Newcastle creative community meetup

Hard on the heels of Hoults Yard forming its own group to foster collaboration between the 40-plus creative businesses based at the yard… here comes an event by Newcastle City Council to discuss, analyse and research the needs of the creative community. Expect more scoping and diagnosis – and a free lunch:                                        

‘Supporting Growth in the Cultural and Creative Business Sector’ – debate

27 February 1 to 3pm

Toffee Factory, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle

We would like to invite you to a debate and presentation session that looks at new research into the cultural and creative business sector, and discusses what this means and how we can support the sector to grow.

Held at the Toffee Factory, just near Hoults Yard, on 27 February from 1.30 – 3pm the session will include a presentation by consultants EKOS about the recently commissioned research that included consultation carried out in October/November last year.

The research has examined the sector in NewcastleandGatesheadand identifies strengths, opportunities for growth, barriers and gaps in support, and has set out some recommendations as to how Local Authorities and other agencies can best support local businesses in the future.

Following the presentation there will be a discussion on how best to take forward any recommendations as well as providing the opportunity to get your views on how we can all work together to move the creative sector forward. 

There is also a pre session buffet available from 1pm.

If you would like to attend please register with Nancy Rios-Hill on: nancy.rios.hill@newcastle.gov.uk or 0191 277 8909.

Due to limited places we would please ask that you register in advance of the event if you would like to attend.

We very much hope to see you there.

Rob Hamilton, Head of Economic Policy, NewcastleCity Council

Supported by the Creative Cities Challenge – a transnational project which aims to support businesses in the cultural and creative sector in North Sea Regions. For more information visit www.creative-city-challenge.net

Former pottery extends its Teapot Studios with seven new offices

 

Teapot studios - stylish offices

Famous Tyneside pottery extends its Teapot Studios with seven more studios

Hoults Yard sees strong demand from creative and entrepreneurial business

Byker, Aug 11 – Hoults launched Teapot Studios in 2010 as two-man starter offices on easy-in-easy-out as part of Hoults Yard’s extensive offering of spaces from 2-man to 10,000 sq ft. The first phase let quickly to clients including Point Pleasant PR, Harrow Consulting, Zion Solutions and Funky Hand. Phase Two is now underway with 2,000 sq ft of space available in September including two-man, four-man and six-man offices. There is already strong interest in the seven new offices and Hoults are offering generous rent-free incentives to qualifying pre-let clients.

Last year, Hoults invested over £1m in some 15,000 sq ft of new developments which are now fully let and continues to invest in 2011 to renovate new spaces for clients – at the iconic Hoults Yard site, which once operated as Malings Pottery.

Teapot Studios follows a funky design from +3 Architecture, led by Simon Dunstan and Matthew Margetts, who also teaches architecture at Newcastle University. The studios use the generous ‘loft’ proportions of the former Malings pottery with large windows providing natural light, high ceilings and bare brickwork. The corridors offer informal meeting spaces and one wall includes panelling salvaged from teachests used in the past by Hoults Removals.

Hoults Yard has developed over recent years as a business village with strong ties to the region’s creative and media industry, which has seen growth in nearby Ouseburn. New initiatives include a creative and cultural programme that has seen artists and musicians from around the world paint or perform to a growing number of visitors, whether for Tyne & Wear Lateshows, Shindig music nights or Unit44’s street art mural series. The yard’s ClockTower Cafe has also hosted homeless charity Streetwise Opera, events by Entrepreneur’s Forum and Eat Festival.

Charlie Hoult, managing director, says: ‘We work hard to champion the creative and digital sector from our base in Newcastle, linking clients locally and internationally. The yard is testament to the energy you can create in a business hub which spawns growth, collaboration and shared ambition. It has taken years of hard graft to get to this position, but we continue to invest in our region to keep that momentum.’

He adds: ‘It’s great to see the dynamism of entrepreneurs in Newcastle. We still have capacity to develop the yard – and often work on tailored office suites to support our customers. There is still space here to develop and we love bouncing ideas with entrepreneurs, whether for a film project or a fashion show.’

Simon Dunstan, managing director of +3, says: ‘As a growing small business ourselves we understand the needs of a start-up and are delighted that we are building on the success of Teapot Studios. Hoults Yard has given us the opportunity to experiment and explore a range of architectural strategies and the recent lettings would suggest that a blend of good design and hands-on management are just what the market is looking for.’ 

Contact details

 Julie Kemp 0191 265 4282 – julie@houltsyard.co.uk

New film shoot at HYBY

UK Film Council and Northern Film & Media present in association

With Channel 4 Britdoc Foundation, Arts Council of England and Abandon Normal Devices

 

A Fly Film Production in association with Third Films

 

SELF MADE

A film by Gillian Wearing

 

Director:              Gillian Wearing                                                  Producer: Lisa Marie Russo

Co Producers:    Samm Haillay and Duane Hopkins             Executive Producer: Kate Ogborn

Script Material by Gillian Wearing and Leo Butler               Executive Producer: Marc Munden

Fly Film is delighted to announce the principal photography at Hoults Yard, Newcastle of Turner Prize winner Gillian Wearing’s debut feature, Self Made.

Self Made is an experimental feature and a thoroughly modern film – the brainchild of an internationally renowned British artist, working at the forefront of ideas and technology, intent on defining the next wave of digital storytelling in the UK.

