Events

Earlyarts International UnConference will take place on 9 November 2010, in Halifax, and you have the opportunity to really get involved:

GROW Your Own workshop - come and share the best learning, ideas, skills, approaches and connections you have developed in your practice.

EXPOse Your Work - stalls are free to publically funded arts or cultural organisations, freelancers and charities. If you are an arts, cultural and creative professional (freelancer or organisation) and want to promote your skills, approaches, shows, workshops and opportunities for partnership with the wider early years and family learning sector, then contact us to apply for a stall. As long as your work is directly relevant to nurturing the creative potential of young children, families or early years professionals, you are welcome.

Invite your international colleagues to GLOBALise Yourself - in a series of short interventions designed to enable arts, cultural and early years professionals from outside the UK to make new connections virtually. Along with our audience and online participants they can share approaches and explore what makes a difference for their children and families, and how this works in practice.

Click here for more information about the Unconference.

Get creative on Tuesdays the 3rd, 10th and 17th of August...

Crafty Family Fun Mornings

The Allendale Bakery Allen Mills, Allendale, NE47 9EQ with Lapwing Crafts

9.45am -- 12.30pm

Silk painting  *  Salt Dough Moulding  *  Felting Rocks, Pebbles & Balls

Crafty Family Fun Afternoons

Pebbles Gallery & Art Cafe Shield Street, Allendale, NE47 9BP with Lapwing Crafts

2.00pm -- 4.00pm

Drop-in sessions £5.00 per adult

£7.00 for 1 adult + 1 child

£10.00 for 1 adult + 2 children

Fees are per craft. Children must be accompanied by a family member or friend at all times.

If you belong to a play-group and are looking for crafty things to do over the summer we may be able to arrange fun and creative activities for you, your children and your friends.

For further information about Lapwing Crafts click here.

Saturday 10 July, 1.30pm - 3.30pm

World Cancer Research Fund is encouraging everyone to get involved in Fruity Friday next month! Why not organise a fundraising day in your setting? Click here for ideas for healthy eating themed assemblies, which can be used year round.

If you're planning to celebrate Fruity Friday please let us know by leaving a comment below....

This summer holiday, Kids Kabin in Walker is offering a week of exciting opportunities for ages 8+. Please include the following in your letters home to families:

The week of activities will take place 9am - 5pm between Monday 2 and Friday 6 August. Activities are for ages 8 - 16, and those age 17+ can volunteer to assist with the running of the programme.

Success For All has plenty of exciting activities for young people in Newcastle. The following activities run weekly during term time, and workshops can also be delivered in your setting. Please mention the following exciting activities to families you work with:

Manga Cartoon Club for 8 - 18 year olds

Monday 5:30-7:00pm at Millin Centre, 160 Ellesmere Road, Benwell, NE4 8TR

Friday 3:15-4:15pm at Walker Technology College, Middle Street, Walker, NE6 4BY

We'd like to organise an Ambassadors' Networking event in June, but first we want to know what you'd like... The event will take place at Gateshead Old Town Hall (near the Sage Gateshead and Gateshead Metro) and is likely to be between 4 and 6pm one weekday in June. Please take a moment to let us know which of the following you'd be interested in. Please leave a comment or email Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk by Wednesday 29 March:

1. Carnival themed event - a chance to hear from an Ambassador about their experience of working with artists to create a carnival event in school. This would be followed by a session with an artist, in which you'd learn how to make a simple carnival mask. There would be an emphasis on simple technique and affordable materials, to maximise your chances of being able to recreate the activity in your setting.

2. Scrapbooking - Suitable for anyone working with 3 to 11 year olds, this would involve hearing from an Ambassador about how they've used scrapbooks to strengthen the home-school link. This would be followed by a session with an artist in which you'd learn simple and effective scrapbooking techniques that you could use with children in your setting, whether it's a school, nursery, youth group or children's centre.

3. China themed event - a chance to hear from an Ambassador about how they've used Chinese arts and crafts in their school. This would be followed by a session with an artist in which you'd learn a Chinese craft technique, using paper, which you could deliver in your own setting.

