Thursday 30 September 2010

Thought for the Week

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

Leo F Buscaglia (American academic, tireless advocate of the power of love, 1924-1998) http://www.buscaglia.com/default.htm

Monday 27 September 2010

October events at the Dock Museum

What's on at the Dock Museum this October ...
click on the image to enlarge

Family Fun Day at the Dock Museum

FREE Family Fun Day at the Dock Museum

click on the image to enlarge

Cumbria Wildlife Trust events

Friday 8 October 2010, 7.30pm - ‘A year in the wild flowers of a Cumbrian village’ at Broughton in Furness Methodist Church.

Tuesday 19 October 2010, 10-4pm - ‘Red Squirrels’. An illustrated talk by Edmund Shepherd from ‘Save Our Squirrels’. Entry £2 on the door and includes refreshments at The Parish Centre, Church Walk, Ulverston

Barrow in Furness Civic and Local History Society

Promoting local history and cultural heritage of the area

Meetings are on the last Tuesday of the month and are held at Trinity Church Abbey Road, Barrow. Start 7:30pm. Members £2 - Visitors £2.50

28th September Speaker: David Fellows - Subject: A Cumbrian Colony in the South Pacific

29th October Speaker: Dennis Laird - Subject: North Scale

30th November Speaker: Jack Layfield - Subject: Conishead and the Surrounding Area

Contact Alice Leach - 01229 464416 - www.barrowhistorysociety.org.uk

The Mean Streets of Furness – Dock Museum

Local Studies Talks with Local Historian, Bryn Trescatheric;

Sunday 10th October - The Streets of Askam, Ireleth and Lindal

Sunday 24th October - The Streets of Ulverston

Sunday 7th November - The Streets of Dalton

Sunday 21st November - The Streets of Barrow

This series of talks by the local historian and author, Bryn Trescatheric, will take you on a fascinating tour of the streets of Barrow and neighbouring towns from the comfort of your chair. He will guide you through the origins and meanings of street names in the Furness area.

We are delighted to announce that Bryn will launch his latest book, "The Streets of Barrow", during the talk on Sunday 21st November.

Sunday 26 September 2010

We Live Here #3. ATIC Records 2010



Somewhere in the South Cumbrian wilderness.
Music: Death Of The Neighbourhood - 'The Oil Tanker's Bell'. Taken from the debut LP 'Death Of The Neighbourhood'. ATIC Records 2008. http://www.aticrecords.com/

Friday 24 September 2010

Barrow born author Ian Thompson comes to Barrow Library

After attending Barrow Grammar School (now Furness Academy) Barrow born author and academic Ian Thompson went on to study Philosophy at Newcastle University (1974-77), and later completed a B. Phil and PhD in Landscape Architecture. After qualifying as a landscape architect he worked in practice first in Glasgow and then on Tyneside. Between 1986 and 1992 he was a Senior Landscape Architect in the Planning Department of Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council. He currently teaches postgraduate Landscape Architecture at Newcastle University. 
(source http://www.bloomsbury.com/authors/details.aspx?tpid=2517

His latest book 'The English Lakes' was published by Bloomsbury in April 2010 and is a superb, beautifully illustrated history of one of Britain’s favourite regions.

"He (Thompson) reckons that he owes his existence to the tradition of working-class fell-walking, since much of his parents’ courtship was conducted when they were out for the day with the Barrow and District Ramblers. He started fell-walking as a child, and remembers teetering along Striding Edge on Helvellyn with other Barrow Grammar School boys, hoping the gale would not get under their cycle capes and lift them off."

See full book review here;
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/non-fiction/article7082758.ece

Cumbria Libraries and The Norman Nicholson Society in association with Bloomsbury Publishing PLC proudly host an evening with Ian Thompson on Friday 26th November 2010 at 7.30pm in Barrow Library.

Tickets for this event cost £2 including refreshments and are available now from Barrow Library (Tel: 01229 407370). Free to members of The Norman Nicholson Society.


