November 2021

Derbyshire business run by two sisters wins Amazon-backed award

Photo shows: Sisters Anna Hutton (left) and Claire MacDonald (right) at their rural offices in Church Broughton.

A Derbyshire creative agency founded and run by two sisters will represent the Midlands at a national awards ceremony where it hopes to be named the Best Small Rural Business in the UK.

MacMartin, a full-service marketing agency based in Church Broughton, has been crowned a regional winner in the Rural Business Awards (RBAs) run in partnership with Amazon.

The Wirksworth Arts Festival is looking for a Festival Manager

The Board of Trustees of the Wirksworth Festival is looking for an enthusiastic, experienced project manager, with knowledge and understanding of the Wirksworth Arts Festival, to deliver a successful 2021 Festival. 

About Wirksworth Arts Festival:
The Wirksworth Festival is the oldest Arts Festival in the area, running for at least 30 years, with the main Festival taking place over a fortnight in September.

Local Charity Launches Crowdfund To Tackle Cost of Living Crisis

Revive Healthy Living Centre in Chaddesden has launched an ambitious crowdfunding appeal with the target of raising £10,000 to help some of the most disadvantaged people in the city cope with the crippling cost of living crisis.

Due to the issues that people requiring the Charity’s help are experiencing, including domestic violence, poverty, suicide and ill health, Revive applied to the National Emergencies Trust for support, and this has been recognised with an additional boost.

National Recognition for DCG Student

Derby College Group (DCG) student Bhavandeep Bains (18) has been named a finalist of the Association of Colleges’ Student of the Year awards.

The annual awards celebrate students who stand out from the crowd, have gone above and beyond, whether in college or their local community.

Bhavandeep (18), who is studying A Levels at DCG’s Joseph Wright Centre, is a finalist in the Young Student of the Year category of the national awards in recognition of her work as the driving force behind the College’s Student Mental Health Society.

Shantay, you stay! RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is serving Derby a second visit

Derby Live is excited to announce The Official RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series Three Tour will be sashaying to Derby Arena Thursday 22nd September 2022 at 8pm!
 
As the tour visits theatres and arenas across England, Scotland and Wales, expect a night of endless extravaganza as your favourite queens from Series Three of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK werk their way to Derby. This means audiences in Derby can witness the charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent of their favourite queens LIVE on stage at Derby Arena next year!
 

Funding boost for Chesterfield venues

Chesterfield Theatres and Chesterfield Museum have received a further funding boost to help support them to recover from the impact of the pandemic.

This funding, received through the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, is worth £153,000 which will be shared between Chesterfield Borough Council’s museum and theatres. In total the venues have received £720,000 through this fund over the last 18 months.

Awards success for Derby Market Place

The partnership behind Derby Market Place has scooped the Excellence in Collaboration award in the Derbyshire Business Awards, organised by East Midlands Chamber.

The title recognises the teamwork which turned an idea into a bright, welcoming and fully operational outdoor dining area in just four weeks in the summer of 2020.

Let’s Create Jubilee Fund - Arts Council England

Arts Council England are investing £5million into a new programme distributed by UK Community Foundations.

Funding thanks to the National Lottery to support voluntary and community organisations to deliver creative activity as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is a special moment in our collective history; one that gives us a chance to look back at what has been achieved over the last 70 years  and also look forward to what is possible in the future.

Derbyshire projects receive £70m Budget boost from Chancellor

Projects which could create thousands of new homes and jobs in Derbyshire have received a £70 million boost from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

In his recent Autumn Budget and Spending Review, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced the first round of winners from its £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund.

Out of the £1.7 billion announced, the South Derby Growth Zone and Infinity Garden Village received the largest single allocation of just under £50 million.

Local Talent Saves The Day

How wonderful to see local performers and children in the Derby Lantern Parade who turned out to be the shining stars at the Christmas Lights event last Saturday – showcasing our city’s diversity and how light and positivity brings us all together.

Although it was obviously disappointing that singer Simon Webbe was unable to perform at the event – there was much to celebrate and to entertain the expectant crowds.

LEVEL: Flying Under the Radar - Online Q&A POSTPONED

Due to unforeseen circumstances, LEVEL's scheduled Q&A on Thursday 18th November with the creative team behind Flying Under the Radar has been postponed. The team plan to re-schedule the event later in the year, but as yet the date isn't confirmed.

LEVEL have added the film to their website so you can watch Flying Under the Radar online.

Matinée Outreach - places available

We are pleased to inform you that some more places have become available for people living with dementia and/or memory loss to take part in the Matinée Outreach project. 

Matinée have room for a handful of people to start before Christmas and they are also taking details of those interested in joining the project in the new year.

DCG Animal Unit Open Day Returns

The Animal Unit at Derby College Group’s Broomfield Hall will welcome back visitors on Sunday November 28 between 10am and 3pm for its hold its first open day since the start of the pandemic.

The Autumn-themed open day is designed for young people and adults who are potentially interested in joining a study programme at the College and for families looking for a fun and interactive day out.

Early Booking for 2022 Buxton International Festival

Buxton Opera House and Buxton International Festival are delighted to announce that they're taking early bookings for 2022!