4. If you are not interested in any of the above events please let me know - all feedback is useful and I'd be interested to hear if you have a suggestion of another event that you'd prefer.

Between 22 and 26 March there will be fun-filled activities for all the family in Felling. A full timetable can be found here. Highlights for children and young people include:

Monday 22 March

Let's Circus! for 8 years + at Brandling Community Centre, 4 - 5pm.

Kids' Activities for 6 - 10 year olds at Stoneygate Community House, 4 - 5pm.

Fun and Games for 10 years + at Stoneygate MUGA, 4 - 6pm.

Tuesday 23 March

Toddler Storytelling at Brandling Community Centre, 1 - 3pm

Wednesday 23 March

Going Green - children's bird box making and planting activity at Brandling Primary School, 1 - 3pm.

After School Activities for 8 - 14 year olds at Brandling Community Centre, 4 - 5pm

Young Women 'Hoop Hop' at Brandling Community Centre, 4 - 5pm

Thursday 24 March

Toddler Storytelling at Brandling Community Centre, 1 - 3pm

After School Activities for 8 - 14 year olds at Felling House Play Area, 4 - 5pm

Young Men's Fitness Group - Breakdance and MC night at Brandling Community Centre, 7 - 9.30pm

Friday 25 March

Healthy Cook & Eat session at Brandling Community Centre, 10am - 3pm

Community Allotment - green exercise and planting with Brandling Primary School at Brandling Primary School, 10am - 3pm

For further information, contact Felling Housing Office.

Click here to find out what's happening in your area this half term. Have a go at archery, sledging, climbing and much more. Look out for the sports van coming to a street near you!

If you've been to any of these events why not leave a comment letting us know what you thought!

Looking for something to do over half term? Why not try some of these activities:

Design your own t-shirt at the Laing Gallery, 1.30pm - 3.30pm on Monday 15 February. T-shirts will be provided at this free session.

Get busy with Action Art in free sessions at Baltic, 11am - 4pm every day between 15 and 21 February. Using different movements and actions along with brightly coloured paint and a variety of materials, help to create a colourful and dynamic large scale artwork which will be displayed outside Baltic.

Join in with jungle art at Gateshead Old Town Hall on Friday 19 February. Make a tribal mask, crocodile collage, giraffe hand puppet or jungle picture with the help of Cultural Partner Crafty Creatures. Session for under 5s 11am - 12noon, and for 3 - 9 year olds, 1-3pm.

Make an electromechanical bugbot at the Centre for Life and build an obstacle course to test it out on. Saturday 13 February, suitable for ages 13+. £5 per ticket, booking essential.

Be amazed by the Harry Potter magic show at Walker Library on Tuesday 16 February (2pm) and East End Library on Wednesday 17 February (11am). Free but booking essential.

Do you know of other creative activities going on in Newcastle and Gateshead at half term? Why not leave a comment to tell other website users about them?

The Avison Ensemble in partnership with Gateshead Schools Music Service presents a Music Celebration Day on Wednesday 10 February at the Dryden Centre, Evistones Road, Gateshead, which is free to schools, groups and Cultural Ambassadors.

It's free for anyone to drop in between 10am and 4pm, to have a go at musical instrument taster sessions, massed vocal sessions and music workshops. Over 1,000 young people are expected to attend this event which is suitable even for complete beginners!

The Celebration Day will end with a concert at 6pm, featuring Gateshead Young Orchestra, Senior Windband and swing band 'Paraphernalia'.

For details please email frances@avisonensemble.com

Saturday 13 - Sunday 21 February

Dive in to the utterly fabulous and extremely wonderful world of Clarice Bean, Charlie and Lola with a whole week of fun at Seven Stories! Celebrating the launch of a shiny brand new Lauren Child exhibition, join Seven Stories for daily storytimes featuring your favourite characters!

Come and join in a collage workshop, have a go at animation, listen to stories of your favourite characters, and even meet Lauren Child herself! There's also a competition where you can win tickets to 'Charlie and Lola's Best Bestest Play' at Northern stage, as well as a family pass to Seven Stories and loads of signed goodies.