“If you were to play a part in a film, would you be yourself or a fictional character?”

 

Hundreds of people responded to this advert when it was placed in local and national newspapers, online and in job centres around London and Newcastle.

 

Seven people were selected to appear in Self Made, where they attend a Method Acting workshop to explore their fantasy selves.

 

The workshops are led by experienced Method teacher Sam Rumbelow and form the core of the film.

 

As the film progresses, the participants use real life experiences to bring their characters to life, and ultimately star in their own mini-film. Revelation is key to the process, as is creating an environment that allows the unexpected to happen.

 

In Gillian’s words: “We are currently living through uncertain times that are forcing many people to question and redefine established notions of identity. In a world in which CCTV, reality television and “fictionalised” documentary makes us all into performers, reality and fiction are rapidly becoming interchangeable commodities. Self Made will show how it is possible to blur the divisions of reality and fiction and expose how real people see their own lives as a movie. Are we all playing a role, consciously or unconsciously?”

Producer Lisa Marie Russo says, “Gillian’s transition from artist to film director is informed by her personal approach to the work. She breaks with traditional methods of storytelling and offers and intriguing, insightful exploration of identity, fame, reality and fiction.”

Agnes Wilkie Creative Industries Director at Northern Film & Media says, “Northern Film & Media is thrilled that one of the UK’s leading award winning artists is here in

the North East shooting her debut feature film. This is a project that will attract global attention.”

Hoults Yard Managing Director Charlie Hoult said: “We’re delighted to welcome another artist of international stature to be working at the yard with Gillian Wearing’s film production. So far this year, we’ve had DJs, bands and actors running projects in our spaces in Byker. It’s exciting that they are drawn to Newcastle – and to Hoults. It’s testament to the strength of the city’s reputation as a cultural capital, which we fully support.”

Gillian Wearing was born in Birmingham in 1963. She graduated from Goldsmith’s College in 1990. One of the most prominent artists of her generation, Wearing won the Turner Prize in 1997 and her work in video and photography has been exhibited widely both in the UK and internationally. Previous solo shows include the Serpentine Gallery, London, ICA Philadelphia, MCA Chicago and the Musee Rodin, Paris, with forthcoming exhibitions at the Whitechapel Gallery, London and K21m Dusseldorf. Her work is also held in the collections of the Tate and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Wearing lives and works in London.

Gallery space at Hoults Yard

Among the interesting spaces at Hoults Yard that we’re opening up for events, there’s the gallery.

We’re pondering calling it Think Tank – because we’ve had quite a few discussions about holding art exhibitions, lectures, screenings and live music events. It’s a space with a big volume, due to the 5m ceiling height. And, we’re very interested at the yard thinking about fusion.

It’s available for temporary hire – although there are a few restrictions, we’re open to proposals.

The space is set out as two interconnecting rooms with exposed brick walls, big windows and natural light aplenty. The south-side space has garage-style, double doors which will be useful for access. The north-side has fab 3m windows to let in natural light. The combined floor area of ThinkTank is 1600 sq ft, so we’d anticipate a capacity of up to 300 people.

Think Tank has rudamentary electrics (ie a few sockets), but no running water, no fixed lighting and no loos. There are loos in the adjacent block – or you can park a Portaloo outside.

But, as a result of the lack of facilities, you get this pure rectangular spaces.

We can offer our own stock of furniture, bar/fridges, space dividers and (see pics) festoon lighting rigs.

But, basically, it’s another blank canvas waiting for creative ideas.

Gallery - South Side - thru double doors

Gallery - north-side - huge east-facing windows

Call Charlie Hoult on 0191 265 4282 for info – or mail us on info@houltsyard.co.uk

Lauren Luke – international media megastar on Tyne

Am I the last person to discover Lauren Luke?

 

She uploaded her first make-up tutorial on YouTube in July 2007. By 2009, she’s doing make-up for Anne Hathaway at the Oscars.

Her bedroom shot tutorials get big viewings – 40,000 for this recent beauty with a Dancing on Ice ‘smokey eye makeup’ look. This isn’t the numbers of viral hits like ‘Will it Blend?’ that put an iPhone into a blender and got 4 million hits. But, it’s the community aspect that really really wows me. Smokey-eye had 580+ comments when I looked. 

No wonder the PRs spotted that Lauren Luke is an everywoman who speaks for the fans, has a viral x-factor and should have her own make-up range…

Oh, and just short of her own TV series, she’s on Real Britain on BBC TV3 this Thursday, 12 March 09. Check out a clip on Lauren’s own website click here

Sorry, rewind. Lauren’s Leona Lewis look got 2.8million downloads, 5000+ ratings and 7000+ comments… and she’s got the frickin TV on in the background. These are metrics on a par with Will it Blend, but they definitely did it in a studio.

 

 

Mere Mortals – Steve Walmsley podcast

If you are interested in Mere Mortals, you could listen in to this Bridge Club podcast of Mere Mortals MD Steve Walmsley.

Mere Mortals is one of several highly successful businesses that are clients at Hoults Yard – the North East’s premier digital media hub. (Check out the website for the latest flexible studio space that Hoults are developing in the former pottery in Byker – The Kiln website here)

 

The Bridge Club is the North East’s premier entrepreneur network, run by Caroline Theobald.