Norwich Art Graduates Exhibit with Norwich Twenty Group

Emma Armitage (23) and Lorna Johnson (22), both recent graduates from Norwich University College of the Arts (NUCA), have been awarded licentiate status by Norwich Twenty Group (N20G) and will be exhibiting at the group’s autumn show, which opens at the John Innes Centre on Saturday, August 28. The show runs until Wednesday, September 15 and is open daily, 10am to 5pm, with free admission, www.norwich20group.co.uk.

Emma Armitage and Lorna Johnson both live in Norwich and graduated from NUCA in the summer. Rory McShane, Chairman N20G explained: “Every year we review NUCA’s Fine Art final degree show looking for students creating original work that takes art that extra stage further. Lorna and Emma’s work really stood out and we hope they enjoy their year as licentiate members of N20G. It so important for us to encourage the next generation of artists in Norwich and Norfolk. ”

An illustrator who studied graphic design and illustration at NUCA, Emma Armitage will be exhibiting The Keyman, the children’s book that she wrote and illustrated for her final degree show. The book is about a man who collects keys. She will also be displaying some new characters that she is developing for her next children’s story.

Emma Armitage said: “I have always loved drawing and aim to create quirky and fun work. I am hoping to develop a career as a children’s book illustrator and am really grateful to Norwich Twenty Group for giving me this opportunity to showcase my work.”

Lorna Johnson focussed on print making, new media and photography during her NUCA course. For her degree show she made an installation of acrylic rods coming out of the wall at different depths in a scattered pattern. Each tip was covered in blue powder, which glowed in the sun, giving visitors to the show an exciting visual experience.

She is planning to exhibit one of her photographs combined with an installation in the Twenty Group show. Lorna Johnson said: “Taking part in the N20G autumn show is a fantastic opportunity for me. It is very exciting to be exhibiting with some of Norfolk’s top artists.”

Norwich Twenty Group @ John Innes Centre features the work of more than 40 of Norfolk’s top artists, from traditional figurative painting to abstract painting, sculpture, stone carving and imaginative site installations.

As well as the exhibition of large works, there will be an opportunity to pick up many small items in the Art Bazaar. All Art Bazaar items are donated by N20G members to raise money for the group and are sold for £15.

New Members exhibiting with N20G for the first time are Martin Laurance, Keith Pomeroy and Julia Sorrell.

Rory McShane Chairman N20G added: “Our autumn exhibition celebrates the rich mix of styles and ideas coming from some of Norfolk’s top artists and will be a colourful, energetic and original show.”

“The group, as the name suggests, was originally made up of 2O artists from Norfolk who came together to discuss work and ideas. We have now expanded to more than 80 artists, following a series of highly successful exhibitions and collaborations, and include recent graduates from Norwich University College of the Arts and new members with long established reputations such as Derek Morris.”

Photograph: Emma Armitage with her book The Keyman.

First Fairhaven Dog Show – Saturday, September 11

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham is staging its first Dog Show on Saturday, September 11 from 10.30am to 4pm.

The event, which is sponsored by James Wellbeloved and Acle Post Office, is a fun day for all dog lovers and a great opportunity for local residents to demonstrate their pride in their dogs.

There are 10 categories in the Dog Show including best puppy, waggiest tail, best trick, scruffiest mutt, prettiest bitch and most handsome male. It costs 50p to enter each category and all proceeds will go to local rescue centres. There is no need to enter in advance, just bring your dog along on the day and join in the fun.

Other activities are terrier racing, doggy dancing with Barbara and Snooker, agility displays, behaviour advice and children’s entertainment. The Dogs Trust, F.A.I.T.H Animal Rescue Centre and Pets as Therapy will all be at the show,
along with doggy stalls and a pet photographer.

Admission is £2 adults, £1 children and dogs free. The Dog Show is being staged next to the main car park. There will be plenty of free parking.

Full List of Dog Show Categories
11am best senior dog (over seven)
11.20am best puppy (under one)
11.40am waggiest tail
12noon best trick
1pm best rescue
1.20pm prettiest bitch
1.40pm handsome male
2pm scruffiest mutt
2.30pm best in show
3.15pm awards presentation

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction, also signposted from Acle, tel. 01603 270449, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk.

The garden is open daily all year, 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day), also open Wednesday and Thursday until 9pm to the end of August; free parking and free admission to tearoom, gift shop and plant sales. Admission: adult £5, concessions £4.50, child £2.50 (under 5 free).

There is wheelchair access to most of the garden, including the events area. Visitors requiring special facilities are advised to telephone in advance, mobility scooters available. Dogs are welcome on leads; small charge to cover poop scoop.

