Workshops from Unknown Pleasures Festival, Macclesfield 2010
I have an ongoing obsession with pattern.
In the summer I was lucky enough to turn that obsession into a small project by co-ordinating some workshops for people in Macclesfield.  

(You can read more about that by looking at Macclesfield Silk Museum Heritage Trust here)

In the morning, members of the public were taken on a tour of the town, looking at pattern in architecture.
Armed with cameras and a professional photographer guide, we encouraged them to seek out the details that usually pass them by.

In the afternoon, I brought in artists / designers / printers from one69a to help them turn their photos into screen prints and transfer them onto bags and t-shirts.

one69a have just launched their new website and included the workshops as one of their case studies so take a fuller look over there...

And by the way - if you like architectural pattern, do take a look at the project with Rosie James at Ordsall Hall in Salford
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AtelierPompadour's studio
Creative & Cultural Skills, the national development body for the areas I and many others work in, recently announced their new Standards for Creative & Cultural Industries. Including one for Standards in Freelancing.

Not a bad idea I thought, it would be good to have something official to aspire to. Then I opened it. It's 92 pages long. That's a heck of a lot of standards. I'm sure they're all admirable. I just question whether in this current climate of time -poor stretched working for many, is 92 pages a realistic sized document to expect people to read?

There are 62 overarching standards, each with a range of bullet pointed sub-standards. I can only say for the time being that I aim to read them and that when I do I'm sure I'll wholeheartedly agree with some and raise a questioning eybrow over others.

But meanwhile I'll be focussing on meeting deadlines for the clients who pay me to read and work on other documents. So who knows how long it will take to get through those 62 standards and report back on my responses...

Image: sadly not my office, but the wonderful work of atelierpompadour
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Umbro Industries is a new initiative from Umbro geared towards giving potential Manchester based creators the financial backing they need.
"You know how it is: you've a great idea for an exhibition, a gig, a club night or project, you've got the contacts and you need to make it happen, you just need a little helping hand. That's where Umbro Industries comes in. If your idea is fresh, and your drive and devotion to create is infectious, then we'll get behind you".

I recently met one of the Umbro team involved in this programme and they're really fired up and passionate about support the cultural and creative development of young people across the city. I believe they mean business, and it's great to see a private company putting their money where there mouth is in this way.
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