"Every ten years a new generation needs a history of the Lake District – and this looks like being the one for the next ten years." Hunter Davies

Great local band. 'April Maybe May - Home'

Barrow in Furness band April Maybe May, the 'quietest band in the world', are Rosie Hillman and Matt Kassell. Rosie and Matt are the songwriters, guitarists and voices and their eponymous debut album (cover shown left) had a national release through Crash Records from May 2010.

The video below is April Maybe May performing the song 'Home'. The video was shot in Barrow and Manchester. Why not check out April Maybe May on their MySpace page for full gig listings, songs, pics and videos http://www.myspace.com/aprilmaybemay 

Thursday 23 September 2010

We Live Here #2. ATIC Records 2010.


Sunset, northern most tip of Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness.
Music : Crowhead - 'ECM'. Taken from the debut LP 'Born With Teeth'.
ATIC Records 2009 http://www.aticrecords.com/

More at Barrow Library …

Nella Last in the 1950s - the further diaries of Housewife 49 on Thursday 14th October 2010 at Barrow Library starting at 7pm.

and ...

Cumbria Libraries and The Norman Nicholson Society in association with Bloomsbury Publishing PLC proudly host an evening with Barrow-born author Ian Thompson on Friday 26th November 2010 at 7.30pm in Barrow Library.

Tickets for this event cost £2 including refreshments and are available now from Barrow Library (Tel: 01229 407370). Free to members of The Norman Nicholson Society.

Thought for the Week

"Happiness... it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort."  Vincent Van Gogh

Wednesday 22 September 2010

Urban Retreat - DESIGN CAFÉ SALON NIGHT

Urban Retreat - DESIGN CAFÉ SALON NIGHT 7PM – LATE – FREE

FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER 2010
(FROM AN ORIGINAL IDEA BY LANTERNHOUSE)

Artists, musicians and others bring along your work to show in a truly democratic evening of delights. Ring Art Gene to book a slot, or secure a place to show.

More details posted on the website www.artgene.co.uk

Urban Retreat - SURVIVAL BAG WORKSHOP

12 NOON TO 3PM - FREE - SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER 2010

‘Survival bag’ workshop with Artist Clare Thornton What would you carry in your survival kit bag? Torch, pen-knife, binoculars, waterproof bag, matches, string, water bottle, mobile phone, pencil/notebook...?

Join artist (and urban adventurer) Clare Thornton to make and customize your own draw-string kit bag. All materials provided. Bring a key item you think should be carried in a well equipped survival kit. Perhaps you've already got a special kit bag you'd like to show us? Create a survival kit bag especially for Barrow-in-Furness and its environment. No sewing skills needed!

Free, places are limited. Booking for this event will open on 3 September 2010. Details of how to book will be posted on the website http://www.artgene.co.uk/

Email Close and Remote to register your interest - info@closeandremote.net

Urban Retreat - URBAN NATURE WALK

Urban Retreat - URBAN NATURE WALK – 2PM - FREE - SUNDAY 3 OCTOBER

Martin Norris, Warden at South Walney Nature Reserve with lead a walk around.

The Old Paper Mill site (now a wasteland) and Cavendish Dock, with Artist Sophie Mellor (Urban Wanderer), looking at the effect, both positive and negative, that industry has had on the local wildlife. Meet at 2pm outside Morrisons Main Entrance, The Strand, Barrow-in-Furness. Weather dependent.

Places limited: BOOKING ESSENTIAL: Details will be posted at http://www.artgene.co.uk/

Email: info@closeandremote.net to register your interest.

Tuesday 21 September 2010

FULL OF NOISES FESTIVAL

Chris Watson – Sunday 17 October 2010. EAR presents a talk at Barrow’s Dock Museum (http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/) by the celebrated BBC wildlife field recordist.

Ongoing from October … Paul Rooney – Northern Art Prize-winner kicks off a series of monthly sound art interventions in Barrow Park.
For more info and tickets visit WWW.FONFESTIVAL.ORG

Street Soccer Hindpool - starting 29 September

FREE Street Soccer at Hindpool Park – Inspiring Communities

Starting Wednesday 29 September 2010

The sessions will run every Wednesday 6:30-8pm for 9-12 year olds

and every Thursday 6:30-8pm for 13-16 year olds.