De Vere Dunston Hall’s Manivannan Balakrishnan – City College Success

Manivannan Balakrishnan (23) from Chennai (formerly Madras), Tamilnadu, India, a member of the Brasserie Bar & Restaurant team at De Vere Dunston Hall, www.devere.co.uk/our-locations/dunston-hall, achieved International Learner of the Year at City College Norwich, where he has completed an HND in Aviation Hospitality and Travel Management.

Manivannan, who arrived in Norwich in April 2009 to study at City College, went to Dunston Hall for his six-month industry placement. He is now a valued member of the restaurant staff and will stay on at the hotel as he embarks on a BA in Hospitality Travel & Leisure Management this autumn, also at City College.

Paul Murfitt, Food & Beverage Director Dunston Hall said: " Manivannan is a hard working and very likeable young man. He cycles from Norwich to do his shifts in all weathers and is always on time. He fully deserves his success at City College and we wish him luck for his forthcoming degree course."

Steve Thorpe, Head of the Hotel School at City College said: "Manivannan worksextremely hard at everything he undertakes. He was one of the adventurous group of students who came to the UK in April last year to study for an HND, following on from his success in India in achieving an HNC in the subject from the Frank Finn Institute. Manivannan was quickly identified as a really helpful and considerate person and was duly acknowledged by his peers as being the person the group of14 wanted to act as their representative."

Manivannan Balakrishnan said: "I am very pleased that I chose Norwich as my UK city for study and work. I have really enjoyed discovering British food and learning about British culture. I plan to stay on after my BA for two more years to get as much experience as possible, before returning to India to work in the aviation industry."

The other finalists for International Student of the Year were Puja Kumari from Kolkata and Nikita Gogoi from Delhi.

Raveningham Gardens – Meet ‘Queen Charlotte’

Raveningham Gardens are open on Sunday, August 29 and Bank Holiday Monday, August 30 from 2pm to 5pm.

This is the perfect time of year to explore the 18th century walled kitchen garden. Some 35 different types of vegetable are grown there; these include heirloom varieties such as mayflower cauliflower and blue solaise leek. The orchard is also coming into its own; pride of place goes to the 300 year-old Queen Charlotte apple tree.
(pictured).

In addition enjoy the contemporary sculpture throughout the gardens, Victorian glasshouses, arboretum, herb garden, 14th century church and views across the new lake established at the turn of the Millennium.

Admission is adults £4, concessions £3.50 and children under 16 free. Teas are served on Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday.

Raveningham Gardens (NR14 6NS) is 10 miles south east of Norwich, signposted off the A146 at Hales, then B1136, tel. 01508 548152, http://www.raveningham.com/.

Norwich Care Company’s Australian Venture

A chance conversation at the Breakaway business networking group in Norwich in 2008, has led to Able Community Care exporting its skills and experience to Australia.

Able Community Care has secured an 18-month contract with Australian Home Care Services (AHCS) to facilitate the launch of the first specialist live-in care service in Victoria. Anthony Henessey, AHCS’s new Live-in Care Manager is beginning the process by spending two weeks at Able Community Care’s head office in Trowse near Norwich (ends August 27).

Able Community Care is a specialist live-in care provider, established in 1980 in Norwich to offer an alternative to older and disabled people who wish to remain in their own home, rather than moving into residential care. The company operates throughout the UK and the Channel Islands.

Australia does not have specialist live-in care providers. AHCS wants to be the first company to provide this service, responding to an ageing population and a growing number of younger disabled people, with high dependency care needs, wanting to live in their own home.

AHCS works in New South Wales and Victoria and is part of the MS Society of Australia. This not for profit organisation provides services for thousands of Australians on an hourly or shift basis, but no live-in services.

The conversation at the Breakaway meeting was about how older people are cared for in different parts of the world. Angela Gifford, owner of Able Community Care since 1980, mentioned how she had carried out some research into the problems many British Expats were having in Spain and in addition, the differences in Australian care for older and disabled people.

Unknown to Angela Gifford, the conversation was repeated at another network meeting and a few weeks later a call from EEDA asked if Angela was interested in exporting Able Community Care’s knowledge and skills to an international market. The vehicle offered was the UKTI (United Kingdom Trade and Investment) Passport to Export Scheme followed by the UKTI Gateway Scheme.

A research visit in 2008 to Australia – Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane – where 20 meetings were arranged by a UKTI Trade Advisor based in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Melbourne, followed by a further visit in 2009 has now led to contracts with AHCS and an appointment as Special Counsel, Ageing and Disability Care for Aegis Consutlting, an international consultancy located in four Australian cities.

Anthony Hennessey of Australian Home Care Services said: “AHCS provides 1.3 million hours of community care every year to 4500 care recipients on behalf of more than 300 organisations. We are excited to be developing with Angela Gifford, the first specialist live-in care service to allow care recipients to remain in their own home, and maximise their independence as an alternative to entering supported accommodation or aged care facilities.”

