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Welcome to our blog. This blog is an area where we put up our thoughts, ideas and things we like.
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The White Room help to re-launch www.CreativeTimes.co.uk
19/05/10 -
News
The award-winning Creative Times website (www.creativetimes.co.uk) re-launches on Thursday 27th May 2010, managed through a brand-new company formed by Cornerhouse, Fudge and The White Room.
The partnership has a shared vision to re-position the site: to showcase the best in creative talent through quality editorial, and provide an online community for the creative sector. The partnership brings ongoing technical expertise, a new editorial and business focus, and a physical venue for Creative Times events.
Leading the site’s editorial is Chris Sharratt (formerly executive arts editor at Metro and editor of Manchester’s City Life magazine) who will be developing video and text-based features with a team of respected and up-and-coming industry contributors. Launch articles include video interviews with Doves, Future Everything and the producers of the feature film ‘A Boy Called Dad’.
The site has been radically re-branded and re-built ‘from the ground up’, allowing companies and individuals to post their own content directly onto the site, and share news and articles through Facebook and Twitter.
The White Room’s Project Director, Phil Birchenall led the development of Creative Times in its’ previous print incarnation at the Creative Industries Development Service (CIDS). He explains, “Having been so close to Creative Times during my time at CIDS, it was a real blow to see it disappear – especially given the work that had been done to take the publication online in 2008. We’re very excited that this partnership has come together.”
Cornerhouse CEO Dave Moutrey said “Talent is the bedrock of the world’s creative industries, and the new Creative Times site will put a spotlight on that talent. Cornerhouse is proud to be a part of the new team running it.”
Fudge MD David Eccles adds “We’ve got a long-standing relationship with Creative Times and we were honoured to have the chance to become permanent technical partners in the new company. We’ll be ensuring that the new site stays ahead of the curve – now the new site is live we’re already turning our attention to the next phase of development for CT.”
The new website can be found online at www.creativetimes.co.uk. Twitter users can follow Creative Times via ‘@Creative_Times’, and the editor can be contacted via editor@creativetimes.co.uk. A launch event will be held at Cornerhouse on 27th May, book your place now.
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The winner of The White Room’s unique ‘App School’ is announced
14/05/10 -
News
Classically-trained musician goes digital with ‘Hurdy Gurdy’ iPhone app
The App School, Manchester’s groundbreaking scheme aimed at helping young people get into the creative and digital industries, has been won by Didsbury-based musician.
A panel of industry experts judged ideas from ‘App School’ participants on Thursday 13th May, and chose a musical iPhone application (‘app’) by Abigail Sanders as the winning concept. When launched, the app allow iPhone users to re-create the sounds of the Hurdy Gurdy – a long-forgotten medieval instrument.
To gather support for her pitch Abigail, who studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, attended the annual ‘Hurdy Gurdy Festival’ in early May. At the festival she approached some of the UK’s leading Hurdy Gurdy players, who gave their full backing her proposal – one player liked the concept so much he travelled to Manchester to perform at the pitch event.
On the judging panel were representatives from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), alongside Manchester-based app development companies. In addition the panel were joined by Rob Shoesmith – renowned in the digital industry as the Coventry binman who has launched a number of successful iPhone apps with MEDL Mobile, a major US software company. The panel applauded Abigail on the work she had done in developing the unique and marketable concept, concluding that the app had all it took to ‘go viral’.
Recently featured on BBC North West Tonight, The App School was designed to help young creatives increase their chances of getting a career in the fast-growing creative and digital industries. It was funded through Manchester City Council and developed by The White Room, in partnership with MMU and Cornerhouse. Alongside developing their app ideas, the participants have received training throughout the course on essential skills such as Project Management, Financial Planning, Team-working and Pitching, with sessions co-designed by leading lights in the industry.
The White Room’s Project Director, Phil Birchenall led the design of the App School course. He says, “We are delighted with how the course has helped the participants. I’ve noticed a complete transformation in their approach, and I can confidently say we’ve helped shaped some of tomorrow’s creative stars through this project.”
A prototype of the app will now be built by a team of staff and students at MMU, who will be working with Abigail as Project Manager. She will be supported through its development by staff at The White Room and the companies represented on the pitch panel. Other App School participants have been offered internships by companies involved in the scheme.