RESOURCES
CHAPTER CLUB
WResources for writers!
Big shout out to the Southend Writer and Artist Network for helping to compile this resource. Check out the tabs to find information on all things writing!
SOUTHEND WRITERS AND ARTISTS NETWORK (SWAN)
A friendly facebook group! We are an active group which represents the artistic community of Southend on Sea. Our members comprise of many different creative practices including writers, poets, artists, photographers, designers, singers, actors, directors, producers, editors, arts and crafts, pottery, ceramics, textiles, theatre, education, musicians and many more types of creative work. We chat on a daily basis, share events and inform other of their projects and achievements. FACEBOOK
SOUTHEND POETRY GROUP
Meetings usually take the form of a presentation and discussion of a poet or topic, followed, if time allows, by a brief workshop session when members can read their own work. WEBSITE
LEIGH WRITERS
We are a group of local writers who meet regularly to exchange ideas and helpful comments on their writings. WEBSITE
PAVILION WRITERS GROUP
The group meets at the Cliffs Pavilion every Wednesday evening from 7pm-9pm. The members of the group are led by Vivienne Allen, a successful and talented local writer. The writing styles of the members vary from short plays to poetry and comedy. There are opportunities to share writing and performance. Membership costs £3 a week. WEBSITE |FACEBOOK
ESTUARY WRITERS
A place for Essex based writers to connect & share. All writers welcome – any genre and level. Frequent events in Southend on Sea. TWITTER
U3A WRITING FOR FUN
This group is open to any U3A member, regardless of previous writing experience. It is not intended to be a tutorial and there is no plan to give any form of writing instruction. It is simply a forum to enable us to enjoy writing and to have fun sharing with others what we have written. We will be meeting regularly on the fourth Thursday of each month. WEBSITE
WINOS (WRITERS IN NEED OF SOMETHING)
Contact: Hellen Riebold on 07738 878825) This group meets on the third Saturday of each month in the upstairs meeting room at Rayleigh Library from 2pm-4pm. A friendly bunch, who take turns to prepare writing challenges. Free to join, and open to all ages.
RAYLEIGH LIBRARY WRITERS GROUP
We are a diverse group from all walks of life. Our passion is to write; to the best of our ability and sometimes beyond. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday each month, to read and critique our work in friendly, open discussion. However, the Group is not solely about entertaining ourselves. We support THE ESSEX AND HERTS AIR AMBULANCE by producing and selling anthologies of our work. WEBSITE
CREATE98 WRITING COURSE
If you’re intrigued by the idea of creative writing, full of ideas, but not sure where to start or how to get going, then this four week course is for you. With elements of screen writing, fiction and poetry, you’ll have an intro to storytelling. WEBSITE
SOUTHEND ADULT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Various Beginners and intermediate 16 week courses twice a year, plus short courses on specific genres such as screen writing, autobiography or non-fiction. WEBSITE
ESSEX WRITERS HOUSE
In partnership with Essex Book Festival, we are bringing you a range of inspiring online and uplifting outdoor events and opportunities to raise the spirits and reconnect through writing and words. Events for anyone interested in writing – from those who are just starting out, to established authors. Anchored to Metal’s HQ, the grade II listed Chalkwell Hall in Chalkwell Park – Essex Writers’ House is an opportunity to meet new people, share ideas, get inspired and explore the power of creative writing on the road to recovery. WEBSITE
JACKSON DIEGO
Our award winning children’s bookshop is filled with books, stories and oodles of imagination, creativity and wonder for young people from birth to 16 years. Our space brings together everything we do to inspire children and young people through books and stories on their own terms. As Southend’s only independent bookshop, our shelves of both fiction and non-fiction, picture book and chapter, are perfect for a browse and our staff are experts on matching children with the right book and offering specialist advice. We receive new stock daily and – as we can’t fit everything we wish for on our shelves – we can order in any book that is in print for both children and adults alike. WEBSITE
BOOKS ON SEA
We sell second-hand and antiquarian books as well as unique gifts. WEBSITE
Blue Girl by Emma Gracie
The Wartime Nanny by Lizzie Page
RECORD CLUB
THINKING OF A CAREER IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?!
We’ve collated all the services in and around the Southend area!
Professional Music Technology – largest music shop in Southend WEBSITE
Leigh Music Company – We offer new and second-hand instruments for purchase, our primary items being electric, acoustic and bass guitars with musical accessories. Effects pedals and amplification are also available. WEBSITE
South Records – We sell new and vintage vinyl and new CD’s. WEBSITE
Professional Music Technology Lessons in [find out what instruments] WEBSITE
Leigh Music Company – we offer a music lesson program, including small group lessons and one to one tuition. Featuring top local teachers, we will also develop music workshops geared towards both children and adults, to further serve our community. WEBSITE
Morley’s Music Academy – We are an Essex based music tuition company that specialises in providing One to One instrument tuition that is tailored to the individual. We teach a wide range of instruments including Guitar and Drums through to Piano, Violin, Vocal Coaching and much more. WEBSITE
South Essex College – We offer a range of courses from Levels 1-3 and you will be taught by industry professionals in a vibrant and creative environment. WEBSITE
Essex Vocal Coaching – Essex Vocal Coaching provides music education and vocal training to Children, Young Musicians and Adults WEBSITE
YMCA All in Music – We deliver a range of music opportunities for young people and the wider community. WEBSITE
Essex Music Hub – Working with young people, schools and a number of strategic partners, we aim to enable, enhance and enrich the music education available to students in and around Essex. WEBSITE
SoSlam – SoSlam is a small non-profit community collective made up of a group of local musicians & volunteers. SoSlam aims to provide music promotion, management, advice and opportunities to local musicians and bands in the Southend-on-Sea area. WEBSITE
South Records – Pop Up Style Acoustic Nights WEBSITE
So Slam – We run a OPEN MIC night for original music only every month at Ten Green Bottles In Leigh called Green Room WEBSITE
Railway Hotel, Pink Flamingo – Monthly music night at tthe Railway Hotel in Southend, two bands plus an acoustic slot, whip round for the main act and a rocking good time by all. WEBSITE
Squeeze –
Chinnerys – If your based in Essex and want to have the chance to play chinnerys, please drop us an email on chinnerys@hotmail.co.uk
Cricketers –
Maple Studios – WEBSITE
London Road – WEBSITE
Card Trick Music [Chelmsford] – WEBSITE
Mushroom Rehearsal Studios [Rayleigh] – WEBSITE
PERFORMANCE CLUB
THINKING OF A CAREER ONSTAGE OR BEHIND THE SCENES?!
