Stoke on Trent Contemporary Arts Festival

Staffordshire University's Faculty of Arts, Media and Design is working with partners across the city to establish "Conjunction" as a contemporary arts festival for Stoke on Trent, complementing the British Ceramics Biennial, with the two events occurring in alternate years. Partners include the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, AirSpace Gallery, the city's Cultural Development Team and Let Them Create.

Funding has been provided by Arts Council England: West Midlands, the North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership and Business Link.

Conjunction will stimulate a significant growth in the level, quality and visibility of contemporary arts activity in Stoke on Trent by creating a dialogue between local, national and international arts practices, debates and productions. This year's festival (Conjunction 08) will be based on the theme: Fantastic, Found and Fake, engaging with ideas and issues in contemporary arts practice, while embracing a wide diversity of approaches and interpretations. 21 artists have been commissioned to produce new work for the city and an exciting series of exhibitions and events is being arranged.

As you are all aware, Stoke on Trent is changing and the organisations involved in the project want to ensure that contemporary art is at the forefront of redevelopment and regeneration in the city. Conjunction 08 will take place throughout November 2008.

If you are interested in getting involved with the festival, or would simply like to be kept informed, let me know: Naomi Lovekin n.lovekin@staffs.ac.uk