Announcing #tal13 – the annual unconference with Talk About Local

We’re excited to announce the 2013 Talk About Local unconference – and we’ve got something a bit special lined up for this year.

Our annual event has always been a touchpoint in the year where hyperlocal publishers, friends, journalists, bloggers can get together to share experiences and have some fun.

And this year we’re widening the focus to include a strand especially for those interested in arts and culture with the help of partner organisation The CultureVulture which is well-known throughout Yorkshire for amazing cultural events, experiences and blogging.

Whether you’re an artist or someone who loves to visit galleries with the kids, we’re working on a few specially themed ideas for the day, that take advantage of Middlesbrough’s vibrant arts scene.

We are delighted to be working with some new friends too – Just Giving Projects and their exciting new tools for raising money for local causes. Plus support from Arts Council England is helping us reach out to local artistic talent and Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (Mima) is providing a wonderful venue space – including a roof terrace (woo!).

Here’s the detail:
Date: Saturday 28 September.
Time: 11 am – 5.30pm.
Venue: Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (Mima), Centre Square, Middlesbrough
TS1 2AZ (Map here.)
Agenda: That’s down to you.
Hashtag: #tal13

The spectacular venue is close the station just off the east coast mainline and great for direct transpennine trains or north east local lines. We’ll start at about 11.00 with coffee and nourishment available from 10.00 onwards.

If you haven’t been to one of our events before – and we’re told this is the first time an unconference has been held on Teesside – it goes like this;

1. Passionate, exciting people (that’s you) turn up and grab a coffee and a sticky label.
2. We go to a room where Sarah, Emma, William and Mike will welcome everyone and explain the process.
3. The agenda gets created from all the conversations everyone attending wants to discuss.
4. We break out into different groups and share experiences for the day.
5. The unawards – our chance to reward success with some worthless tat but lots of fun and genuine achievement too.

Take a look at last year’s unconference and unawards to find out more and then sign-up here we look forward to seeing you there.

If you’ve never been to Teesside before, we’ve put together this helpful guide – six things you need to know about Teesside.