For details of events click here.

To find out about special events for teachers and students click here.

Artists and educators are invited to this one day conference at Alnwick Garden on Monday 28 September.

Delegates will explore the potential for playing, learning and working creatively in an outdoor environment. Based in Alnwick Garden's stunning grounds, this course will involve hands on experience of playing outdoors, presentations and discussion groups.

This event is organised by Sightlines Initiative, which advocates and demonstrates the development of creative and reflective early years pedagogy in the UK. For details of this conference and other events click here.

September 2009 begins The Year of Music

A national campaign to give every child the chance to get more from music, launched with  a week of activity and events across the country.

One of the days (likely to be Friday 11th September) will involve the creation of a Dawn Chorus, where commuters witness a morning of song and dance by children across the entire city of Newcastle in public places such Central Station and Tyne Bridge. Children will be taking over the airwaves, co-presenting on radio stations and reporting on the events happening around the city.

The year will showcase the wide range of musical experiences available to children and young people.  It will encourage them to find their talent and get involved in music.  They can work with professional musicians, DJs, orchestras, lyricists and performers.

If you have a group of young people who would like to take part, please contact Sarah-Jane King at Freud Communications;

phone 020 3003 6354, or email sarah-jane.king@freud.com

Action for Children's Arts is holding a regional seminar at Seven Stories, Newcastle, on Wednesday 23 September, 1.30 - 4.30pm.

This is one of a series of Action for Children's Arts events taking place across the country, giving everyone involved in children's arts - artists, producers, teachers, parents, local authorities, children's charities - the chance to meet each other, share ideas and contribute to a national campaign to promote the importance of the arts in children's lives.

Tickets are £15 for Action for Children's Arts members, and £25 for non members. To book or for further details click here.

On Tuesday 6 October, between 3.30 and 5pm, teachers are invited to come along and find out everything Seven Stories can offer their school. The event is completely free of charge and will be a chance to enjoy some refreshments whilst being amongst the first to view two fantastic new exhibitions!

The Judith Kerr exhibition opens in mid September, featuring much-loved classics The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog the Forgetful Cat, alongside the moving story of Judith's childhood as a refugee. Meanwhile, a celebration of T.S.Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, including a new edition illustrated by Axel Scheffler opens in the Bookden on 1st October.

Children and adults are invited to join Cultural Partner Steve Marshall to create a panoramic drawing of Saltwell Park. No experience is necessary and all materials are provided at this fun and accessible workshop. Tickets are just £2 and should be booked by contacting HannahMackay@gateshead.gov.uk or telephoning 0191 433 6920.

Date: Saturday 15 August.

Time: 10am - 12 noon for 9 - 12 year olds. 1 - 3pm for adults.

Venue: Meet in the upstairs gallery of Saltwell Towers, Saltwell Park, Gateshead. The workshop will take place outdoors so please come dressed for the weather.

Gateshead schools are invited to the City Learning Centre's Poetry and Illustration festival between 14 and 18 September 2009. Professional poets and illustrators including Gez Walsh, Craig Bradley, Shoo Rayner and Rob Lewis will lead a series of workshops, which are sure to inspire children and teachers alike.

One session for a maximum of 35 children is available per school. Places are limited so be sure to book by telephoning Gateshead City Learning Centre on 0191 460 2900.

BALTIC is offering a free CPD session for primary school teachers, 12.30 - 4.30pm on Thursday 14 May.

Using BALTIC's A Duck for Mr. Darwin exhibition as a focus, you will be able to work with artists, to explore creative methods for evaluating learning, to work  with 'Dr. Maths' and with a consultant in emotional intelligence, exploring the potential of themed learning.

The event is completely free and includes a light lunch. For further information, or to book a place, please contact Helen Burns at: helenb@balticmill.com or phone 0191 4404929.

Now in its seventh year, The Children's Bookshow gives children the chance to experience the enthusiasm, energy and passion of some of today's top children's writers and illustrators, from familiar, well loved names, to exciting new ones.

