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Cultural Quarter Of An Hour is back for 2021 after a bit of an extended Christmas break.We're kicking things off by talking to two Staffordshire University Journalism students about the Future Journalism Awards. The awards are run and organised by the students as part of their final year assessments. And this year the awards are going national.School children can enter and show Charlotte a thing or two about journalism while they're at it via the Staffordshire University website You can follow me on twitter @CQHPod and send me DMs there - let me know what you are up to and get yourself on the podcast. I want to hear your stories!

I'm talking podcasts on the podcast this week.In September 2020 a new podcast series was launched by The Social Agency. They are a group in North Staffordshire for people with autism.Remote Operations was recorded during the Covid-19 lockdown (spring/summer 2020)It was devised and performed by autistic and learning disabled adults working in partnership with professional artists from Rideout (Creative Arts for Rehabilitation).It was funded by Arts Council England, and the National Emergencies Trust administered by The Community Foundation for Staffordshire.Charlotte spoke to Saul Hewish the Artistic Director of Rideout.Don't forget you can follow me on social mediaTwitter - @CQHPod Facebook facebook.com/CQHPodEmail cqhpod@gmail.com

I'm involved with a lot of podcasts - that's the joy of running a podcast business. One of the most special I'm involved with is called Purple Rainbow Pancreatic Cancer Podcasts.It comes out monthly and I host it on behalf of North Staffordshire campaigner Lesley Goodburn.I want to share with you an episode of that podcast through this podcast. At the beginning of each episode you hear Lesley talk about why these podcasts exist. They are to raise awareness of Pancreatic Cancer in honour and in memory of her husband Seth.Another way Seth's story is being told is through a play - based on Lesley and Seth's experience using letters Lesley wrote.In this episode Lesley is joined by Siobhan, Steph and another Lesley. They've been using Homeward Bound in a project and it's had a huge impact on those involved.And Lesley also tells us about how the impact has reached the other side of the world too.You can find out more about Purple Rainbow here https://purplerainbow.co.uk/Music Credit Purple Planet StudiosDISCLAIMER:All views, information or opinions expressed in this podcast series are solely my own and those of individuals interviewed and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Pancreatic Cancer UK , Pancreatic Cancer Action, Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund And The Elizabeth Coteman Fund The charities and their employees are not responsible for and do not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series.The primary purpose of this podcast series is to inform, but it does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

We're facing a very strange Christmas not just in Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire but also across the country.So I thought I would re-start the podcast early and bring you an interview with Santa Claus himself. Santa has been worried that children across North Staffordshire are missing him during lockdown so he's set up some Zoom calls (yes Zoom works in the North Pole!) and he's been chatting online to families.It's a Christmas miracle.You can get in touch with the podcast via email cqhpod@gmail.comTwitter @CQHPodFacebook @CQHPod Music Credits Written By Benjamin Caleb JohnsonPerformed By BRASKOProduced By BRASKO

This week Charlotte's talking to Amanda and Gemma from the Collective Skills Project.They've been putting on a special lockdown project for people who live in Hartshill to help bring the community together.It's called Community Clay and has seen the streets turned into living art galleries!You can find out more Collective Skills Project hereCharlotte would love you to get in touch with what you're up to - drop her a message on twitter @CQHPodOr email cqhpod@gmail.com

This week Charlotte speaks to story teller Alan Barrett. During lockdown he's been commissioned by The National Literacy Trust as part of Stoke Reads to create six stories based on the six towns of Stoke on Trent.Charlotte caught up with Alan as he recorded "Fenton Felony" his story all about, well the town of Fenton.You can hear and see all the stories so far on the The National Literacy Trust website where there are also activity sheets you can download to go alongside themCharlotte would love you to get in touch with what you're up to - drop her a message on twitter @CQHPodOr email cqhpod@gmail.com

Lockdown has affected our lives in many ways. It's created uncertainty for many and forced many of us to isolate.But it's also provided an opportunity to go exploring - but instead of heading off on a far flung adventure we've been finding new places on our door steps.This week Charlotte speaks to Laurel - one of the co-directors of Urban Wilderness. They're one of many organisations given funding by Arts Council England to commission five artists to create new work connected to doorstep green spaces in Stoke on Trent.If you want to find out more about Urban Wilderness you can visit their website hereConnect with me on Twitter and Facebook just search for @CQHPodMusic Credit: Track Title: BounceArtist Name(s): BRASKO

Cultural Quarter Of An Hour is back to help you be creative in lockdown.Today Charlotte is talking to Glen Stoker who is the Chair of Friends of Spode Rose Garden.The plans for the garden and the garden's community have been affected by COVID-19 restrictions, but that's not stopped them from getting people involved.You can find out more about the Friends Of Spode Rose Garden here Charlotte would love to hear from you about what you're up to during lockdown - get in touch @CQHPod on twitter is normally where you'll find her.