Gypsy - A Musical Fable

BIF are excited to present their second joint production, the legendary musical Gypsy, after the huge success of A Little Night Music.

                       

BHS Award For DCG Head

Derby College Group’s Head of Land-based curriculum Jon Collins has been officially recognised by the British Horse Society.

Mr Collins was presented with an Award for Merit by HRH The Princess Royal and actor Martin Clunes OBE at the BHS’ annual awards held at Newbury Racecourse.

City Centre BIDs Launch Golden Ticket Prize Draw

Derby’s Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are stepping up their efforts to encourage people to shop local this Christmas by giving visitors the chance to win a share of £2,000 worth of shopping vouchers.

Visitors can collect and fill out golden tickets from city centre businesses who display Golden Ticket posters in their window and then post them in one of 20 special boxes which have been stationed in businesses across the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter.

The Northern Lights Cinema: What's on this week

The Northern Lights Cinema have got two great films screening this week, and we think you'll love them both.

                                                  Friday 5th - Thursday 11th November 2021

All Rise for the Christmas lights switch on

Derby will be dreaming of a Blue Christmas in the best possible way when singer Simon Webbe switches on the city centre Christmas lights on Saturday 13 November.

The singer songwriter, who shot to fame as a member of the British boy band Blue, will perform as the headline act in a spectacular family show outside the Council House in Corporation Street.

Highlighting the digital & creative community in Derby & Derbyshire at the 5th Mainframe Awards

Mainframe are extremely excited to announce that submissions are now open for the Mainframe Awards 2022.

With ten, open categories to choose from there really is a category for everyone from every sector of the creative industries. Entering is simple; just 500 words and anything you'd like to add to boost your submission.

This is our chance to shine a light on you and your amazing businesses and the team at Mainframe can't wait.

 

Collective Residency Open Call: FORMAT22

FORMAT is delighted to announce an open call for an artist collective to be in residence at QUAD.

The residency will take place between November 2021 and March 2022 including an exhibition in the QUAD Extra Gallery Spaces during our FORMAT off year.

This is an opportunity for a UK based artist collective working in digital, lens-based media or photography to develop existing project/s or to realise new work and exhibit as part of the FORMAT Off Year programme.

The residency will include:

Derby QUAD: Digital Participatory Artist in Residence Opportunity 2021/22

QUAD invites expressions of interest for UK based artists or creative educators to undertake a practice based Digital Participatory Residency at QUAD, in Derby.

The Digital Participation Artist in Residence programme is for artists who are engaged with the theory and practice of innovative digital arts practices and research. For 2021-22, we are particularly interested in supporting practitioners who have adopted digital practices following the covid-19 pandemic.

Wirksworth's new contemporary non-for-profit art gallery to open soon

Haarlem Artspace raises £500 for necessary equipment. Haarlem have set an opening date for their new professional art gallery in Wirksworth showcasing rural contemporary art.  
 
The new gallery is set to open to the public, for a sneak peek into the beautiful space, on Saturday the 6th of November for their Christmas market. The gallery then officially opens showcasing its first exhibition ‘Gathering’ with a public viewing taking place on the 26th, and doors opening officially to the public on the 28th. 
 

Chesterfield’s fireworks extravaganza returns

Chesterfield Borough Council’s fireworks extravaganza returns later this week, and everyone is welcome to come along.

The council have partnered with Chesterfield Football Club to deliver the entertainment at this year’s event.

The fireworks event takes place at Stand Road Park on Friday 5 November, the gates will open at 4.30pm and close at 9pm.

Presenters James Summers and Elliot Holman from Chesterfield’s 1866 Sport Radio will be hosting the stage show and getting everyone ready for the fireworks display.

Grime Rap Star Comes On Board To Inspire Next Generation Of Artists

An international Grime artist has joined the teaching staff at Derby College Group to broaden the horizons of young people who have their sights set on a career in the music industry.

Elijah Eyes (stage name Eyez) is a former DCG student himself and will be teaching Grime, Drill, Hip Hop and R&B to Level one and two Music students at DCG’s Joseph Wright Centre.

Dronfield Hall Barn: Artisan & Producers' Market

The team at Dronfield Hall Barn are already looking forward to welcoming you to their Artisan & Producers' Market this weekend.

                                               Sunday 7th November, 10am-3pm | Free Admission

Over 40 different stallholders will be represented at the Barn in their gallery and gardens, and additionally across at the Peel Centre.

Traders invited to book their stalls for the festive shopping rush

Makers, crafters, and independent retailers are being invited to book a stall on Chesterfield Market in the build up to Christmas.

Market stalls are available on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays between 22nd November and 24th December. Casual traders and local creatives are being invited to sign up now to reserve their place.

Could you use a space in Chesterfield library?

Groups, businesses and residents are being asked to come forward with their ideas for using a former café space in Chesterfield Library.

The space on the bottom floor of the library in New Beetwell Street, has been occupied by Café Browser since 1984 but the café closed its doors in March 2020 due to the first national coronavirus lockdown and has not reopened.

Before the lockdown closure, Café Browser had been struggling to thrive in recent years due to competition from a number of new cafes and eateries opening up close by.