News from producers around Derbyshire

Innovate UK has up to £200,000 and a package of tailored support to award to businesswomen who have exciting ideas and the potential to become leaders in innovation and deliver significant economic growth.

Away from the bigger categories, smaller sections of the Buxton Fringe programme such as Dance, Film, Street Theatre and Other Events offer some of the most different and remarkable experiences.

Canadian musician Colin and Chinese dancer Yozy wowed the Fringe last year with their innovative music, beat boxing and speed painting - not to mention Yozy’s sensitive dancing! - and COZY is back with more magical performances at Underground Venues.

Visual Arts are always well represented at Buxton Fringe and this year’s event, running from July 6-24, is not only well-stocked with exhibitions but offers the chance to meet the artists and learn the tricks of their trade.

New Fringe entrant Charlie Waite, a landscape photographer, is presenting both a selection from his portfolio, displayed at the University of Derby Buxton, and exclusive, 25-minute critique sessions in which he offers to help people perfect their own photography techniques.

Buxton Fringe’s For Families programme offers something from across all the Fringe categories, giving families the chance to experience everything the Fringe has to offer. From theatre to comedy, and from disco-dancing to storytelling, there is something to inspire and entertain the whole family.

Spoken word has always been popular at the Fringe, but this year it is bigger and more varied than ever.

Multi award winning wetsuit and triathlon apparel manufacturers HUUB Design, have today announced a research partnership with the Best Swim Centre, Mallorca,  which will see the centre house HUUB’s revolutionary and unrivalled Measuring Active Drag (MAD) system.

Wetsuit promotional literature is littered with references to technology that adds performance, with no quantified evidence provided. HUUB Design has developed an in water system which allows quantified gains from wetsuit use to be measured and evidenced.

Burbage Art Group’s 2016 Art Exhibition, a popular highlight of the Buxton Fringe, is featuring more variety than ever this year with several artists choosing to work with fabric for the first time. Says organiser Rachel Slaney: “We hope to have examples of weaving as well as various fabric and embroidery collages this summer as well as our usual mix of watercolours, acrylics, mixed media and pen and inks.”

Local Cultural Education Partnership receives funding for ‘C.O.A.L’ - a new arts festival that celebrates local talent

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has invested £9,820 in ‘Creating Opportunities for Aspiring Leaders’ (C.O.A.L), a new project based in the coalfields area of Amber Valley. The project will work with 15 Young Leaders to offer training and work experience that generates transferable skills for their future employment journey, whilst simultaneously creating a new festival experience for the local community.

Winners of the 2016 Brit Breakthrough Award Catfish and the Bottlemen are set to play at Derby Arena on Saturday 5 November. The announcement swiftly follows the launch of their much anticipated second studio album The Ride last Friday.

Last weekend the band thrilled the masses on the main stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend and are now on their North American tour. Catfish and the Bottlemen have previously played at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds festival and this new tour takes in Derby Arena alongside the SSE Arena Wembley and Ricoh Arena.

A free programme designed to give support and education to anyone following a bereavement will start again next Wednesday (June 8))

The six-week Grief Journey Derby programme is funded by Derby and Ashbourne independent funeral directors G Wathall & Son. The weekly sessions are held between 6pm and 8pm at Derby Rugby Club in Haslam’s Lane and must be pre-booked by contacting G Wathall & Son.