Welcome to March's Issue of the Newsletter for members of "The Creative Networks"

'Creative Networks' at UCE Birmingham's Technology Innovation Centre (tic) is about bringing together all parties involved in sound and screen-based media in the West Midlands. 'Creative Networks' seeks to promote both successful business development and collaboration. It also seeks to contribute to the establishment of a strong, long-term, sound and screen-based Creative Industry in the West Midlands. The tic achieves this through increasing knowledge sharing and use of innovative technologies, creative practice and business processes.

Regular monthly networking events are held at tic. They offer opportunities for individuals and companies to network, make pitches, identify the resources they are seeking or support for the projects they are planning.

Visit our online portal www.creativenetworksonline.com for up-to-date news, funding, business support, training and tender opportunities.

Thursday 30th March - From 6.00pm til LATE at tic, Millennium Point
The Collaborative Networking Event for Creative Industry Professionals

This month at Creative Networks, the BBC will be joining us to explain how you can be part of an exciting new project: BBC Local TV. BBC Local TV is a super-local service available through digital satellite, cable TV or online. It’s calling for ideas and content from the following areas:

	Birmingham
	Black Country
	Coventry & Warwickshire
	Hereford & Worcester
	Shropshire

So far, they’ve featured local unsigned bands, animation, documentaries and comedy drama from local filmmakers, musicians and artists. Join us in March to find out how you can see your work or your interests on your local TV!

The Creative Networks event is FREE. If you would like to join us, please contact Mandeep Chana via email mandeep.chana@tic.ac.uk, or call Ha Vu on 07967 706 445. You'll be very welcome. Advance notice is strongly recommended for those who wish to pitch.

Register on the Creative Networks portal www.creativenetworksonline.com and select the 'Business Profile' section. Take the opportunity to showcase your media services and projects on the Digital Asset Management (DAM) System.

PCG - Professional Contractors Group Contact: Jas Sian phone 07723 085524 email jas.sian@pcg.org.uk web www.pcg.org.uk

PCG is a not-for-profit trade association for freelance consultants and contractors in the UK. Members get advice, support and practical help with all aspects of running a freelance business. Why struggle on your own when you can be part of a professional network? PCG has insurances to give you peace of mind, and plenty of expert help and advice about setting up, running your business, securing work, marketing, credit control, taxation and much more.
Valuable membership benefits include tax investigation, insurance, contract templates, expert guides, tax and legal helplines, online forums and several other options, such as jury service cover.

Pure Heart Theatrical Company
Contact: Kenneth Meeson

phone 01676 535393

Pure Heart is a new, emerging Birmingham-based group of highly talented actors and writers that wish to express themselves creatively through original plays, musicals and dramas. Some will feature our local heritage and culture. All the members of the company are professionals who possess a good work ethic. They are committed to entertain the public, but currently have few conduits to fulfil this ambition.

The New Grey Whistle Test’s whole idea is to carry on from the BBC Old Grey Whistle Test which gave a media platform to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Simply Red, John Lennon, Dr Hook, Jimi Hendrix and countless others. The New Grey Whistle Test has a slight change in that it gives a much needed media platform to new bands and solo artists working with today's technology.....the Internet. If you are a local band looking for exposure, then get in touch with Gary Haywood to find out more.

FullRange Media Contact: Lee Kemp phone 01926 844 030 email lee@fullrange.co.uk web www.fullrange.co.uk

Through his pitch, Lee appealed for collaborators and asked creative professionals to contact him with ideas for projects in documentary and television. FullRange has recently been identified as a rapidly growing company by the Chamber of Commerce, so, if you have any ideas for collaborative projects, then this is definitely a promising company to get in touch with!

White Canvas Contact: Saqib Hussain phone 0845 257 3403 email info@whitecanvas.co.uk web www.whitecanvas.co.uk

White Canvas is able to provide clients with all the media solutions that a large agency could offer at highly competitive prices. This is because they are a web-based company which enables them to keep their overheads low. The company cater for any budget without a drop in quality or effort. Saqib highlighted the fact that Birmingham has a high proportion of residents who do not speak English, and White Canvas can help its clients tap into this often unseen revenue stream. If you’d like to find out how your business could benefit from Arabic, Urdu and Greek translation, just drop them a line.