It's fun and it's free! No kit needed, just turn up and play!

Contact Craig at Barrow AFC Community Initiative on 07816163346 for more details.

Barrow in Furness Civic and Local History Society

Promoting local history and cultural heritage of the area.

Meetings are on the last Tuesday of the month and are held at Trinity Church Abbey Road, Barrow. Start 7:30pm. Members £2 - Visitors £2.50

28th September Speaker: David Fellows

Subject: A Cumbrian Colony in the South Pacific

Friday 17 September 2010

Thought for the Week

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Peter Drucker.

Thursday 16 September 2010

Urban Retreat - Street Training

Street Training - 26th September 2010. Working with the physical and social territory, Lottie Child will lead a Street Training session looking at being joyful in public space which includes singing, parkour, climbing, chalking 2pm - 4pm. Street Training gives a name to people's own ways to connect with place playfully, subversively, sensually through intervention, observation and testing boundaries in public.

Lower age limit 6 years, no upper age limit!

Meet at 2pm at Art Gene, Nan Tait Centre, Abbey Road (corner of Bath Street and Abbey Road), Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 5TY.

Free, but places are limited so booking is essential. To book go to http://drawingwalk.eventbrite.com/or phone Art Gene: 01229 825085.

Part of the Urban Retreat for more information http://www.closeandremote.net/

Wednesday 15 September 2010

Urban Retreat Lending Library

Browse the especially collated Urban Retreat Lending Library at Barrow Library, Ramsden Square, Barrow-in-Furness. A range of books both from the library collection and donated by the Urban Retreat artists and patrons, are available to read throughout the project. Each book will contain an especially designed book plate by Karen Di Franco.

Barrow Library opening times: Monday 0930 – 1900, Tuesday 0930 – 1700, Wednesday 0930 - 1900 , Thursday 0930 – 1200, Friday 0930 - 1700 , Saturday 1000 – 1600, Sunday 1200 - 1600

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Urban Retreat - Urban Wanderer

Sophie Mellor will spend two weeks as an urban wanderer relying on the kindness of strangers and the bounty of the land to house and feed her. Look out for her on the streets, green spaces, seashore and wastelands of Barrow. Stop and have a chat; join her for a cup of tea; making a fishing basket; gathering samphire; whittling a spoon; window shopping; cockle picking; lorry spotting; toad watching. Offer her a meal, a place to sleep, a story.

Part of the Urban Retreat for more information http://www.closeandremote.net/

Monday 13th September to Sunday 26th September 2010. Art Gene (01229) 825085

Monday 13 September 2010

URBAN RETREAT - In and around Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria

Monday 13th September to Sunday 3rd October 2010 in and around Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

Part of the Urban Retreat for more information http://www.closeandremote.net/

Lottie Child, Emma Cocker, Karen Di Franco, Sophie Mellor, Laura Oldfield Ford, Clare Thornton.

Urban Retreat is a series of artists commissions, activities and events exploring the urban and rural landscape of Barrow in Furness.

Free, but places are limited so booking is essential. To book go to http://drawingwalk.eventbrite.com/ or phone Art Gene: 01229 825085.

We Live Here #1. ATIC Records 2010.



Sunset, looking west from Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness.

Music : Death Of The Neighbourhood - 'A Cool Breeze On The Back Of The Neck'. Taken from the album 'Death Of The Neighbourhood'. ATIC Records 2008 http://www.aticrecords.com/

Wasteland Drawing Walk - Art Gene

Saturday, 25th September 2010

Outdoor drawing workshop 2pm to 4pm with Laura Oldfield Ford.

The workshop will be a walk around the town examining the impact of the Barrow Blitz, the steel and shipping industries and urban regeneration schemes. Through a process of walking and drawing the hidden narratives of the area will be uncovered. Participants will use pens, pencils and chalk to form subjective maps of the town. Bring drawing materials and paper.

