Booking is still open for the Compact’s own event, Best Practice Recruitment Guide for Creative
Leaders presented by Creative and Cultural Skills (Monday 14th December, 1-5pm, via Zoom). This is
a great opportunity for you and your colleagues to undertake this exemplary and timely training at
no cost. For further details and to book your free place visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bestpractice-recruitment-guide-for-creative-leaders-tickets-129467162769 (please share this link with
your networks).
UK YOUTH are distributing £2 million to support small youth organisations. Available to those who
have lost funding, face the threat of closure, or have reduced services supporting young people. Find
out how to apply here https://funding.ukyouth.org/ #StandWithYouth #CommunitiesCan
Arts Council England have launched the Thriving Communities Fund bringing together local
partnerships across culture, sport, nature, health and the community sector to address the wellbeing
needs of those most affected by Covid19. https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/thriving-communitiesfund#section-1
Arts Fundraising have launched their Autumn/Winter season of training, with courses to help you
bounce back and raise funds in today’s ever changing landscape. Find out more and join online:
https://artsfundraising.org.uk/courses
The Gulbenkian and Kings College have announced awards relating to Covid response for publicly
funded arts organisations: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/award-for-civic-arts-organisations
ACE #NationalLottery Project Grants is open. Read the new guidance at
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/national-lottery-project-grants/applying-national-lottery-projectgrants-three-steps
Join Together for Museums. Art Fund has launched a £1 million crowdfunding appeal with the help
of high profile artists. This year has demonstrated how determined museums are to rethink how
they work, make their venues Covid secure and take exciting projects out into their communities,
despite enormous challenges. This work can only survive with continued support:
https://www.artfund.org/get-involved/art-happens/join-together-for-museums/donate
Join DanceXchange (Producer) and Orit Azaz (Independent Artistic Facilitator) for an exciting
information session about the audacious, ambitious dance participation initiatives taking place
across the West Midlands and the opportunities to get involved in 2021. You will get the chance to:
learn about the innovative #DanceConnect creative research project that took place from May – July
2020 exploring potential for dance and digital collaboration between young people during lockdown;
share your experiences of ‘Something Good that Happened 2020’ in terms of youth participation;
find out more about DDLG ambitions for youth dance in the West Midlands 2021-2024, including as
part of Birmingham2022 Commonwealth Games; discuss ways to get involved in #DanceConnect –
Beyond Borders January to July 2021.
The event will take place on Wednesday 20th January 2021 from 4-5pm via Zoom.
This event is for dance leaders, dance educators, PE teachers leading dance, and anyone who works
with young people who may be interested in a dance participation experience. Book your free
place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/danceconnect-something-good-that-happened-tickets130579096593
Local Cultural Education Partnerships and Libraries: A partnership webinar 10th December 2020,
1.30-3pm. In this webinar which will be opened by Dr Darren Henley OBE, we’ll be sharing great
examples of partnership working and explore together how we can grow links between libraries and
LCEPs across the country. Open to all, book at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-culturaleducation-partnerships-and-libraries-a-partnership-webinar-tickets-129479585927
Artslink Webinar Series for artists working with care experienced children & young people in the
West Midlands. TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICE with Emily Foulkes. Wednesday 9th December, 5-
7pm, via Zoom. An interactive session introducing the theory and neuroscience behind our
understanding of the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on children & young people in
the care system. Register free of charge, joining instructions sent 1 hour before the webinar
commences: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/artslink-webinar-series-trauma-informed-practicetickets-129467329267
MACMAKESMUSIC are thrilled to be launching the West Midlands Inclusive Choir in partnership with
the amazing @SoundaboutUK. A Taster Session will be held on Saturday 12th December, 11am via
Zoom, and the choir will then meet online and sing together every other Saturday. Sign up at
https://www.soundabout.org.uk/inclusive-choir-west-midlands/
Nominate a charity to receive a festive financial boost. Ecclesiastical Insurance is giving £120,000 to
good causes as part of its annual 12 days of giving Christmas campaign. It’s quick and easy to
nominate a charity online. Nominations are open until 21st December:
www.movementforgood.com/12days
Creative Practitioner Art Gallery opportunity. Creative Practitioner wanted for wellbeing sessions at
Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum. To find out more and download the brief, please visit
https://www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk/2020/10/12/museums-worcestershire-receiveslifeline-grant/
Festive Run. Throughout December, WLV Sport is inviting individuals and their families to participate
in a virtual festive run. Participants can walk, run, jog or skip if they like and can choose between
1km, 3km and a 5km distance. All that participants have to do is let WLV Sport know once they have
participated in the event by submitting information to us through a google form. WLV Sport would
also like to see some festive images and videos of participants completing the activity, whether they
choose to wear festive attire, pose in front of Christmas lights or video some of the festive sights
seen on their travels. The favourite image/video will win a prize. Further details can be found on the
attached image, where there is also a QR code link to the google form.
The Black Country Rainbow Hour Campaign seeks to prioritise the well-being of all young people
across the Black Country by dedicating an hour each day to the activities provided. The campaign
supports schools by providing resources and ideas for them to deliver during their Rainbow Hour
including the development of regular Rainbow Hour booklets that provide a wealth of activities for
all children, young people and families to access. The Rainbow Booklets are released every half term
to schools with new content and activities included. More details on the campaign can be found at
www.blackcountryrainbowhour.co.uk and the booklets can be downloaded directly from
https://www.activeblackcountry.co.uk/rainbow-hour/the-rainbow-booklet/
The campaign can be supported on social media using #BlackCountryRainbowHour
The Love Exploring Walking app is available at three Walsall parks: Walsall Arboretum, Willenhall
Memorial Park and Swannies Field. Free to download, Love Exploring puts the power of discovery in
your hands by providing a range of discovery games and guided tours that are fun to do and free to
use. With the current Covid-19 pandemic, getting outside and being active has never been more
important. The Love Exploring app can provide ideas for family activities or suggestions on exploring
on your own, if you fancy a bit of ‘me’ time. More details on the app can be found at
www.activeblackcountry.co.uk/love-exploring or the app can be downloaded directly from
https://loveexploring.page.link/download
The Black Country School Games has gone online for the academic year 2020/21 with virtual
competitions running for schools in the Black Country along with a monthly Battle of the Black
Country finale to determine the overall winners. The fourth virtual competition is currently running,
with the next one starting after Christmas. Competitions have included: the active mile, skipping,
multi skills and pentathlon. The Virtual School Games builds on the success of the Black Country
School Games in June 2020 which went online in response to the pandemic and saw over 4200
entries from 58 schools across the Black Country, with Walsall crowned the 2019/20 winners.
Competition for schools will be running into next year and activity descriptions and key pointers can
be found on the Active Black Country website at : https://www.activeblackcountry.co.uk/what-wedo/education/school-games/virtual-school-games-competitions/
How can innovation help people recover jobs and money during COVID-19? (10th December, 3-
4.30pm) Join a Nesta led discussion exploring the ways in which innovation can help solve a piece of
the UK’s recovery puzzle. Hear from experts in the field, including Ravi Gurumurthy, on how Nesta is
helping those economically impacted, and meet the newly announced semi-finalist innovators of its
£2.8 million Rapid Recovery Challenge. Register now for free.
SAVE THE DATE On Monday 18th January 2021, 1.30-3.30pm, Lara Ratnaraja and Helga Henry will
deliver an afternoon of bespoke presentations and discussions to the Walsall Cultural Compact,
focusing on the theme of diversity. The afternoon will aid the Comp
