This collaboration was founded at last year’s successful Creative Garden networking event where the organisations that have formed Leicester Media Network (LMN) started working together.

LMN has initially been formed as a constitution but will potentially become a not-for-profit social enterprise similar to a co-operative. Members can join the Network to share resources and knowledge once it has been established later in the year.

Among other aims it will bring together all the talented individuals comprising Leicester’s many different media organisations to support the cities arts and cultural offerings in a form of critical mass and independent collaboration. The founders of LMN are Seed Creativity (media production company that publishes From Dusk 2 Dawn) , Citizens Eye, Cuttlefish and Demon FM. Members can be freelance although must work in media communications or some form of creative networking.

LMN is in its early stages yet but will grow and evolve depending on the needs and input of the members. At its most basic level it will aid the dissemination of and signposting to information in the city among media outlets. It will also amplify the events of creative organisations and individuals as part of The Cultural Olympiad in the coming months, and continue to serve the same purpose in the wake of the games.

LMN Summer Festival of Arts and Cultures will celebrate the Cultural Olympiad over June, July and August (look at the summer issue of FD2D, www.fd2d.com, www.citizenseye.org or www.leicestereventsguide.com for full listings and more information).

From 6-12 June Phoenix Square will host Citzens’ Eye’s Community Media Week as part of their offering to The Cultural Olympiad. This is supported by somewhereto_ (www.somewhereto.com), a group committed to giving young people working space to do creative and positive things, along with the other members of LMN.

If you miss the chance to get down to Phoenix, LMN will also have a presence at The Riverside Festival at Bede Park and the Building Cycling Cultures conference at Queens Building, DMU both on the weekend of 9-10 June.

In the lead up to the Summer Festival there are three unique events we want you to keep an eye out for. We refer to them as the LMN creative hubs.

The first is Leicester’s second Doc Film Festival. The three-day event from 17 January will host some of the best documentary films made in recent years including Blood in the Mobile, Vanishing of the Bees and Burma VJ. Aspiring filmmakers are also encouraged to come along and meet other likeminded individuals at a Speedmatching evening. There will be events of this kind at all the hubs so contact the organisers for more information.

The second hub we would like to draw your attention to is Citizens’ Eye’s Community Media Centre Project 2012 (CMC). It started on 17 January and will be running throughout the year. Citizens’ Eye managing editor John Coster aims to have 2012 citizen journalists covering the Olympic games and the run up to them, thereby creating the UK’s largest media hub in 2012. He said, “The values of the Olympics & Paralympics are similar to what society calls community cohesion. The length of the Community Media Centre 2012 project gives us a chance to explore these values across many different communities.”

The games run from 27 July -12 August but there will be a lot to get involved with between now and then. There will also be a lot happening for the Paralympics, from 29 August - 9 September. One of the main aims is not only to inspire a myriad of aspiring reporters to celebrate the games and it’s positive attributes, such as the core values assigned to each month of the project, but also bring projects and organisations together from across the Midlands.

John said: “By organising events every month we hope to give people the opportunity to take part in citizens journalism sessions that can continue after 2012. Its these kind of thing’s that will be the real legacy of the London Games.”

For more information or to get involved with the Community Media Centre 2012 project email:

editor@citizenseye.org or visit: www.citizenseye.org.

Last but not least is the Aniscape Animation Festival. A festival entirely dedicated to animation and visual effects. There is something for the avid purveyor of fine cartoons to the experienced animator/illustrator looking to find out more. Even if you are just a casual fan curious about how it all works or just fancy watching a few short films it’s all there. As Andrew Leeke, one of the organisers said: “Aniscape is a place to learn from and get to know with other creative people”.

Phoenix Square will host artist talks, film screenings, workshops and lots more on 23 - 24 March. To find out more email aniscape@phoenix.org.uk.

We hope to see and hear from all of you creative types interested in all the many different tools of the trade that go towards creating a more colourful and connected cultural feast in Leicester. To get involved with the many different activities of LMN contact us by email on

info@leicestermedianetwork.com.