How important is having computer and media skills?

A recent research from The Prince's Trust shows that having computer skills is crucial for securing employment. 

The results show that 10 % of the young people cannot send their CV online and are embarrassed by their lack of computer skills. 17% admit they do not apply for jobs which require basic computer knowledge and believe they would be in work today if they had improved these skills. 

We can confirm that, judging from our own observations. After Media and Computer Skills courses we ran in Rowhedge, Jaywick and Tiptree, supported by TCHC, Skills Funding Agency and European Social Fund, some of the people started a new job just after the course and most of them felt more confident using internet and new technology:

"As I had no previous  knowledge, I found the photography and filmmaking really useful. Also the session on social media - no prior experience of Facebook or Twitter. 

It has given me the confidence to move out of my comfort zone and try doing something very different." Ian, Colchester, Essex

We live in a society that increasingly becomes more and more digitised. Our lives are centred around technology. Therefore improving on your computer literacy can not only help you in your career, but also in other spheres of life. 

We, Signals Media Arts Centre, are embracing new technology and innovation and this is why we are offering more new and exciting courses and workshops in Colchester aiming at improving your computer and media skills. 

Three-session Web Design Course - £110

We are running this course twice this year. Choose from these dates:

Wed 24th, Thurs 25th and Mon 29th April 2013, 6 - 9pm and 

Mon 11th, Wed 13th and Thurs 14th November, 6 - 9pm. If you are looking for some tuition in designing your own website, our 3-session course is just the ticket. Our professional web designer has tons of experience in creating beautifully crafted websites using the free online software 'Wordpress'.

NEW - Spring Photography - £25

On Friday 3rd May 2013, 10am - 2pm we introduce our new Spring photography workshop.It includes outdoor shooting guided by Nick Wood from Unshaken Photography and then back to Signals to learn how to perform basic adjustments to your photos using Photoshop. You can either bring your own camera or use one of our Canon Digital SLRs. Suitable for adults and families. 

Photoshop 1 - £25

Wed 15th May 2013, 6 - 9pmAn introduction to the basics of Adobe Photoshop. Bring your own photos in on a memory stick and we'll show you how to digitally enhance them. Basic computer literacy is essential. If you have Photoshop loaded on your laptop bring it along for a discounted price. 

Photoshop 2 - £25

Wed 22nd May 2013, 6 - 9pm Following on from the Photoshop 1, this workshop is designed for those who have a basic knowledge of the software. Transform your photos using layer masks and other features to further manipulate your images.

Practical Filmmaking - £75

Sat 22nd - Sun 23rd June 2013, 10am - 2pmExperience all the excitement of film production on this intensive course. Designed for those looking to gain practical filmmaking experience. Learn the principles of storytelling, film language and video production. Get to grips with writing, directing, producing, sound recording and post-production whilst producing a short film. This course will provide you with the basic skills you will need to make your own films. 

All the courses will take place at Signals in Colchester. 

For more information on these courses and all our others please visit our website or keep an eye out for our course brochure with listings of everything coming up over the next few months.  You can now book places through signalsmediaartscentre.eventbrite.com or save the booking fee and call the office on 01206 560255 to confirm your place. 

Love, Signals

Turning destruction into creation

Whether your local high street has been ransacked, your neighbour's car has been torched or your sat at home watching the news in leafy suburbia, it has been hard to escape the riots in England these past few days. Cityscape's now look like war zones and social media sites have erupted in a frenzy of activity. The destruction is deplorable, disgusting and down right stupid. But out of the ashes of adversity, rises creativity. Here is a collection of some of the best creative work to come out of all the destuction.

More of these photoshop manipulated images can be found at http://photoshoplooter.tumblr.com/

One creative piece that has gone viral on Twitter is a cartoon strip that pretty much sums up the events. Due to the odd naughty word, you can't see it displayed here but the link to illustrator Jamie Smart's work is here

Whilst the cartoon portrays the lunacy of the riots, this shocking image shows how good photography can really depict the severity and reality of a situation. The image found its way on to the front page of numerous newspapers and will remain synonymous with the incidents for years to come.

Whilst some some photographers captured the destruction, others along with their journalist counterparts were attacked and mugged. As anyone interested in photography will know, a camera is an expensive bit of kit, especially when it is your livelihood. Although I'm sure a broken or stolen camera was the least of their worries.

For some creative industries, the riots have added fuel to their fire, allowing artists, photographers and film makers to illustrate the nations disbelief at what is going on. Although the situation for one advertiser has meant they've had to prevent their creative work from going on television. Levi's Jean were just about to embark on a campaign that depicted riots in the spirit of their 'rebellious' jeans but decided to withdraw

the adverts. Read more here

However the most creative work has to be awarded to those who have started a movement, utilised through social media, to gather and reclaim the streets with clean up operations. Digital Media is so powerful in 2011 that "The revolution will not be televised...it will be tweeted".

Keep Aaron Cutting was developed by 3 interns at advertising agency BBH London. Barbershop owner Aaron arrived at his shop on Sunday morning to find the shop he had built up over 40 years smashed up. The campaign aims to keep Aaron in business using donations.

This is London is a website created by Digital Agency Dare. It contains images of people pulling together to clean up, like the one above. It restores a little bit of faith in humanity.

If only the riots were inspired by a particular Banksy piece...