What I'm looking forward to in 2011

Sniffy Jenkins second book. Brighton based Sniffy Jenkins aka Justine Kilkerr saw her first book 'Advice For Strays' published last year, she's a funny, chatty and communicative author you can find her on twitter, tumblr and here (sometimes) www.amihumanyet.co.uk

Although many people are finding the convenience of 'Kindle' too tempting, for me real books will always hold sway; the memories of where I read a book, holding it in my hand curled up in a big chair or on a train, the feel of turning the pages, the smell and weight of the paper - kindle will never replace these things for me. I read Vanessa Grebbies 'Storm Watch' at the end of last year and look forward to more from Salt Publishing @saltpublishing or www.saltpublishing.com as a result, also I follow Nosy Crow Publishing on twitter @nosycrow a vibrant and chatty new publisher who are already creating a stir with their latest childrens book 'Small Blue Thing' www.nosycrow.com

Some really good, well made TV... well okay this may be a fantasy of mine after all they can only re-make Agatha Christies works so many times, can't they!? But Downton Abbey was a treat and Larkrise (to Candleford) an utter delight to watch, so here's to more of the same in 2011, although I am also intreagued by the changes to Midsomer Murders, will Neil Dudgeon cut the mustard in replacing John Nettles, will they allow us to see Jason Hughes being more adventurous or will it be consigned to the old ' has been' heap?

A resurgence in some great Photography exhibitions, it's all very well if you live in Brighton, London, Manchester or Cardiff but the rest of us don't get to see large scale photography exhibitions, well laid out and imaginatively presented too often. Here's hoping.

The government to actively support and continue some of the great and vital work within Foster Care and placement support that Local Authorities have been developing which means dear Government, that you'll have to go easy on education as well, stop waving your wand and instigating stark and time consuming, admin heavy changes, we need a period of reflection in which, teachers can get on with teaching, Head teachers can get on with growing and continuing the outside links and partnerships they have with LA's and community groups. Oh look! a pig with wings!

Our first 'Firestarter Arts' youth project 'The Unit' based in South Wiltshire took off with much success last year and I'm really looking forward to the youth committee growing and diversifying their outreach plus seeing the social enterprise qualification 'pilot' getting underway and watching more young people speaking for themselves, rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in to representing their own views and needs at Council Meetings, Funding Panels and events in 2011 www.unitspace.org.uk

Oxfordshire Youth Arts Partnership www.oyap.org.uk their Stepping Up - Young Creative Leaders project enters stage two this year with a new cohort of young people who are looking to focus on where their work in the creative industries is taking them. I was a mentor on the pilot project last year and amazed how much was achieved with some support and expertise from people who had been there and already got the T-shirt. Last years cohort are already out there carving their careers and creating, collaborating and delivering some vibrant work - this is the future of the Arts. Universities take note - you need to be working more closely with creative industry organisations to ensure your students are focussing on 'making it work' in the real world, as well as spending three years indulging themselves in the specialisms and theories. I also enjoyed the film OYAP made as part of the media mousetrap project – Vicious Youth – a clever twist on the youth of today (you can view an extract on their website).

Peer Productions www.peerproductions.co.uk are a unique youth arts training company basing in Woking and they always produce topical work with the young people they work with from their Teenage Pregnancy Project which toured the South (and did things with condoms you wouldn't believe were possible in a one hour show - impactful and thought provoking) to the release of films on issues that effect young people. I'm really looking forward to their new 'Superheroes The Musical' at the Rhoda McGraw Theatre in Woking this February.