Skills for the Future: Heriatge Lottery Fund

http://www.hlf.org.uk/HowToApply/programmes/Pages/skillsforthefuture.aspx

Yorkshire Post: Portland Works Article

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/features/The-paint-may-be-peeling.6053699.jp

Radio Sheffield: Portland Works

Andy Cole of Wigful Tools was on Radio Sheffield yesterday, 9th February- the link to the show is here if you would like to listen: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0067r7q/The_Toby_Foster_Bigger_at_Breakfast_Show_09_02_2010/

Agenda: Tonights Meeting

Portland Works Agenda Tuesday 9th February 2010

1. Update: Inc. Planning Board schedule, Planning Application, Publicity this week, Exhibition at Castle Market, Cllr Scriven Visit etc

2. Publicity: inc distribution of the posters etc

3. Bank Street Arts Exhibition

4. The Planning Board

5. The development and presentation of our vision

6. Any other business

7. Next meeting

Yorkshire Post

There will be a feature on Portland Works in tomorrow's Yorkshire Post. I will try to post a copy of the article up here.

Pictures of Sheffield Old and New: Castle Market

Many thanks to Hedley Bishop, Brian Hatch, Jim Lambert and Lillian Hatch who have taken some fantastic photogrpahs of Portland Works and created this display at Castle Market. They have also produced business cards for the businesses and created a petition against the Planning Application. Go down and see it and visit their facebook group 'Pictures of Sheffield Old and New' here.

Campaign update

There are now over 120 written objections lodged with the Council. This is a fantastic response and we're heartened by the sheer number of people who've cared enough to put an objection together and submit it. On behalf of the campaign - thank you all of you, too many to name, it is all worthwhile and it has been a brilliant message of support to the campaign and above all the tenants.

Despite these objections however, it still; seems perfectly possible that consent to convert to flats could still be recommended, as there are only a few grounds for refusal UNDER PLANNING LAW, and the developers will undoubtedly have assurances to make and proposals to overcome these. And if consent is given, sooner or later the flats will be built.

The final decision will probably be made at the next Planning Board of City Councillors, during the next few weeks. Remember there are elections coming up in May! The next big effort concerns your local Councillors.

So please go to your local library (or sheffield.gov.uk) and check who the Councillors are for your area, write to them, email them, or even better go and see them at their regular surgeries, and make sure they know about Portland Works. We can still stop this!

Sheffield Telegraph Article

There was an article in the Sheffield Telegraph on the Portland Wroks campaign last thursday january 25th. You can viiew it here: http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/Modern-Little-Mesters-bid-to.6021977.jp

Invititation from Bank Street Arts to Portland Works

Art Sheffield 2010 is taking place from 6 March to 1 May at selected venues in Sheffield City Centre. In response to the Festival, the gallery spaces at Bank Street are being emptied of work and our exhibition programme put on hold in the hope that interested parties will use the spaces to make work in response to the festival, to have their say, to comment, to discuss but most importantly to be active participants.

Bank Street Arts is offering artists, makers, the viewing public and anyone interested the opportunity to respond to this and previous festivals held under the ‘Art Sheffield’ banner for the duration of the festival. If you are interested in being kept up to date and being involved, please join the Facebook group:
'Art Sheffield 2010 - Over to You' at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=267371049645&ref=mf&v=info
This is not a curated alternative fringe – it is something that will grow and evolve only through participation…. or alternatively, it won’t.

As this initiative is a response to Arts provision in general and a comment on its planning, financing, governance and politics (with a large or small p depending on your want) we can think of no more deserving or worthy cause in the city at the moment than the Portland Works issue which seems to encapsulate all of these matters. So if artists, film-makers indeed anyone at or connected with PW is interested in getting involved we would be happy to focus part of our efforts on raising the profile of this campaign in some way - we await your suggestions.

Over to You.
www.bankstreetarts.com