News from producers around Derbyshire

Derbyshire artist Laura Ellen Bacon has been shortlisted for Woman's Hour craft prize.

Watch on BBC iPlayer for more information on the 12 finalists: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08tvjb9

Family-owned funeral directors G Wathall & Son and Shelton Lock Care Home have celebrated National Care Home Day with the official unveiling of a memorial garden.

Wathall’s, which was recognised in the Derby Telegraph Business Awards for their contribution to the community, donated a selection of plants for the garden.

An exhibition depicting the past, present and future of an historic part of Derby’s St Peters Quarter will be held at St Peter’s Church on Friday June 23 from 6pm – followed by a tour of premises across the area.

The free exhibition has been organised by Derby City Council under the Townscape Heritage Initiative which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Derby College has appointed Mark Hadfield as Head Chef of commercial operations at the Engine Shed restaurant at the Roundhouse campus in Pride Park.

Mark learnt his trade at Wilmorton College, which is now part of Derby College, and has since worked in a wide range of fine dining restaurants.

Two Derby College Art & Design students have won bursaries from Arts Society Derby to support their move into Higher Education.

UAL Art Foundation Diploma students Danielle Smith and Lucija Hofstetere have won £400 and £200 respectively after being shortlisted for the annual Bryan Harris Bursary award – named after the Society’s founder and former chairman who died two years ago.

Students and staff at Derby College’s Joseph Wright Centre have raised a record £1,121 for three charities at their annual RAG week.

A wide range of competitions and activities were organised throughout the week and the money raised has been split between local charity Children First Derby, Cancer Research UK and Barnardo’s.

Déda is launching a new youth performance company at its Derby studios as part of its creative focus to bring together and develop dance, contemporary circus and outdoor work.

A small group of young people have already joined a preliminary Youth Dance and Circus Company based at Déda.

They performed a short piece which combined contemporary dance with aerial and acrobatic skills in front of a wide range of arts professionals who recently met at Déda to discuss the way forward in fusing the art forms.

The Mayor of Derby Cllr John Whitby officially opened the first street entertainment day organised by St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District since the re-launch of the BID.

St Peters Quarter Live was held for the first time at the re-developed Spot with a programme music, comedy and juggling acts. 

More than 200 people gathered for the annual Derby College Peak Awards at the historic Roundhouse to celebrate the achievements of students across the organisation.

The Derby Conference centre have announced the launch of their brand new conferencing space, the ‘Douie Suite’. The private conferencing area comes as part of their £1 million refurbishment project, which began in 2016.

The Douie Suite is named after Bill Douie, the Chairman of the parent company RTC Group. The suite was unveiled at the annual RTC awards night and has recently been opened to the public.