Last year I announced Jobplot as a new creative jobs board for the West Midlands. The site’s now been rethought and redesigned. It now has:

• Talent profiles – if you’re a freelancer or run a company working in the creative sector (arts/culture/architecture/film/design/new media) then get yourself a free profile so people can find you  and maybe even give you some work
• Jobs board – self-explanatory
• Opportunities board – where you can find/post info on training programmes, funding, tenders, volunteering and the like

We launched quietly last week but already have (in no particular order) Women in Theatre, Meshed Media, Fullrange, Bright Space, Talis, Tomorrow People, Stickee, Dice Productions, Substrakt, Ryan DC, The Space Studio, Radio To Go, Ryan Killeen, Pikx Imaging, Created in Birmingham, Talk About Local, Adhere, Supercool, IE, Punch, Timelapse Movie Company, Creative Alliance and Marieanne Delaney.

Some of those are currently hiring.

What’s the idea?

When we set up Jobplot originally it was because we wanted to connect good people with good jobs. We’ve since set our sights a little higher.

For example, I can’t find a decent list of local illustrators anywhere. Or scriptwriters. Or sculptors, photographers or web designers. If I want to find someone then I have to either ask around or head for Google. Neither’s ideal and I’ve heard plenty of stories about companies working with others outside the region simply because they couldn’t find anyone closer to home.

Then there are the opportunities for funding and training, the tenders for work and all the other things that get circulated around certain email lists and message boards but go no further. Often the agencies and organisations would love for more people to hear about what they’re offering – people are just too hard to reach.

The idea is for Jobplot to try and solve a few of those problems.

It won’t be yet another directory though. We’ll make sure of that. To some extent we’re taking a leaf out of the books of Wired Sussex, Bristol Media and Manchester Digital, but we’re not copying them exactly.

Other things

Jobplot’s still being developed. We’ve got a to-do list as long as yer arm and a slate of things planned for Phase 2 (being launched in the new year). We’re keen to hear about any improvements that need to be made, so if you come across anything then please let us know.

In the long run, the idea is for Jobplot to sustain itself – ie, make a bit of money. In the new year we’ll have premium (paid) profiles which will come with a range of benefits. More on those nearer the time (but basic profiles will always be free).

Jobplot was originally set up by Meshed Media and Substrakt. Creative Alliance are now on board too, which makes it a nice example of an arts organisation working with private companies on a commercial project (not a bad idea given current circumstances).

I’ve put a bit more info about Jobplot on the Meshed Media blog in case you’re interested.

In conclusion

Get yourself on there.

The Creative Alliance apprentices are holding an exhibition, Some Utopia, at the Custard Factory from 30 September – 8 October.

The apprentices were given the opportunity to transform a unit in Zellig into a space that expresses their own ideas and interpretations of utopia. With artists all from different creative backgrounds, the exhibition will feature fine art, photography and visual arts.

This is a unique opportunity to see the talents of emerging artists from the work done by Creative Alliance. Opening times for the exhibition are as follows;

30 September: 11am – 3pm
1 October: 8.30am – 2pm
4 – 8 October: 11am – 3pm

Birmingham City Council’s Arts Team has two mobile arts units; multimedia high-tech vehicles which convert into spaces for arts activity with drop-down walls and extending floor sections

We are looking for artists to work at outdoor events across the city between October 08 and March 09, to utilise these facilities. We welcome innovative ideas and activities that will engage with the general public at events, incorporating different ages and families working together

Cool!

The units come with a laptop, plasma screen, PA system, DVD player, cushioned seating and have disabled access and suggested artforms include “video or podcasting, music, design, visual arts and animation, telling stories through music and animation, creating e-books, photography/editing and manipulating images”.

Artists will be paid but have to get their tenders in by 22 September, which sounds like a tall order, given that it’s the 27th today.  Still, I thought it was worth mentioning and if you’re interested you should maybe give them a shout anyway.  Details are a short way down this newsletter from Creative Alliance.

PS – two vaguely related items:

• I found this bit of info on the Creative Alliance newsletter – a round-up of West Mids “commissions, jobs, training, opportunities and much more”.  Irritatingly you now have to sign up to the membership area of their website to receive it (although it’s free).
• FAO people putting out email newsletters.  They’re fine and all but I can’t link to them and people not on your list can’t see the info.  Please put the info online.  A blog would be perfect (and free, etc and so on).  Even easier, forward your newsletter to post@posterous.com and see what happens.  Honestly, it’s magic.