A brand new project promoting local art in the NR2 postcode has just got off the ground.

To take part in this Easter’s Art and Craft Show, artists need to apply by this Friday.

The project, named N ART 2, wants to give local artists and crafts people the chance to network, meet up and combine events and exhibitions. The first of these is the Easter Art and Craft Show on Saturday 7th April 2012 at the Belvedere Community Centre, just off Dereham Road.

N ART 2 is a not-for-profit project that aims to bring together artists and craftmakers in Norwich, especially the NR2 postcode area, to put on joint shows and exhibitions at a reasonable cost for each artist. Beginners can gain valuable experience from more professional artists and the public can buy direct, knowing they are helping the local economy.

Individual artists or groups from across Norwich can apply to display and sell their work. The cost of a space for the day is £12.

To be considered for a space, contact N ART 2 by e-mailing info@nart2.co.uk including name, contact details and a brief description of your work (with pictures if possible) by Friday 24th February 2012.  More information can be found on the N Art 2 website.

To send in an image you’ve taken: email editor@southnorwichnews.co.uk

Photo: Andy Pitt, Super70photography

A man’s been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Just before 5am, a 23 year old man was detained following an incident in Thomas Wyatt Close – which runs through the former Norfolk and Norwich hospital site. During attempts to arrest the offender, a male officer received knife wounds to his hand.

The 23 year old local man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken into custody.

The officer is still receiving treatment but is expected to be released from hospital later today.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information regarding it should contact Norwich CID on 101. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

An 18 month project is looking to interview graduates, staff, and local residents about the arrival of the institution almost 50 years ago…

Photo: Chris Bell

The first part of the project called ‘The First Generation’ focuses on the university’s first 10 years from 1963-1973, ahead of turning 50 next year.

History lecturer Dr Camilla Schofield, who’s leading it, said: “We want to gather together people’s memories, anecdotes and stories about the university to build up an archive of collected memories. The students are looking to speak to anyone who was involved at that time – from the builders who laid the first foundations and people living nearby who remember the changing scenery, to former students and staff.”

Anyone interested in being interviewed for the project should contact Dr Schofield by emailing Camilla.schofield@uea.ac.uk.

Over in our Opinion section, local councillor Mike Sands asks: Can this Tory-led coalition get any worse?

To submit an article to SNNews email editor@southnorwichnews.co.uk

Banned in 2011 after questions were raised over ethics, the results are published in today’s Valentine edition of the student newspaper.

Among other things, it finds over a third of students have used sex to further their career.

The sex survey also reveals that over 64% of students have had unprotected sex, over 25% have cheated on a partner and asks which forms of contraceptive are the most popular among the 1000 replies they received.

It’s editor, Chris King said they wanted to be sure they got it past the University’s Research Ethics Committee this year: “We made it clear it was just for fun: harmless, confidential and anonymous.”

To read the survey in full, turn to page 13 of today’s online edition of Concrete, available as a pdf.

The topics span charity shops, volunteering and homelessness.

This film is one example exploring the Big Issue magazine and the lives of the people who sell it.

Over 50 post graduate and under graduate students, on the UEA’s Practical Media course, worked with BBC Voices to create Campus City. ”Really this is an entirely fresh approach to local TV news”, says BBC Voices Producer, Gary Standley.”We told our students to make films with heart and passion and to think of Fusion as their own giant TV channel for a week. ”

BBC Voices together with the UEA and SeaMedia worked with over 50 students from the UEA to produce 15 films for a presentation in Fusion at The Forum in Norwich.

Dubbed Campus City, the films are available to view from today, Monday 13th to Saturday 18th February, from 10am to 5pm each day – all FREE of charge.

At the same time, the coalition representing disabled people locally has written an open letter to all Norfolk MPs urging them to reject the government’s proposals for reform of welfare, health and social care.

Photo: Last year’s Valentine’s rally ahead of “toughest budget” in County Council’s history.

