Speed dating for artists

Theatreworks is giving Melbourne artists a chance to meet other like minded folk for some project making at Speed Dating For Artists. It’s a great chance to network with other artists and theatre makers, and best of all – it’s free. But no actors!

You will need to book ahead, and you will recieve a free glass of wine and 2-for-1 Theatreworks season ticket. The next event is on Monday, 21 July at 6pm. The remaining dates for 2008 are also available, and bookings can be made via their website.

Young Blood and designbloom mart

The Powerhouse Museum’s Young Blood Designers market and designbloom mart are teaming up for Sydney Design 08 to host over 70 local and International designers. The market will be running over four days from 14 – 17 August, 2008 and are currently accepting applications. Entries close 21 July, 2008.

To enter, download and sumbit an application form and send it in with supporting material. Stall cost is $380.

Keith + Lottie gallery call out

Keith + Lottie is a little gallery/shop space found on the West Coast of Australia. In the past they’ve exhibited a bunch of cool artists including YOK, Beci Orpin, Pat Doherty and Deathbot.

They’re currently accepting applications for art shows, product launches, fundraisers and other fun events for the remainder of the year. Deadline for applications is 30 June, 2008. To find out more, download the gallery application pack. 

How to run a professional blog

Let’s face it – if you’re a designer, crafter or an artist with a blog you’re inevitably going to be wanting to pimp your skills. However, when you start going from personal blog to a professional folio blog, you need to carefully look at the way you present yourself and the way you interact with your readers and the rest of the world wide web.

Luckily, there’s a number of talented bloggers out there who have some tips to help you. As I come along more articles, I’ll add them to this post so it becomes EXTRA-helpful.

Nubby Twiglet has a number of posts on Business & Marketing, coming from her experience as a freelance designer.

• The benefits of folio blogs vs websites
• 13 steps to a successful blog-based business
• Choosing a business name
• The art of networking

Pip from Meet Me at Mikes has recently done a run of entries on how to maintain a craft blog, but they can be applied to pretty much any blog possible.

• How to start a craft blog
• How to market a craft blog
• How to make your blog look cuter
• How to have nice blog manners

Every Tuesday, Leni & Rose does a post on blogging tips & tricks. They also include step-by-step guides on how to customise your Blogger account, if that’s your processor of choice.

Other articles:

• Passive marketing for freelancers
• Build a killer online portfolio in 9 easy steps

 

Cultcha Shock!

…is the title of the new ABC1 series by Marcus Westbury, of Not Quite Art fame (okay, he’s spelt it “Culture” but I think he should consider slanging it up a bit to make it cooler with the kids). Filming and production hasn’t started yet, and Mr Westbury is still on the lookout for artists and the like who can contribute.

I started reading Culture Shock’s proposal, but had a minor brain explosion, so instead I’ll just post excerpts of it here. Please don’t ask me to decipher, I need a sit down instead.

“Picking up from the themes explored in Not Quite Art, Culture Shock takes the audience on an insightful and amusing journey through an increasingly fragmented cultural landscape – where the Internet and communications have given all of us a set of cultural choices and influences unimaginable even a decade ago.

Culture Shock finds an eclectic and amusing mix of artists, writers and musicians whose work has found their audiences through networks well outside the traditional Australian structures of cultural authority.

Over three episodes, Marcus Westbury takes us to meet Australian artists and creators exhibiting and performing internationally while remaining largely unknown in their own communities.

Culture Shock looks at the spectrum of specialist cultures and niche audiences unleashed globally by communications technology. With rapid change in art and cultural influences occurring all the time, this series is not about art that is dependent on technology but on the new cultural landscape that has grown up because of it.”

Ooookay, so if you know someone who is doing something along those lines, drop Marcus a line at his blog. You should also read the rest of his posts. They are very good.

FBi radio wants to see your arts

For the past whever, FBi Radio in Sydney (94.5FM for those who aren’t in the know) have been hosting a Music Open Day on the last Monday of every month, allowing local musicians to take over the studios and let the radio world in on their doings. And now they’re spreading their independent lovin’ wings to adopt artists of all kinds.

They’ve put out the call for young local artists to rock up to their Alexandria studios and share with the Arts & Culture team what they’ve been up to. So if you’re a writer, dancer, street artist, zinester, scultor, game designer and working on a cool new project, drop round and Show Us Your Arts. Every session is 3-6pm on the last Monday of the month. The next one is this coming Monday, 26th May!

FBi studios can be found at level 1, 44-54 Botany Road, Alexandria. Directions can be found here.

 

Realise Your Dream in Britain

The British Council Australia is giving 6 young Aussies the chance to Realise their Dream and spend a year in the UK turning it into a profit-making reality. So if you’re under 30 and working in industrial & object design, design, fashion, moving image, visual arts, drama, advertising, writing, production, direction, architecture & music, then get cracking!

By the way, I have no idea what this has to do with a djing granny.

Each winner will recieve return flights to the UK, professional consultation, and $8,000 for living expenses, which will cover about a week’s worth of spending at Top Shop. Applications need to be sumbitted online by the 31 July, 2008.

ADC Young Guns 6

The Art Directors Club in New York is on a mission to find the brightest young creative professionals around the world. But only those under 30 and working in advertising, animation, architecture, environmental design, fashion, film/video, graphic design, illustration, interactive media, object design, packaging, photography, publishing, typography, or web design.

Fifty winners of ADC Young Guns 6 will have their work showcased in a gallery exhibition in New York later this year, and will be published in a limited edition ADC book. The deadlines for submissions in June 2, 2008 and costs $125US to enter.