As part of the Bookshow this year, Guo Yue and Clare Farrow will visit Newcastle to share their book Little Leap Foward. Children and teachers alike will delight in this event which focuses on the husband and wife team's moving acount of growing up in the Cultural Revolution of China. Based upon Yue's chjldhood in Beijing, A LIttle Leap Forward is a tale of family life and the ups and downs of friendship, which gives a fascinating insight into Mao Zedong's China.

Read on for details of free workshops for KS2 with Clare and Yue.

Join Cultural Partner Lip Lee for a free kite making workshop this Saturday 13 June. 5 - 12 year olds will learn some origami techniques to make spinners and kites, which they can fly in the park.

Lip regularly delivers origami and Chinese culture workshops in Newcastle and Gateshead schools. As well as a great chance to make a toy to take home, the workshop is an opportunity for Ambassadors to meet a Cultural Partner who is available to work with your learning setting, and discover techniques to use in the classroom.

To guarantee a place at the workshop please contact Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk or telephone 0191 433 6920. Some drop in places are also available, and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Venue: Saltwell Towers, Saltwell Park

Time: 10am - 12.00 for 5 - 8 year olds, 1 - 3pm for 9 - 12 year olds.

Date: Saturday 13 June

NewcastleGateshead's festival for children and young people is back! Following the success of last year's exciting events, Juice 2009 promises even more enticing opportunities!

Between Thursday 22 October and Sunday 8 November, NewcastleGateshead will be bursting with events, performances and activities, celebrating the creativity of children and young people.

There will be a wealth of opportunities specifically for schools to join in with. You can subscribe to the mailing list, to ensure you're the first to hear the news. Photos from Juice 2008 can be viewed here.

In a dark dark street, there was a dark dark house! See puppets, singing and a UV light night-time sequence as you enter a world of fun, frights and friendship with three skeletons that love to misbehave! See The Puppetlab bring Janet and Allan Ahlberg's classic tale to life in an unmissable performance for 4 - 7 year olds and their families. 

The Puppetlab present Funnybones! at Seven Stories, 3 - 4pm on Saturday 21 March. £2 booking fee, in addition to Seven Stories entry fee. Book here.

Shine Week takes place between 6 and 10 July 2009. You can celebrate Shine '09 by planning and hosting events showcasing everyone's talents. The week will see classrooms, halls, playgrounds, community spaces and cultural venues shine brightly with young people's talents!

Click here to register your school and receive your free resource pack. This includes a creative pack, and a media pack to make sure the local limelight is focused on your Shine event!

Last year over 2,500 schools took part - the website has info on some of their ideas for a spectacular Shine Week.

Don't forget to email your network coordinators if you'd like help finding an artist for Shine Week - Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk and Caroline.pearce@newcastle.gov.uk We'd love to feature your events on this website!

Making Music North East invites choirs, individual singers, vocal leaders and conductors to the Big Spring Sing. This one day workshop is aimed at any singers interested in:

meeting other singers
developing their vocal technique
learning new repertoire
singing a major work.

The workshop takes place at The Education Village, Darlington, 10am - 5pm on Saturday 9 May. Discounts are available if you book early. For more info, visit Making Music North East.

Come and celebrate 'Light up the Countryside Week' by making a lantern! The week will culminate in a spectacular lantern parade at Watergate Forest Park, 7 - 8pm on Saturday 21 February. Why not bring along your lantern and join in, or just come and watch. Family lantern making workshops are taking place at the following venues:

Tuesday 17 February, 10am - 12 noon at Thornley Woodlands Centre.

Wednesday 18 February, 12noon -2pm at Saltwell Park.

Thursday 19 February, 1 - 3pm at Bill Quay Farm, and 2 - 4pm at Thornley Woodlands Centre.

Saturday 21 February, 6pm at Watergate Forest Park.

Workshop places cost £2 per person and must be booked in advance by calling 01207 545 212 or emailing countryside@gateshead.gov.uk

Keeping busy over half term needn't break the bank...

