 |
|
|||||||||
 Baby
Bugle
|
The
Baby Bugle issue 7 february 1999 Welcome to the first baby bugle of 1999 - no, you didn't miss out on the January issue - it didn't happen, in fact January seems to have snuck by without me noticing. Still, means there is more in this issue! AMEC Developments and Crosby Homes, who have now formed a joint company Ician, are about to start a 6-month period of developing plans and consultation over the Smithfield development site. Until the developers
have an office on site, they will be using a small office on the 2nd
floor of NQ offices and sharing our exhibition space. It is planned
that an exhibition of the site will be available for viewing on a regular
basis, there will be a consultation meeting
some time in February and the Michael Trainor
and Sarah Rowland of NQA will be working on the 'cultural
animation' of the site - that seems to mean some very
odd things with parking meters. While the Also, to avoid confusion with other Smithfields, the search is now on for a new name for the whole site - suggestions welcome. Northern Quarter Street Festival 1999After some initial problems finding a date when the wondrous folding-out mobile stage was available, which is also a date when there isn't already a festival happening, we have now got the date of Sunday, 20 June. The Festival subgroup will now be meeting on a regular basis to sort out funding, programming and everything else that happens on that day. If you would like to be kept informed of progress, or if you have any ideas for the Festival - get in touch! Birds
As part of the Northern Quarter Public Art Scheme, the pavement on Oldham St will be transformed into a tribute to the Manchester music scene. In the area where the pavement is currently being widened, it is planned to inset around 20 cast iron images. A sample has been placed outside Dry - take a look. A small group
of members interested in the music scene met Manchester Institute for Popular Culture is currently in the process of updating the Northern Quarter website, which should be online from the beginning of February. It will include basic information about what the Association does, maps of the area and links to other websites. If you would like to be linked to the site, please send details of your website and/or email addresses to Lorna at the office .... we are slowly being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the 20th century, just as the rest of the world moves on to the 21st. Moral
Decline Aiming to hit publication for Valentine's day, the next Bugle promises to be the best yet (well, that's what I think). Faced with the possibility of not having enough material to make 16 pages, last minute deadlines seemed to prompt Quarterites to come up with the goods - so I ended up with 4 pages too many! (Apologies to those who had to be dropped.) This issue will be a mixture of thought-provoking articles and an information resource. There will be some serious information about serious subjects, some silly information about serious subjects, and then other stuff that is just silly.The following Bugle will appear in time for the Festival (20 June - get that date in your diary), so if you have anything you would like included, get in touch soon to reserve a space! Marketing
Strategy Recycling
In our objections to the Council's plans to reroute lots of buses down Church Street, both NQA and Afflecks Palace have received requests to withdraw objections. Afflecks' objections were made on the grounds of: (i) public safety: as there is a change in direction of flow of traffic; and (ii) increase in pollution levels. The Council has responded to these objections by introducing pedestrian crossings both ways on Church/Tib St, placing a rail outside Afflecks door (to stop people getting in?), and a pedestrian 'refuge' in the middle of the road. They acknowledge theincrease in pollution, but claim they are still within national limits (despite the fact that Manchester is the unhealthiest place to live in the country). There seems to be no end in sight to Elaine Walsh's annual task of laundering the white/grey Afflecks bunnies. The Transport InterchangeThe City Council plans to knock down some old buildings on the corner ofHanover St, off Shudehill, to make room for a 'transport interchange': abus station to replace the Arndale bus station and a multi-storey car parkwith space for 1000 cars. Nextdoor neighbours,
CIS own the land and have Incidentally, the designers are Richardson Developments, promoters of the adjacent Printworks development. Manchester Civic Society refer to thedesign as "functional and mediocre". The Public Enquiry, currently in progress, will report to the Secretary of State who will then give a decision in April some time. DrugsA number of local bars/pubs have experienced problems with people usingpremises to inject drugs. Representatives from the Big Issue and Lifelinehave met with Kath from the Castle to discuss these problems. The meetingwas very productive and mutually beneficial, and it is hoped that problems will be reduced as a result. Double Chinese Celebration After last year's fire, the Chinese Arts Centre is hosting a double celebration, marking Chinese New Year of the Rabbit with the reopening oftheir new improved space with an exhibition Sauce by Anthony Key. Sauce brings