Norfolk Coalition Against the Cuts (NCAC) is joining the rally organised by UNISON, and Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People. Richard Edwards, chair of Norfolk Coalition Against the Cuts said: “Norfolk County Council leaders are implementing the government’s cuts programme without dissent, resistance or compassion and producing misery not economic recovery. Closing Day Centres for elderly or disabled people will not rescue the economy.”

‘Austerity is hurting but it isn’t working. The government and all of Norfolk’s current MPs said cutting public services would reduce the massive national debt caused by the banking crisis. It hasn’t worked. Borrowing will be £157 billion higher than Chancellor George Osborne predicted because, by slashing thousands of jobs and spending power, he made the situation much worse.”

Concerns have been raised by campaigners that £4 million may be cut from the Day Services budget.

Meanwhile trustees of Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People (NCODP) say the proposed legislation – in the Welfare Reform and Health and Social Care Bills currently before parliament – will damage the lives of disabled people.

The open letter, from Kathy Saunders, chair of NCODP’s trustees, asks why the MPs are “making the most vulnerable disproportionately pay for a crisis that is not of our making”.  Mark Harrison, chief executive of NCODP, said: “Norfolk’s MPs are being loyal to their parties but not to the people of Norfolk. It’s time for MPs and County Councillors to speak out against austerity measures which are hurting people but not resolving the economic problems.  I hope many Norfolk people will challenge their representatives to change direction”.

Officers from the Norwich West Safer Neighbourhood Team will be carrying out targeted high visibility patrols,  following a number of incidents where ornaments and wreaths have been stolen from graves or damaged.

Police Community Support Officer Malcolm Cornaby described the culprits as “heartless” adding that offences caused great distress to the families involved: “We would ask visitors to cemeteries to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or anti-social behaviour to police.”

To report incidents of suspicious activity, call the non-emergency number 101.

Billing itself as ‘top-flight’, the stand alone free school would specialise in maths and science for “serious-minded academic students who want to go to a good university.”

Details of the exact location of the new sixth form won’t be released until approval is granted by the government, but it’s likely to be in central Norwich to take advantage of good transport links. Entry to the sixth form would be dependent on obtaining top marks at GCSE.

The bid is being led by the principal of Victory Academy in Costessey, Rachel de Souza, and the chairman of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, David Prior.

Rachel de Souza explained the thinking behind the proposal: “We have a black hole in maths and science education in Norfolk and north Suffolk. Something like 2,000 students achieve A*-Bs at GCSE, yet less than 1,000 pursue the subjects at sixth-form. Equally important, our sixth-form students are far from the top of national performance tables for maths and science. There is a clear demand for high quality maths and science education in Norfolk and north Suffolk.”

It’ll be known as the Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School and if the bid is successful, would look to open in September 2013 to approximately 100 students. Every student would take maths and two sciences. They would also offer a broad range of additional subjects: “We will aim for A and A* A-levels and we will develop close links with Oxbridge and the best universities in Britain.”

David Prior added: “I would like to see Norfolk become a hub of excellence for teaching maths and science.  We want to develop well-rounded young people with the confidence to take new opportunities emerging in an increasingly technology-driven world. The UK is not producing enough students with a good grounding in maths and science and is falling well behind the performance of other countries, particularly in Asia. It is essential that we produce more young people, qualified to secure high-level, long-term careers in engineering, technology and science.”

The proposal has the backing of many of Norfolk’s MPs and members of the business community. Spokesperson for the sixth form, Geoff Howe, added: “We would look to link with some of the leading science organisations in Norfolk, giving students access to their facilities.”

The Department for Education will decide which free schools will be selected in May. If successful, the sixth form would be given the go-ahead in June, giving the college just over a year to secure a lease on a building before opening in September 2013. Also included in this round of bids is a proposal for a Free School primary, based on the site of City Academy, Norwich.

Click to find out more or to register your interest in the new sixth form or call 01603 734162 for a registration form.