onionbagblog

Thursday night is social night in Wivenhoe and the surrounds - or so it would seem, with an itinerary of entertainment that would stretch the imagination of even the most social of butterflies. Or even bored bloggers.

Blimey.

With the good folk of the May Fair Committee holding an open source meeting to plan for the merriment later in the year, the Funny Farm continuing its fine run of form up at the cricket club, and even Poetry Wivenhoe proving that there’s more to words at The Greyhound than simply ordering your next pint.

Oh - and to top it all, there was a Neighborhood Watch Meeting at the Town Council Offices.

The crazy world of rock ‘n roll, etc.

Spoilt for choice, and I took my social interests out of town. You scoundrel! You bounder!

Steady the buffers. I wasn’t turning my back on this fine parish, simply taking the 19:32 out of Wivenhoe Station for the monthly Creative in Colchester meetup at the ace @15QueenStreet.

As a social member, then I was keen to explore further the social elements of the ever-growing hub of connected locals centred around @15QueenStreet. Although this is most definitely *not* a mini-bar event, oh no Sireee, no, no, no… but I was rather hoping for some booze as well.

I wasn’t disappointed. On the creative front and it was great to catch up with @tinysketchbook, @15percentkidney, @coolcolchester, @madebysplendid, @LeePugh10, firstsiteHannah, ColchCircleMag, HESAIDtalent and not forgetting @Singyamatokun & creativecoop for making it all happen. Plus heads up to the top soulful tunes being spun by the rather cool CantCutCarwyn.

What is great about these events is the informality, which is then matched with a purpose. Sure, you socialise around the room and talk about collaboration and co-operation to help promote Colchester. But you need action to back all of this up.

Which is why shortly before 9pm, @marcde_ath called the crowd of creatives up to the board room for a couple of presentations and planning from some local folk operating out of Colchester.

First up we had the excellent @hiddendingbats. This is a collective in every true sense, with one half of the partnership firmly bedded down in Wivenhoe. Lauren and Phil are fresh design graduates out of the Colchester Institute. The way in which they promote their work enables them to come across as experienced pros.

Copyright: Hidden Dingbat Collective.

With a portfolio that already includes @firstsite, Colchester Free Festival and Wivenhoe’s very own Moving Image, the Dingbats are a collective that have firmly established themselves on the local design map.

What was wonderful to hear however was the plans for the next phase. We all need to pay the bills, and the Dingbats work incredibly hard to do this during the week. At the @15QueenStreet social though they outlined an ambitious plan to put in place genuine co-operation for Colchester based creatives.

The idea is to to stage a series of weekend camps @15QueenStreet. The Collective brings together anyone that can offer a skill - design, developers, networkers, video artists, audio specialists - even bloggers.

Blimey.

With no client to please outside of the working week, the team identifies a possible project, priority or even problem that has a local agenda. We then explore how our various skills can build a solution, be it digitally or using more traditional media.

It may lead to a commercial enterprise; it may simply lead to a fun way to spend the weekend with like-minded individuals who are working off the many hands mantra. With events such as the Colchester Free Festival almost coming on to the horizon once again, this seems like an ace way in which to move forward.

You can contact the Dingbats on twitter, or email them over here. No dates have yet to be set; no skills base or experience will be turned away. Beer and pizza will probably also be involved.

A round of applause in the boardroom, and then the floor was handed over to Black Box Press, to proudly showcase some of the beautiful books that the not for profit platform has been helping to put together over the past couple of years.

Having purchased a Risograph GR3770 printing machine, it was refreshing to hear how this more traditional approach to design and creativity totally overlooks the digital landscape.

This doesn’t mean that Black Box Press is living in the past - the online presence is still there. But there is recognition that design needn’t be digital, and judging by the order books, there is still definitely a market for this elegant way of spreading a message.

It reminded me very much have the iconic EP and album covers put out by Crass in the early ’80s. Part of the message is contained in the process of design and production, an operation in itself that is a labour of love.

Back downstairs in the non mini-bar, and the socialising carried on. Keeping with the not for profit theme, I handed over a bottle of Wivenhoe Sloe Gin to help liven up the spirits. I couldn’t wait to get rid of the rank concoction to be honest.

I had a great catch up with @firstsitehannah over the progress of the flagship arts space for the east of England - it was all very encouraging. The Colchester Circle magazine folk were on fine form and full of ideas for the town. I even managed a rather tired and emotional (apologies) conversation with the inspiration behind walkies. Oh - and an ace idea from @creativecoop to help promote the Wivenhoe Forum at the May Fair.

So yeah - I may have missed out on the #hyperlocal Wivenhoe action for the evening, but a quick trip into town filled me with enthusiasm to hopefully put ideas into place back at base.

Many, many thanks to all @15QueenStreet for being so encouraging and supportive as I find my feet in my new patch. This is an incredibly welcoming crowd, genuinely keen to collaborate and exchange ideas with other locals keen to promote all that is good in Colchester.

The next Creative in Colchester meet up is on 31st March. Best start bottling that sloe gin.

Chin chin.