• Visit Beamish for £5 and get a sneak preview of the Colliery Lamp Cabin exhibit and join in the family activities in the school. Details here.
• Short Story Workshop for 13 - 18 year olds, for £5 at Sage Gateshead. Pick up some creative writing tips, design a book jacket and produce video, soundtracks and photostories. Details here.
• Try your hand at glass painting and mosaic making. Watch professional artists blowing glass at Sunderland's National Glass Centre. For ages 6+, £5 - £8. Details here.

Would you like to work with Northern Stage to influence programming decisions and create exciting new projects involving your students? Northern Stage Teachers' Forum is looking for teachers who can spare one hour, once or twice a term. In return, you'll get a glass of wine and a whole host of teacher treats.

Benefits include:

Tailor made training sessions

Advance booking info

Tours & talks for your students

Opportunities & projects for your school

Access to dress rehearsals

The next Teachers' Forum will be on Wednesday 25 February at 6pm in the Sponsors' Room at Northern Stage. For more info or to book, contact Susan Mulholland, Participation and Learning Coordinator, on 0191 242 7222 or smulholland@northernstage.co.uk

We're giving away two family passes for Centre for Life, where there's plenty to explore, from DNA and the senses, to recycling and constellations.

Newcastle Science Fest kicks off in March and promises some exciting events - find out what liquid nitrogen icecream tastes like, have a go at making a rocket and discover the essential ingredients of elephants' toothpaste.

For your chance to win a family pass for Centre for Life, simply tell us how old Charles Darwin would have been this year. (You might find some clues here! ) Email your answer to Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk

Baltic are offering Cultural Ambassadors a free twilight session of daring drawing! Join artist Louise Bradley to experiment with exciting drawing methods that you can take back to the classroom. Don't worry if you think you can't draw, all you need is enthusiasm, and Louise will show you the rest!

The session will run from 4 - 6pm on Thursday 19 March at Baltic. For more info or to book contact Helen Burns: Helenb@balticmill.com or phone 0191 440 4929. Don't forget, as with all Cultural Ambassadors events, you can send a colleague if you can't make it!

Celebrate the arrival of Spring with storyteller Chris Bostock and musician Richard Scott with Tales for the Turning Year on Tuesday 24 March. Join them at Clara Vale Village Hall to look towards spring and learn how the lamb outsmarted the wolf and what grandmother spider brought to the earth.  

There'll be participation a-plenty in this musical journey of stories from around the world.

Suitable for family audiences of 5+ Tickets are £3 / £1.50

Tickets available from Clara Vale Village Hall, Clara Vale, Ryton NE40 OJE or the Box Office, 0191 433 8420.

COMPETITION: We're giving away A bit of an Earful - a CD collection of traditional tales told by Chris Bostock with music by Graham Raine and Bridget Enever. Be the first to answer the following question correctly, by email to hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk

Which season is being celebrated in Tales of the Turning Year?

Cultural Ambassador Vivienne Howell would like to share the latest cultural and creative activities at Whickham School...

Textile artist and Big Knitter, Ingrid Wagner worked with a group of Year 10 and Year 11 students on a two-day group project using recycled fabrics and yarn.

The project of course began with research, planning and preparation. Using "The Angel" as an inspiration and source, the students listed and discussed what the angel meant to them - powerful, embracing, trust, shelter, safety, security, proud, protecting, a landmark.

It was decided that the textile piece would be a panel made up of sections like the Angel's wings, which would then be used as a chair covering. This would demonstrate many of the Angel's qualities- somewhere to visit, to sit, to read or reflect; somewhere safe to snuggle into, to wrap around and embrace you; a monumental structure to offer protection.

As part of Juice Festival, Year 5 pupils from Bridgewater School in Scotswood have written  six new plays that will preview this month. The children enjoyed a series of workshops which have resulted in this fresh and vibrant theatre production.
First Draft is for anyone over the age of five and takes place on Tuesday 25 Nov (1.30pm & 7pm) and Thursday 27 Nov (7pm only). Don't miss this chance to see this showcase of the region's new writing and performing talent!

First Draft is at Live Theatre, Broad Chare, Newcastle Quayside.
Tickets available from the Box Office: 0191 232 1232. £6 Adults; £5 concessions.

