Nottingham Creative Community News

Doreen Simmons: Nottingham's Sumo Wrestling Queen

Sumo wrestling commentator, teacher, author, singer, philanthropist, Mastermind contestant, recipient of Japan’s Order of the...

Framework Housing Association Celebrate Helping Nottingham's Homeless Community for 20 Years

29 December 20

For twenty years, Framework Housing Association has helped tens of thousands of vulnerable people in Nottingham overcome issues of homelessness, addiction and mental ill-health to once again achieve social inclusion, financial stability and independence – changing the direction of their lives for the better. We look back on the history of the organisation, and learn the value they bring to our city, and the lives of the people who need them most…

Framework at 20: Women and Homelessness in Nottingham

04 January 21

Sofas are cosy home comforts for most people. But for many homeless women, who have fled from their homes to the comparable safety of the streets, a sofa is simply a makeshift bed for the night. But what they get in that mild comfort can come with a dark price, and can mean they struggle to escape a never-ending cycle of abuse. We speak to Framework’s Operations Manager for women’s and families’ services Claire Windebank about the physical and mental difficulties homeless women face, and how Framework helps them get control of their lives…

Faces of Nottingham: Local Photographer Urban Scot on Street Photography and His New Book

30 December 20

The Nottingham Culture Review of 2020

22 December 20

Let’s face it: 2020 has been the crappest year since we dropped the ‘S’ from the beginning of Nottingham. Here’s our rundown of what’s happened in our local culture scene over the last twelve months...

(Not) Driving Home for Christmas: Nottingham's Expats On Their First Christmas Away from Loved Ones

20 December 20

The never-ending merry-go-round of Government lockdowns, tiers and regulation changes mean that, for many of us, it’s beginning to look like Christmas 2020 will be very different. Continuing travel restrictions and limits on the numbers of people who can gather have ensured that, for some Notts residents, Christmas will be spent away from their loved ones for the very first time…

Ex-Kemet FM Host and Twitter Enthusiast Tony Bates is Leaving Nottingham

20 November 20

Kemet FM host, graphics company owner, Police Commissioner candidate and Twitter enthusiast; Tony Bates has spent the last 22 years in Nottingham, and has been both a catalyst and an observer of change. This month, he bids the city farewell to become Scarborough’s answer to Basil Fawlty. We had a catch up about his best moments here over the last two decades…

Silver Linings: Bone Arrow's Clare Gregory on Crystals, Workshops and Life in Sneinton Market

16 November 20

Nottingham BID on Their Five Year Plan for Nottingham Businesses

08 November 20

After securing an overwhelming victory in the recent ballot, Nottingham Business Improvement District is set to continue supporting businesses in the city for at least another five years. We caught up with BID Manager Lucy Stanford to find out more about their plans for the future…

Campaigner Dr Lisa Mckenzie on Why Nottingham Needs to Stop the Gentrification of Sneinton Market

05 November 20

Having spent six years fighting against gentrification in London, working class academic and Notts lass Dr Lisa Mckenzie returned to her native city to find the same happening here. With more development plans tabled for Sneinton Market, including the demolition and replacement of extensions to Gedling Street and Boston Street to create retail and commercial space, as well as more student flats, she explores the potential impact of gentrifying the area will have on the past, present and future of working class communities...

Places to Visit in North Nottingham

18 October 20

For anyone who grew up in the city and its suburbs, north Nottinghamshire was either where you sometimes ventured to feed the ducks in Rufford, or to perhaps explore the patchy remains of Sherwood Forest, communing with Robin and his Merry Men. In fact, to many city-dwellers, it is defined by its coalfield status, an imaginary wasteland of former mining towns. But North Nottinghamshire, centred around Worksop and Retford, has always had more to offer and, lately, is undergoing a renaissance. The 2020 pandemic-induced rediscovery of the day trip or overnight stay close to home make this the perfect time to venture up the M1...

Back to School: Twelve-year-old Jagoda Talks Returning to Education During a Pandemic

13 October 20

With all the talk of politicians, parents and teachers, it’s easy to forget those most affected by the decision to reopen schools after lockdown: the students. Twelve-year-old Jagoda Brown-Polanowska lets us know what returning to school in the midst of a global pandemic is really like...

Left Duck - August Review

03 September 20

It's been a long time since Nottinghamshire reached August without losing any games of cricket. Of course, it helped that the season didn't start until August this year! Let's see how they got on in their four Bob Willis games and three T20 matches.