Meet at 2pm at Art Gene, Nan Tait Centre, Abbey Road (corner of Bath Street and Abbey Road), Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 5TY.

Free, but places are limited so booking is essential.

To book go to http://drawingwalk.eventbrite.com/ or phone Art Gene: 01229 825085.

Part of the Urban Retreat for more information http://www.closeandremote.net/

Cumbria Wildlife Trust events ...

                                  A Fascination for Fungi

Tuesday 21 September 2010, 7.45-9.15pm.
The Parish Centre, Church Walk, Ulverston.
Entry £2 on the door.

A fascinating insight into these remarkable organisms at a time of year they can be seen around us. An illustrated talk by Mike Hall who is well known in Cumbria as an expert on fungi.


            ‘A year in the wild flowers of a Cumbrian village’.

Friday 8 October 2010, 7.30pm
At Broughton in Furness Methodist Church.

20 Years of the Hubble Space Telescope

20 Years of the Hubble Space Telescope at the Forum, main hall.

A lecture about 20 years of the Hubble Space Telescope from Dr Robin Catchpole, Research Astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge.

Wednesday 29 September at 7.30pm

Admission Free

Friday 10 September 2010

FREE - Boat trip to Piel Island

FREE - Boat trip to Piel Island

As one of the Design Café events you are cordially invited to take a boat trip to Piel Island led by visiting artists to Barrow

When: This Saturday, the 11th September 2010.

So, book now as places are limited by going to http://www.artgene-designcafe.com/ or phone Maddi Nicholson: 07769915631 / Steve Harris: 07946126412.

Trip 1
Meet Art Gene Gallery 11.00am- Art Gene staff drive you to Ramsden Dock ( boat leaves 11.45 prompt.)
trip 1 & 1/2 hours.
Arrive Piel approx. 12.15pm have refreshments and ferry back late afternoon.
Art Gene staff drive you back to town.

Trip 2
Meet Art Gene Gallery 12.30 pm - Art Gene staff drive you to Ramsden Dock
( boat leaves 1.15pm prompt) trip 1 & 1/2 hours.
Arrive Piel approx. 2.45pm have refreshments and ferry back late afternoon.
Art Gene staff drive you back to town.

Art Gene Limited. Registered Charity 1135536 http://www.artgene.co.uk

Thursday 9 September 2010

Wednesday 8 September 2010

Audition Opportunity – The Ashton Group

The Ashton Group is looking for 4 young people to join our Apprenticed Actors Company.

You’ll perform 'Diffusion', a new play by Jamie Cubiss, second winner of our ‘New Lines’ playwriting competition. The show will premiere at The Forum, Barrow-in-Furness on 27th October and then tour to The Beggars Theatre, Millom; Bolton Octagon; The Kirkgate, Cockermouth and The Dukes, DT3, Lancaster.

We need 4 young actors aged 16 to 21. If you’re interested in a career in theatre and you’re aged between 16 and 21 ... and you’d like to be paid for 4 weeks rehearsal ... and 2 weeks performing then come to the audition at The Old Fire Station, Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness on either Friday 10 September or Monday 13 September at 6.30 pm

You don’t need to prepare a speech or sing a song – it will be a workshop audition run by Director Rachel Ashton.

For more details ring Rachel on 01229 430636 or email theashtongroup@btconnect.com

Furness College Advice Sessions

Find out about the extensive range of Part-time Courses, University Degrees, Foundation Degrees and University Pathways, Apprenticeships, Bespoke Training for Businesses, Skills for life and Full-time Courses, at Channelside Barrow-in-Furness.

Thursday 9th September 5pm – 6pm
Saturday 11th September 10am – 12 Noon

For further information Tel: 01229 825017

Friday 3 September 2010

Project Skate ...




FREE screening of new short films made about skating at Barrow skate park.

Friday 10 September 2010 7.30pm.

Don't miss it!

Thought for the Week

"Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much." Blaise Pascal

Launch of Design Cafe

An exciting opportunity to work alongside Artists, Architects and other regeneration professionals to help reshape the future of Barrow Borough.