We’ve collated all the services in and around the Southend area!
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
ARTISTS STUDIO
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO KNOW AS AN ARTIST?
Metal Southend
Metal Southend, is a charity funded in 2002 that is situated in Chalkwall Hall within Chalkwall park. They run a varied programme including NetPark, NetPark Wellbeing Project, Essex Writers House and Culture LABs. As a new artist they also run a great programme called Metal New Artist Network. Well worth a look as a new artist.
Chalkwell Hall, Chalkwell Park, Chalkwell Avenue, Southend on Sea, Westcliff on Sea SS08NB
The director is Andrea Cunningham, the contact is chalkwell@metalculture.com. 01702 470700
Southend Central Library – The Forum.
The Library holds 150,000 public, university and college books. Membership is free and as well as taking books out, there are lots of magazines that can be looked at in the library, free computer access and printers that can be used for a low fee.
Included in your Library membership is an online app called Libby, this gives you access to over 4500 magazines from across the world on a weekly basis that would normally cost a fortune. Great range of art magazines included.
Elmer Avenue, Southend on Sea. SS1 1NB.
The Old Waterworks
The old waterworks is an artist led charity in Southend that provides studios, facilities and research and development opportunities for artists.
There is a research library which houses the Grrl Zine Library. Time can be booked to spend in the library.
The facility houses a Risograph printer and there are regular induction sessions for how to use it and then open access Tuesdays.
North Road, Westcliff on Sea, Southend on Sea, SS07AB
Southend Arts Council
This is an arts council based in Southend on Sea. They promote the work of amateur arts organisations in the Borough with interest in Drama, music, Written word, Visual arts and more. This has now closed.
The Hive
This is an enterprise centre in Southend where workspaces can be rented including hot desks, home desks, snugs, serviced offices and meeting room hire.
The Old Central Library, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea. SS26EX
This has now closed.
a-n The Artists Information Company.
This is the largest artist membership organisation in the Uk with over 27,000 members. They support artists and those who work with them in many practical ways, acting on behalf of their membership and the visual arts sector to improve artists livelihoods. A very good part of membership is it includes your liability insurance for the year as well.
The Little Known Studio.
This is a hub for new and established artists to use. There are group classes on offer or one to one sessions with the owning artist Andy Downes.
Unit 6 Grainger Road Southend on Sea.
Coming Soon
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
The arts council England was set up in 1946 to champion and develop art and culture across the country. There is funding available through the arts council.
a-n The Artists Information Company
This is the largest artist membership organisation in the Uk with over 27,000 members. They support artists and those who work with them in many practical ways, acting on behalf of their membership and the visual arts sector to improve artists livelihoods. A very good part of membership is it includes your liability insurance for the year as well.
Metal Southend
Metal Southend, is a charity funded in 2002 that is situated in Chalkwall Hall within Chalkwall park. They run a varied programme including NetPark, NetPark Wellbeing Project, Essex Writers House and Culture LABs. As a new artist they also run a great programme called Metal New Artist Network. Well worth a look as a new artist.
Chalkwell Hall, Chalkwell Park, Chalkwell Avenue, Southend on Sea, Westcliff on Sea SS08NB
The director is Andrea Cunningham, the contact is chalkwell@metalculture.com. 01702 470700
The White Pube
The White Pube is a fantastic resource for art, one of the biggest being the funding library, within this are forms to show how to get a successful funding apply from an awarding body such as arts council England.
ARTS JOBS – The community for the arts, cultural and creative industries
ART RABBIT – ArtRabbit is a platform for international contemporary art exhibitions and events
ARTIST OPEN CALLS – Run by artists, for artists. This is a service for visual artists, to bring you the best UK and international arts opportunities, residencies, open calls, commissions, bursaries, arts funding and arts jobs.
MALL GALLERIES – The national focal point for contemporary figurative art, and home to the Federation of British Artists.
ART CONNECT –Discover and connect with artists, curators, galleries, and other art professionals from over 130 countries around the world.
ARTS HUB – Welcome to the home of the British arts industry. ArtsHub is your definitive source for arts jobs, industry news, reviews and data.
BARBICAN –We inspire more people to discover and love the arts.
ROYAL SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS – A group of painters met at Lincoln’s Inn Fields on May 21st 1823, to form the ‘Society of British Artists’, whose manifesto stated, ‘This organisation was not formed to rival existing societies but that every Member was to be at liberty to assist and support any other society.’