Catching Up and Slowing Down with Darkzy

24 August 20

Following on from his latest single release, Rachael Halaburda has a chat with the homegrown talent to talk career highlights, time spent slowing down and off the road in lockdown, as well as offering advice for budding DJs and producers…

Should the Broadmarsh Site Be Turned Into a Green Space?

19 August 20

After shopping centre giant intu collapsed into administration, causing yet another Broadmarsh development plan to fall by the wayside, Ewan Cameron decided it was time for something different. Creating an online petition calling for the area to be turned into a communal green space, his campaign has over ten thousand signatures at the time of printing. Here’s exactly why he thinks the plan to turn Broadmarsh green is essential for Nottingham...

The Nottingham Project's Greg Nugent: "We’re a creative city where culture thrives, but when other cities were upping their game, we stood still"

14 August 20

With a ten-year vision of turning Nottingham into a globally-recognised cultural heavyweight, and a board including the likes of Shane Meadows and Vicky McClure, last month saw the ambitious launch of The Nottingham Project. Spearheaded by the new Nottingham Board for Culture and Creativity, the project will seek to rejuvenate the city in the wake of a pandemic that has decimated much of the creative industry. As the director of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee, Project chairman Greg Nugent knows what it takes to deliver on the biggest scale. We caught up with the man at the helm to find out more about what the city’s creative community has to look forward to...

Streaming from a Distance: George Gretton Interview

25 June 20

The local musician has been busy in his bedroom studio finishing his latest EP, soon to be released to the world. When Alanah Kholsa caught up with George, ‘streaming’ was the order of the day, as she learned about his virtual gigs and his latest single, Slipstream.

Interview and Video Premiere: Taking a Sec with Daisy Godfrey

13 June 20

Addie Kenogbon catches up with local rising star Daisy following her much-anticipated second release, as we share a first look at the stunning new video.

Plant-based Restaurant No.12 Cook Fresh and Local

15 January 20

After two years spent building a strong reputation and scooping up numerous awards, plant-based restaurant No. 12 have dropped the Houndsgate, expanded to bigger premises and crafted a new, more varied menu...

The United States of Nottingham: How Much Do You Know About the American Towns Named After Notts?

28 December 19

Two intrepid reporters. Five stateside locations. One giant waste of time. This is the whirlwind story of our investigation into how the name of our great city made its way across the New World. This is the United States of Notts…

LGBT+ Notts: Halloween Past, Mindful Present, Festive Future

07 November 19

Our LGBTQ+ columnist Caroline Barry gives us the lowdown of queer events past, present and future for this festive season…

James Hurn: The Impressionist Introducing a New Generation to Tony Hancock

11 October 19

At the height of its popularity, Hancock’s Half Hour attracted audiences of more than 20 million people. For context, that’s almost 40% of the entire population of Britain at that time, and four times as many UK viewers of the Game of Thrones series finale. Described by Mark Lewisohn as “the yardstick against which all subsequent British sitcoms have been measured”, its influence can still be seen in anything from Alan Partridge and The Office to Seinfeld. This month sees actor, impressionist and lifelong Hancock fan James Hurn return to Nottingham with his one man-many voices Hancock and Co. show, featuring brand new material and lost sketches…

10 Nottingham Podcasts You Should Check Out

06 May 19

There’s something strangely addictive about listening to podcasts. While most of them aren't glossy or scripted, that’s exactly what makes them so listenable. We’ve seen podcasts change lives (Serial Series One), spawn TV shows (Dirty John) and attempt to solve crimes that the police have long forgotten about (The Teacher’s Pet). With many podcasts being recorded by random fans in living rooms all over the world, it all feels a bit DIY. It’s a culture that, when done well, can be incredibly fun, and seems to be having something of a resurgence of late. Don’t like the radio DJ? Change the station or, in this case, the app. It’s now possible to find a podcast on every subject, from gardening to grime. If its niche, you can guarantee there are nerds with mics discussing it. With a decent number of podcasts coming out of Notts, and even more with strong links to the city, here’s a rundown of some of the best…

The Maze is Closing For Good

19 April 19

Gaz and Steph Peacham have announced the closure of much-loved pub and venue The Maze. You have until the end of June to get your last orders in. Here's the full story in their own words...

Comedian Reginald D Hunter on Bringing His Facing the Beast Tour to Nottingham

13 April 19

Astute, insightful and, above all else, hilarious, Reginald D Hunter has firmly established himself as Britain’s favourite comedian from across the pond. To celebrate his twentieth year as a working comedian in the UK, he’s heading back to Nottingham with his Facing the Beast tour…

Metronome Sessions

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