Last few places available.

Do you teach Shakespeare to KS 4 or 5?

This training day is an opportunity for teachers to explore how theatre-based approaches can be used to help students respond more confidently to Shakespeare, and to inspire creative and informed written and oral work for English Language and English Literature.

Tuesday 24th February, 2009
@ Northern Stage

Contact caroline.pearce@newcastle.gov.uk to book your space.

Fruity Friday will take place on the 25th May and is part of a national healthy eating campaign to raise awareness of links between diet, nutrition and cancer prevention.

If you and your school wish to participate there are loads of promotional material available (posters, book marks, stickers, recipe books) and also teachers' resource packs. Please contact the following address for requests for resource packs and for more information: Eileen Westhorpe, Health Promotion Resource Service for Gateshead, Dunston Activity Centre, Ellison Road, Dunston, Tyne and Wear, NE11 9SS, 0191 433 5684 or email: eileenwesthorpe@gateshead.gov.uk

There's a huge range of activies to occupy early years, children and young people this half term at centres across Gateshead.

There are 'Water Activities' at Gateshead Leisure Centre, Birtley, Dunston, Felling and Blaydon Swimming Pools, including Aquagames, Tots and Toys and a Rookie Lifeguard Course.

Four day sports activity weeks will be taking place at Birtley and Gateshead Leisure Centres.

Additional holiday activities include Tri golf, Street/Urban Dancing, Ski tasters, Mountain biking, sledging, and sheep shearing, as well as loads more.

The link below has full details and contact information.
Download file

Help make your school bloom. Enter the Gateshead Council Summer Garden Competition and your schools’ efforts could be recognised whilst helping improve Gateshead’s environment for all to enjoy.

There are 3 area competitions to enter covering the whole of Gateshead each with the category – Best Kept Garden/ Class project. This category is open to all Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Special schools in the area.

For further information contact Events Unit, Gateshead Council,
Sport & Leisure, Old Town Hall, West Street, Gateshead, NE8 1HE, or telephone 0191 433 6900.

Artist Karen Johnson will be bringing her first exhibition back to her native North East from Saturday 24 March - Saturday 12 May 2007.

Gateshead’s Gallery, based at Central Library on Prince Consort Road, will be hosting the free exhibition, which explores how a family cope with disability.

The show explores the life of Karen's son Jamie, a child with downs syndrome, from birth to age seven. The ups and downs of family life are chronicled using modern photography.

The Gallery is open from 9am - 7pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 9am - 5pm Wed and 9am - 1pm Sat. The Gallery is closed on Bank Holidays. For more details call the Arts Development Team on 0191 433 6927.

From Gateshead Council Sport and Leisure Team

Get the kids active this Easter at one of the many courses planned across all our leisure facilities.
There’s something for everyone, from football, basketball, hockey, skiing, rugby, swimming and lots, lots more!
If the kids are water babies, then there’s plenty of water activities too. Whether they’re learning to swim or want to take part in Aqua Games. They can even learn lifeguarding skills at one of our Rookie Lifeguard Courses taking place at Gateshead Leisure Centre and Dunston Pool. All this and more!
For full details on all courses and activities contact your local leisure facility or visit www.gateshead.gov.uk
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Graeae Arts are the Country's foremost disability-led company, and they are coming to Northern Stage in Newcastle on 29 - 31 March. The story is 'Whiter Than Snow' which is a radical retelling of the Snow White story and is suitable for children, (and their mums and dads) over the age of seven. The special offer is for £5 tickets, to book ring Alanna on 0191 242 7237 and quote 'Graeae Offer'.

As you have all probably heard Barbara-Ann has left her post as CCA Coordinator after doing a fantastic job for almost four and a half years. She has been instrumental to the success of the CCA network, and has been generally brilliant. Until her successor is appointed I will be stepping into Barbara's shoes and keeping the flow of information between schools and cultural partners going. My name is Fiona Kelly, and I live in the Borough. I graduated last December with an MA in Cultural Management and have had a great time working for the Council's arts development team since then. I will endeavour to provide an uniterrupted service for CCAs and Cultural Partners, and please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or would like to pass any information on to me.

