Manchester await details of the upcoming exhibition and distribution. To find out more visit http://papergirlmanchester.tumblr.com/ 

Or join us on facebook or follow us on twitter.

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My Creative Scene is an insight into different creative & cultural happenings in cities where your members and readers live. Browse through more insider guides here or contact us to write about the arts scene where you are.

]]> https://thisiscentralstation.com/my-creative-scene/my-creatve-scene-manchester/feed/ 0 My Process: CoH: How a competition is born https://thisiscentralstation.com/my-process/coh-how-a-competition-is-born/ https://thisiscentralstation.com/my-process/coh-how-a-competition-is-born/#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:39:59 +0000 genny http://thisiscentralstation.com/?p=6285

As its PROCESS month I thought I would share the steps I’ve gone through and am currently going through with a new competition idea.

IDEA
When I received the entries for my previous competition (Common of Houses: No Expense Spared) I noticed that most entrants were keen not just to see changes in the rules governing MPs’ expenses but also to see major changes in the way in which Government is actually formed and operates.

I started to think about other aspects of Government policy/ procedures that could do with a creative redesign. If we were to start again, what, and how could designers change the way that politics runs in this country?

With the General Election coming up in May 2010 there seemed like only one sensible place to start – the vote.

Once I had set that as the basic problem the real work started. First, obviously I had to sort out a brief but then I needed to try and find someone to fund the project and to be my media partners. I also needed to design a website, arrange for some prizes, attract a few big name judges, sort out an exhibition of the results and get lots of good PR. Quite a bit of work when you work as an architect by day and as a designer by night, especially when you decide the competition launch needs to happen by the 15 March.

BRIEF
Once the brief was roughly drafted up, I then set about the website, thinking it easier to attract project sponsors with something to show them but then came the questions – who to get as project partners?

SPONSORS
With the first competition, the Archtitect’s Journal and The Lighthouse were the two main sponsors. The Daily Telegraph had also said they were interested but I could never tie them down. Having wasted a lot of time phoning round people for the first comp I was loath to do so again but in the end that’s what I ended up having to do. As a result I had a coffee last week with the head of the “Vote for a Change” campaign who has agreed to provide some funding and I’ve been chatting to the editors of a few design mags like Creative Review and The Drum about getting their media support. All in all, its gone reasonably well so far, I think having the first CoH competition behind me has really helped to understand what I’m trying to do and hopefully I’ll convince some more partners to donate some funds.

NEXT STEPS
In a few days I’ll update some more on the next steps and the development process the brief has gone through and my ideas for the prizes and the judges.

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