Angela Gifford of Able Community Care said: “I am delighted to be working with AHCS, an organisation that has the same aims and objectives as Able Community Care. Both companies aim to provide a care environment where people have choice, respect and a secure, reliable, care service delivery in their own home. Offering the experience and skills that Able Community Care has gained over 30 years to an organisation that wishes to give a new choice to older and disabled Australians is an exciting prospect.”

John Rimmer, UKTI said: “Angela Gifford’s achievement in Australia cannot just be measured in her hard work, her research and her numerous trips to that country, but in her ability to take a business model, successful in the UK in one form, and modify it in order for it to work in an Australian environment.”

For more information about Able Community Care tel. 01603 764567,
www.uk-care.com.

Photograph Anthony hennessey AHCS with Angela Gifford Able Community Care

Norfolk Tourism and Broads Authority head for Birdwatchers ‘Glastonbury’

Norfolk Tourism and the Broads Authority are promoting the county’s credentials as the UK’s premier birdwatching destination at this year’s British Birdfair.

More than 20,000 wildlife enthusiasts are expected to descend on the Birdfair at Rutland Water, from August 20 to 22. The event, now in its 22nd year is known as the birdwatcher’s ‘Glastonbury’, http://www.birdfair.org.uk.

Norfolk Tourism will be exhibiting under the theme of Outdoor Norfolk, which promotes the county’s world class countryside activities featured on http://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/outdoors. This will be combined with the Broads’ ‘Britain’s Magical Waterland’ campaign on http://www.enjoythebroads.com .

Publicity material on offer will include the Outdoor Norfolk activities map and Enjoy the Broads 2010 booklet, along with Birdwatching in West Norfolk and Broadland District Council’s cycling and walking leaflet and their latest ‘Eating Out Guide’ featuring the delicious food choices available..

Visitors to the Norfolk Tourism stand will be invited to enter a draw to win weekend breaks at The Victoria Holkham or The Globe Wells-next-the-Sea courtesy of Adnams and The Virginia Court Hotel, Cromer.

Birdwatchers can find out much more online at www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/birdwatching, which features links to RSPB, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, The National Trust and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, plus other useful birdwatching websites, tide tables, and a search facility for accommodation in the county.

“Norfolk is Britain’s premier birdwatching destination,” said Virginia Edwards from Norfolk Tourism. “We have many internationally and nationally important reserves on the North Norfolk Coast and in the Broads. Pensthorpe’s starring role in BBC Springwatch has also given a great boost to our profile. The Birdfair gives us a fantastic opportunity to showcase what the county has to offer.”

Bruce Hanson, Head of Tourism at the Broads Authority said: “This is the third time that we have worked with Norfolk Tourism at The Birdfair. It is an excellent event and gives us the chance to talk to birdwatching enthusiasts about our wonderful Broads reserves like RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Ranworth and Hickling reserves and other special destinations, notably Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden and How Hill National Nature Reserve with the Electric Eel wildlife water trail.”

Norwich 20 Group - Autumn Exhibition

Norwich Twenty Group’s (N20G) autumn exhibition, showcasing more than 120 works, opens at the John Innes Centre, Colney, Norwich, on Saturday, August 28. The exhibition runs to Wednesday, September 15 and is open daily, 10am to 5pm, with free admission, http://www.norwich20group.co.uk.

The exhibition features the work of more than 40 of Norfolk’s top artists, from traditional figurative painting to abstract painting, sculpture, stone carving and imaginative site installations.

As well as the exhibition of large works, there will be an opportunity to pick up many small items in the Art Bazaar. All Art Bazaar items are donated by N20G members to raise money for the group and are sold for £15.

New Members exhibiting with N20G for the first time are Martin Laurance, Keith Pomeroy and Julia Sorrell.

N20G reviews the Final Degree Show at Norwich University College of the Arts each year and invites three young artists of exceptional talent to join the group as 'licentiates'. This means they become members of the group for one year free of charge and are qualified to take part in exhibitions. This year’s artists are Emma Armitage and Lorna Johnson.

Rory McShane Chairman N20G said: “Our autumn exhibition celebrates the rich mix of styles and ideas coming from some of Norfolk’s top artists and will be a colourful, energetic and original show.”

“The group, as the name suggests, was originally made up of 2O artists from Norfolk who came together to discuss work and ideas. We have now expanded to more than 80 artists, following a series of highly successful exhibitions and collaborations, and include recent graduates from Norwich University College of the Arts and new members with long established reputations such as Derek Morris.”

Photograph: 27 5 2010, acrylic and collage, 150cm 120cm, by South Norfolk artist Martin Battye.