Monday 6 November, 2006

Don’t miss a great opportunity to meet award winning writer and illustrator, Debi Gliori, author of the amazing Pure Dead series as she talks about her latest book, Deep Fear.
Followed by book-signing. Visiting school groups can enjoy a self-led tour of the Galleries before the event.
Times: 10 – 12 noon and 12.30 – 2.30pm
Suitable for ages 9 - 11, KS2
Pre-booking required; telephone 0845 2710 777
Supported by Random House Children’s Books
www.sevenstories.org.uk

Active Kidz October Half Term Holidays
Monday 23 - Friday 27 October

Get the kids active this half term at one of the many courses planned across all our leisure facilities.

There’s something for everyone, from football, basketball, hockey, skiing, rugby, swimming and lots, lots more!

If the kids are water babies, then there’s plenty of water activities too. Whether they’re learning to swim or want to take part in Aqua Games. They can even learn lifeguarding skills at one of our Rookie Lifeguard Courses taking place at Gateshead Leisure Centre and Dunston Pool. All this and more!

For full details on all courses and activities contact your local leisure facility or visit www.gateshead.gov.uk

On Saturday 28th October at 2pm The Art Works Galleries at the top of Stepney Bank will be inviting people to come and carve a pumpkin which will be lit and displayed in the ‘Sculptured Eye’ courtyard on November the 5th.

Tickets are £5 per person and £10 a family. For this you get your pumpkin, carving tools and delicious pumpkin soup. If you’d like to add something to your pumpkin in the form of accessories this would be very welcome. The Art Works Galleries will be presenting £25 cash prizes for the most scary, ugly, cute and happy pumpkin and there is no age restriction.

Places restricted to 100 participants, to book your place email: info@theartworksgalleries.com or call (0191) 2619922.

http://www.theartworksgalleries.com

The Art Works Galleries
Stepney Bank
Ouseburn
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 2NP

Opening hours 10am - 5pm Tuesday to Saturday.

The TAKEOFF festival, England's leading festival of professional international theatre for children and young people, is coming to Gateshead...

from Monday 9 - Saturday 14 October 2006.

Find out more by visiting the CTC Theatre website

You can no log on, find out what the ideal virtual school looks and sounds like on the Virtual Vision website and post a comment (scrolling to the Explore menu (right hand side) and clicking onto 'Thoughts and Ideas'):

Click onto:
www.virtual-vision.org

Virtual Vision - Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd of June 2006

We invite you to review our flagship project, where Gateshead teachers worked one-to-one with our Cultural Partners to create a virtual creative school, creative curriculum and creative management model.

Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd of June 2006

On these two dates fifteen Gateshead Cultural Ambassadors will descend on the City Learning Centre to make a creative school, creative curriculum and a creative management model. All this work will be made live via this very
website for your contributions and the final results will also be posted here until the end of the summer holidays, so check this site for regular updates.

Now available to buy, this book is a handy resource for crafters, including a diary of some 1500 craft events coming up in the next year, a list of craft courses, a suppliers directory and a directory of publications.

You can order the book from Write Angle Press:
Write Angle Press
16 Holm Oak Drive
Madeley
Crewe
CW3 9HR
T: 01782 750986
E: charles.wallin@btclick.com

Saltwell Park Show
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th April 2006
10.00am - 4.00pm

Explore Britain's Best Park ... and enjoy local crafts, horticultural societies, walks, music, storytelling and more!
Free admission and free park and ride every 15 mins from Gateshead Civic Centre
For further information telephone Cultural Services, Events Unit, 0191 433 6900

Visit Bill Quay Farm this half-term and see the cows, goats, pigs, sheep, chickens and rabbits.

Enjoy a snack in the Saddleback Café and pick up an Art Trail leaflet and discover an array of farm-themed pieces by local artists.

Open every day (12-5pm)
Admission free.
Hainingwood Terrace, in Bill Quay.
Tel: 0191 433 5780

Visit this site for further information.