This is part of a series of occasional newsletters to keep you up to date with PLATFORM projects, events and research and recruitment.

Appeal: Help to kick oil out of the arts
Throughout 2010, a series of creative, preformance-based interventions in cultural institutions by groups like Liberate Tate have helped to propel the debate about oil-sponsorship of the arts into a more high-profile realm. We want to push it even further, by holding a participatory exhibition of art, events and debates about the issues and the performances that have taken place in a mainstream arts space. We are trying to ‘crowd fund’ this project, that is, get lots of little donations from lots of different people, and we are already a third of the way towards our £2,500 target. Have a look at this short video that we made that explains some of the issues, and also have a look at this site where you can donate directly or via paypal. It’s not just about the money, we’re also using this video and site as tools to develop a community of interest around the project, so please spread the word on facebook, or forward to a friend who might be interested.

Voices that shake!
This 15 minute film on arts, media, race and power was made by participants on the SHAKE! summer course, held in August at the Stephen Lawrence Centre, with young people aged 16 – 25. The film is testiment to the young people’s amazing work, facilitated by performance-poets Simon Murray (Sai Mu Rai) and Zena Edwards (African Writers Abroad ), DJ Eric Soul, Ana Tovey (Chocolate Films), and input on political issues around the deaths of Ken Saro-Wiwa and Stephen Lawrence from Ben Amunwa (PLATFORM). We are now planning to develop and extend the SHAKE! programme, and develop new partners. Get in touch if you are interested.

Art, ecology, action season in Norway
PLATFORM is participating in a  major season of events Gentle Actions, Art, Action, Ecology at Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, 22 Oct-14 November. We are contributing Scorch/Drench, an installation in the gallery of three pieces created with African Writers Abroad and the UHC Collective . In the last week of the run, we are hosting daily film screenings on oil-affected communities, discussions,workshops, and action, 9-14th November, culminating in a weekend on controversial oil and gas exploration in the Norwegian Arctic. Jane Trowell and Mel Evan recently recorded a contribution to the Creative Time Summit that took place in New York. You can see their contribution here.

Actions around the RBS AGM

A number of groups who work on issues surrounding RBS and their fossil fuel finance recently released a three minute video clip featuring Kevin Smith of PLATFORM, of actions that took place around the RBS Annual General Meeting in Scotland earlier this year. You can see the video here.

PLATFORM is recruiting!

Job Title: Funding Development Worker
Initially freelance 26 days over six months (flexible) with the possibility of extension into a wider permanent role.

Platform is looking for a freelance Funding Development Worker to strengthen and support its project portfolio by developing new funding sources for this work. This is an opportunity to have an important impact on the future development of a small, pioneering charity, working for social and environmental justice.

Interested in this role? Please read the job description on our website, or contact us for further information. Please forward to any of your contacts and networks who may be interested.

PLATFORM is now on Facebook! You can find us here.