together a definitive selection of sculptural
works from 1996-98, that defines the 'naughty but nice'
relationship between immigrants and their host countries, in
particular what it means to be British and
Chinese: a Heinz Tomato Sauce bottle filled with soy
sauce; a take-away Black Arts Alliance, newcomers to N4, are delighted to be able to offer a series of live art and poetry workshops and performances under the banner of artBlacklive-Stories. Each piece will
be story based, whether fact or fiction, utilising performance
art to its maximum. If you are interestedin finding out more,
contact their office, or access their website. It is Mind the Gap: Connecting Creativity for the 21st Century March 18, 1999: The Institute of Contemporary Arts, The Mall, London This conference will aim to take a timely look at the Creative Industries and the issues facing SME's and freelancers, ranging from issues around accessing venture capital through to strategic planning and growing businesses. The day will be a mixture of keynote speeches, working groups and panel debates. Confirmed speakers include the Rt Hon Chris Smith MP and John Battle MP, who has ministerial responsibility for design andinnovation at the Department of Trade and Industry. Key issues on
the day will include creative convergence and the impact of new
technology on the creative industries,
and cultural diversity. However, the best
thing about The Big Issue in the North is on the verge of launching a resource centrewhich is to provide a reference library service aimed at voluntaryorganisations within the Northern Quarter. The facility has been developed with money received from the European Social Fund, and, afterspending 12 months developing the service, it is now ready to go 'live'. The Big Issue
is keen to share this resource with partners and neighbours. The
centre contains a catalogued library service which focuses
on social policy reports,
articles and research. A variety of specialist
journals,ranging from Inside Housing to Drug Link, are
kept and there is a daily Innovative art exhibitors, The Annual Programme, have now got premises on Tib St. An exhibition entitled Strip Tease by Susan Philipsz will beavailable for viewing: 6-28 February, Thurs-Sun 12 noon - 5pm (or by appointment: 835 2325), at The Annual Programme, 31 Tib St. Services
for local businesses The following grant assistance is available within the Eastside Regeneration area (includes NQ): - security audits and grants (retail sector); - external building improvements (retail sector); - relocation (manufacturers only); - refurbishment (from April 1999 onwards); - revenue assistance (from April 1999 onwards). For further information, contact Frank Dale on 234 1506. You could be
saving money on your business insurance
In some cases
the savings havemeant reductions of 25%.
Some examples: cover was obtained for a premium The lack of correct
insurance cover can close your business for good, yet the cost
does not have to be expensive and most premiums can bepaid monthly.
The Craft Centre is proud to host the world premiere photographic exhibition of a previously undiscovered local talent. The exhibition willbe on show from Monday 15 Februaryin the Cafe area of Manchester Craft Centre for one week only. Grace
retires gracefully During her reign, she has pursued issues of safety and lighting in the area, being particularly conscientious in reminding thepolice what they should be doing. Grace has offered
a great deal of support to
the NQA and acted as a valuable link with local
residents. [She Northern Quarter Association AGM will be held on Wednesday 10 February @ 6.30pm at Manchester Craft Centre. Only members are eligible to attend andvote for the 1999 Management Committee. If your membership
is due forrenewal, you will be sent a reminder. However, you will
be able to join on The list of nominees
is sent outto all members in advance of the meeting. If you are unable
to attend the meeting and wish to register for a postal
vote contact the office: your Electric Promotions have moved in to occupy office space on the 1st floor of the Northern Quarter offices. However, as they are DJs, and not sparkies, they are unlikely to help when the fuses go. This Bulletin: Goes out first week of every month. If you've got an event or news item you want included send to Lorna by the end of previous month. We can also send
out leaflets (not too heavy) in our mailing to over a hundred
Northern Quarter Association members. northern
quarter assocation |