Support for writers

Artists and writers can now apply for financial support for their work as part of a project to unearth new talent for this year's Humber Mouth arts and literature festival.
Small grants of up to £200 and special commissions of up to £1,000 per applicant are available from Hull City Council's City Arts Unit, which organises the festival.
"We are now welcoming applications from artists and writers who can be based in Hull as well as other parts of the UK," says festival organiser Maggie Hannan of City Arts.
"We are hoping to discover and support artists who can make an innovative contribution to the arts scene in Hull." The cash awards are available to all writers, including novelists, poets and playwrights.
Not only that but performers who base their art on the written word, such as dancers and film makers can also apply for funding if, for example, their work is based on their own interpretations of famous books.
The requirement for making applications is that candidates must be involved in projects that have a literature or text-based focus in some way, and be willing to be part of this year's Humber Mouth programme.
Humber Mouth, which has run every year since 2000, takes places this year from June 14-28.
It brings a host of top-name writers, artists and television personalities to the city and promotes local talent.
The festival usually includes book and poetry readings for children and adults, and skills workshops ranging from 'how to' events with writers and publishers, all of which are held at various venues across the city.
Stars from last year's festival included novelists Mike Gayle, Will Self and Joanne Harris.
Meanwhile, this year's festival is headlined by author, television presenter, theatre director and satirist Sir Jonathan Miller who was knighted in 2003 for his services to the arts.
The deadline to apply for grants and commissions is February 15.
For more information please visit www.humbermouth.org.uk/downloads.php

Last chance to samba

Carnival city Rio de Janiero may be half a world away but the sounds of Brazilian samba can be heard in Hull – thanks to a samba drumming course which ends this month.
Drummers are invited to go along for the remaining sessions of what was a six-week course.
"We're looking at carnival rhythms and modern grooves so the sessions are varied and a lot of fun," says drumming teacher Jay Moy of Hull Samba.
"Everyone will be welcome, including absolute beginners and people with drumming experience." Sessions take place on February 5, 12 and 19 from 7-9pm at the Afro Caribbean Community Centre in Park Street.
Instruments are provided, although there is a small charge on the door of £3 waged and £1 for unemployed Hull Samba is supported by the Hull City Arts Live Music Fund.
For more information visit www.hullsamba.com

Winter scorcher

A performance featuring the traditional fire and passion of tango music and dance returns to Hull this month.
Organisers expect a sell out as the Tango Siempre dance group returns to the city after the popularity of their last sizzling show in the city just over a year ago.
Tango, now enjoying a surge in popularity thanks to the BBC television programme Strictly Come Dancing, grew from vibrant but poverty-stricken roots.
African slaves in the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires devised the art form in the late 1700s.
It later developed through the cultural mix of Italian, German and Spanish immigrants who danced with local Argentineans in the poor districts and bars of the city.
Combining virtuoso displays of tango in its traditional form with contemporary styles of tango and live music, the Hull show – entitled Tango: Nuevo – will set pulses racing.
To the sounds of the violin, accordion, double base and piano, Latin American-born dancers Myriam Ojeda Patino, Giraldo Escobar, Kicca Tomassi and Julio Mendez will demonstrate the art at its best.
"Tango is all the rage right now and this show promises to be a thriller," says Samantha Sumerfield of Hull City Arts.
"We're delighted to welcome Tango Siempre back to Hull as the last time they were here, as part of our Two Weekends Dance Festival in 2006, they were a massive success and we expect tickets to sell out once again." The show, at Hull College's Horncastle Theatre on February 28 at 7.30pm, is organised by Hull City Arts in association with J-Night as part of a spring season of dance events.
Tickets cost £6, concessions £4.
To book, call 226655.
Early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.

Open season Talented artists from across the region will display their works of art at Ferens Art Gallery this month. The Adult Open exhibition will see watercolours, oil paintings, sculptures, textiles, and photographs gracing the walls of the gallery from February 9 to April 6. The event, which takes place every year, is an established fixture on the local arts scene and provides an opportunity for established and up-and-coming new artists to display and sell their works. Hundreds of exhibits will be on display attracting thousands of visitors who go along to buy eye-catching pieces of new art at reasonable prices. For more information on Ferens Art Gallery please call 300300 or visit hullcc.gov.uk