It's time to bring the podcast back!After around 9 months off Cultural Quarter Of An Hour is back.Charlotte's starting the new run of episodes with a look at some of the ways local groups have been coping with lockdown.It's part of the Get Creative At Home project - not for profit organisations have been given micro grants thanks to a collaboration between Voluntary Arts England and Stoke on Trent City Council.This week Charlotte speaks to Sharon Morley from Stoke North Live At Home. Normally the scheme helps people who live alone feel less isolated by organising events and gatherings. But during lockdown these can't happen.But that's not stopped craft queen Sharon from encouraging members to use crafty creativity to help beat the loneliness of lockdown.You can find out more about Stoke North Live At Home via the facebook page You'll also find Sharon's videos there too.Charlotte would love to hear from you about what you're up to during lockdown - get in touch @CQHPod on twitter is normally where you'll find her.

This week's episode has come as a bit of surprise! Charlotte had no idea she was going to meet or even interview this week's guest until just a few minutes before she met him.And that makes this episode an absolute joy of discovery!This week Charlotte is chatting to The Terrain Tutor, aka Mel. Unsurprisingly he helps people create model terrains for all sorts of reasons - games, model trains, just for fun! But his story and knowledge is not what Charlotte expected!If you fancy checking out Mel's videos his youtube channel is hereMusic Credit https://www.purple-planet.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For the past couple of weeks people in Stoke on Trent have been finding fragments of a poem painted on to buildings around the city.Today Charlotte finds out more about the art work and what's behind the graffiti.You can find B Arts here and hereMiusic Credit https://www.purple-planet.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you're on social media you have probably seen the hashtag #MyStokeStory, but what's it all about?Charlotte's been to see Paul Williams from Stoke on Trent Cultural Destinations to find out more.Music Credit: https://www.purple-planet.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Charlotte speaks to Kat Hughes and Kat Boon from Potboiler Theatre about their new production Stoke, a love story.You may remember Kat and Kat from an episode in 2017 when Charlotte spoke to them about their production Girls, Girls, Girls. This time around they've gone bigger and bolder!Music Credit: https://www.purple-planet.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Charlotte's been to the Spode Works in Stoke for the opening day of Dust Rising. While the BCB celebrates all things ceramic in the China Hall, just around the corner is The Meadows building. Inside here you will see a celebration of visual art.Music Credit: https://www.purple-planet.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Charlotte heads to Burslem to find out more about Arthur Berry the artist and poet.She goes on a special walking tour delivered by historian Mervyn Edwards and hosted by Barewall Art GalleryMusic Credit: https://www.purple-planet.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Charlotte's been to Big Feast in Hanley. It's a free outdoor performing arts festival organised by Appetite and takes place around the city centre.Music Credit: https://www.purple-planet.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today Charlotte has popped over to Chesterton in Newcastle Borough to find out more about what goes on in the Pavilion in Chesterton Park.Elite CIC is a not for profit group supporting people to live independently, in fact Elite stands for Enabling Living Independently Today and Everyday.It's a fantastic group which is placing itself firmly in the community with a desire to boost the area.Music Credit: https://www.purple-planet.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On Sunday 11th August 2019 Staffordshire Cycling Festival came to Newcastle.Charlotte went along to see what the event was all about (and yes there's more to it than lots of people in Lycra) and even got on a bike herself.Music Credit: https://www.purple-planet.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The gloves are on in Longton. OK maybe they're not but a brand new community boxing gym has opened in the city in memory of a local boxer.Charlotte went along to the opening day where it was very noisy and spoke to the team at the Chris Edwards Academy Community gym about what it is they are doing and why boxing is so important.Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Some people make a huge impact on you. Today's guest, Edward Mckenzie and his wife Runa are without a doubt two of those people.Charlotte went to Edward's studio in Tunstall and spoke to him about his life, work and how he ended up in Stoke on Trent.Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.