Design Café is Art Gene’s open link to the communities of Barrow Borough inspiring engagement with Regeneration.

Design Café will establish an aspirational group of local people, who are inspired and empowered to take a proactive role as champions for sustainable contemporary design-led regeneration within their peer groups and communities. The group will meet at Art Gene, creating a temporary café sometimes in the recently refurbished Art Gene Gallery amidst artworks, at other times in the studios of Art Gene’s (inter)national residency artists or at other interesting sites where design meets regeneration.

Art Gene aims to create an environment where the Design Café group feel empowered and supported to question, comment and exchange ideas about the regeneration of the social, natural and built environment and definitions of high quality design.

Presentations and Talks
Art Gene and its team of associate (inter)national artists and architects and other leaders in their field will present a varied programme of visual presentations, tailored to evolving investigations, discussions and debates.

Design Cafe Research Trips
Art Gene will also lead ‘Go explore’ research trips around the locality and beyond. The group will be encouraged to use a new Design Café discussion forum on the Art Gene website as a networking space which will help form a collective sense of purpose and identity, facilitate group and ultimately external communication and promotion.

Launch Event to be held at Nan Tait Centre Abbey Road Barrow 8th SEPTEMBER – 6PM - DESIGN CAFÉ LAUNCH & EXHIBITION OPENING ‘YOUR FUTURE NEEDS YOU’ - FREE

EXHIBITION CONTINUES: 9 SEPTEMBER - 17 DECEMBER 2010 12-5 PM WEEKDAYS

LATE NIGHT WEDNESDAYS ‘TIL 6 PM - CLOSED WEEKENDS. - FREE ADMISSION

Artists Architects and Designers, engaged in Art Gene’s Barrow by Design and wider programme, take a fresh look at regeneration in Barrow and further afield.

Please ensure you check the website http://www.artgene.co.uk/ for further events and up to date information, & additional special events.

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Free Theatre Tickets for under 26's.

The forum is pleased to be involved in the Arts Council scheme offering free theatre tickets to under 26's. The scheme will run until February 2011.

Events included under the scheme are:

People's Theatre Company 'How the Koala Learnt to Hug' - Thursday 2 September
Theatre Productions 'The Naked Truth' - Wednesday 8 September
Barrow Amateurs Operatic & Dramatic Society '100 Not Out' - Wednesday 22 September
Femme Fatale 'Scrubbers' - Friday 1 October
Red Ladder Theatre Company 'Ugly' - Thursday 14 October
Walney Junior Amateur Operatic Society 'Oliver' - Wednesday 20 October
The Ashton Group Theatre - Diffusion - Wednesday 27 October
Seabright Productions 'Hit Me! The Life and Rhymes of Ian Dury' - Tuesday 2 November
Scamp Theatre 'Stickman' - Friday 12 November
Walney Musical Theatre Company 'Jesus Christ Superstar' - Wednesday 17 November
Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp - Friday 17 December
We're Going on a Bear Hunt - Thursday 3 February
The Ashton Group 3 for 2 youth theatre deal... - Monday 21 February

EXHIBITION at the Forum – REVEALED by Andrew Sweeting

September and October 2010 - Admission Free

Andrew's art was inspired by numerous trips to his local DIY stores.

He often used to look at the relief patterns on anaglypta wallpaper and wonder what they would look like if they were painted in a way that revealed and enhanced the patterns.

He decided that he wanted his pictures to have some impact, so he pasted the wallpaper on large pieces of hardboard and then used acrylic paints as his colouring medium.

Once they were pasted he used technical drawing instruments to extend the patterns, giving them a three dimensional look and then coloured them in using bold and contrasting primary colours on very dark or light backgrounds.

Exhibitions at the Dock Museum

7th September – 10th October - Annual Autumn Showcase of the Barrow Society of Artists

13th October – 9th January 2011 - 'Into the Wild’ - Heléne Burrow
Heléne is exploring new techniques both in her studio and painting outdoors. ‘Wild Portraits’ will show some of those experiments with oil along with some previously unseen acrylic and pencil works.