I would like to inform you that Studio VMK is preparing the next Spring Tour with the Mobile Unit to the Collabor8 partners South Downs and South Kerry.

Our crew departs from Tilburg for a two week exciting journey from half March until the 1th of April 2012. The Mobile Unit first arrives at the South Downs area, and then travels further to Killorglin, in South Kerry. In both area’s we’ve compiled an attractive program with creative workshops (such as video mapping, ‘how to make my business work smarter,’ Social Media tools, Apps etc), blast presentations, B2B consults with entrepreneurs and trips through the great area’s (arranged by the partners).

We are looking forward to bringing our knowledge, enthusiasm and creativity abroad!
Of course you’re all invited to come and see what’s out there…

More information will be send in the next month and produced on our website www.mobile-unit.com.

With kind regards,

Margretha Korving
Project Manager Studio VMK

Last week, the Mobile Unit of Studio VMK from the Veemarktkwartier in Tilburg stood in the Brecon Beacons national park in South Wales at the Garwnant visitor centre.The traveling team of VMK-entrepreneurs held presentations, workshops and business consults about creation and innovation for both touristic and creative entrepreneurs from the region. A refreshing visit with inspiring encounters.

The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority & Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council took care of a warm welcome for the Tilburg delegation. The visit of the Mobile Unit, a striking futuristic cube, was part of a touring roadshow bringing the VMK entrepreneurs to international partners within the European project Collabor8. The VMK entrepreneurs Dennis Buster, Gijs van Zon, Kathy Marchand, Mark van Veen, Lois de Jong and Vincent Vriens offered their creativity and digital advice free of charge.

Reactions
The local entrepreneurs reacted very positively. “What a fabulous presentation and how behind the times I now feel! Thank you for putting this together as it not only benefits those of us who have small businesses, but it also helps us see the larger picture and where our world is heading. My next email is to my website designer who is taking my current site and redoing it. I have a lot of questions for him”, said local entrepreneur Jann Seal. Steve Haslam of Greener Graphics added: “It was really inspiring and has got me thinking! Hopefully I’ll will make contacts with others in the region now and tap into different talents”. Annie Laurie of the Brecon Beacons NPA received a consult from VMK entrepreneurs Dennis Buster and Lois de Jong about the promotion of public transport. An intense brainstorming session led to original concepts on how to market public transport to different target groups. “I feel very excited about the project and can see the campaigns already!” said Annie afterwards.

The VMK entrepreneurs got a taste of what the region has to offer and were taken up the mountain of Pen y Fan by Nic Shugar of Mountain Education Company Haute Route. and were taken out to dinner at the Star Inn Talybont in Brecon. “The region has a lot to offer, I can smell the adventure”, said VMK entrepreneur Lois de Jong during the final presentation. “The possibility of having so many different experiences in relatively small area, makes the region easy to market.” “We strongly recommend that local businesses and creatives join forces in marketing the region as a whole, since the success of your neighbor is your success. You sell not your house, you sell your home”, Dennis Buster added.

Follow us on www.mobile-unit.com
For news on the Mobile Unit tour, make sure you check out our new site www.mobile-unit.com. This site will be the hub of our communication and present a great amount of interesting background information about our entrepreneurs and about their encounters with local businesses. The next Roadshows in Ireland and South UK are planned for early spring 2012.

The Mobile Unit Crew is on its way to Wales. The Mobile Unit will visit the Garwnant visitor centre from 1 – 3 november. The encounters in the Mobile Unit will be all about creative industries meeting local industries and about sharing knowledge on social media, web developments, graphic design and much more. If you will be visiting the Mobile Unit and if you are using Twitter we ask you to tweet using the hashtag #mobileunit, to let us know what you think, to network, to ask questions and to share your thoughts.

We also have a twitter account through which you can send messages directly to the Mobile Unit crew, by mentioning us, using @mobile_unit. To learn more about the usage of hashtags, watch this video.

Kathy Marchand is our dynamic host for the Mobile Unit tour. Under the name Bouwkate (‘Kate builds’) she’s a freelance entrepreneur working in the Veemarktkwartier. Kate reports about her experiences during the Mobile Unit expedition on her website . In the week after the Roadshow in Wales she will a post a travel report (in English) about the productional aspects of the Mobile Unit, giving an idea of what happens behind the scenes of our ambitious project!

Kathy is very active on twitter (she’ll tweet about the Mobile Unit using our hashtag #mobileunit), follow Kate at : www.twitter.com/bouwkate.

Last week, the Mobile Unit of Studio VMK from the Veemarktkwartier in Tilburg stood in the center of Eeklo, the heart of the East Flanders Meetjesland in Belgium. The traveling team of VMK-entrepreneurs advised from the mobile workplace, entrepreneurs from the region on innovation in the tourism industry.

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The Mobile Unit, a striking futuristic cube, is currently touring with a roadshow to Studio VMK’s international partners within the European project Collabor8. The Mobile Unit was a striking appearance in the middle of the historic market in Eeklo. The VMK team offered her creativity, digital literacy and skills free of charge. “Very interesting to get fresh ideas from completely different worlds,” says Piet Notteboom working at ‘Plattelandscentrum Meetjesland’. “The ideas in the business consults mentioned, were sometimes unexpected, but caused a change in our mentality, which is sometimes a bit modest” says Mr Mathieu of ‘de Bierkamer’ in Maldegem. The Flemish AVS channel devoted attention to the Mobile Unit in its news. See the clip at the top of this message.

Tourism Province of East-Flanders has taken care of a warm welcome from the Tilburg delegation. During a tour through the area, the entrepreneurs from Tilburg got acquainted with all the beauty that this relatively unknown area has to offer. The entrepreneurs in the tourism local industry, however, often still have some questions about conceptualization, marketing, promotion and use of technology. The creative industry in Tilburg has helped them with the first steps in the right direction. The partner on the spot took care of the evening meal with a creative session, together the participants dinnered and brainstormed in a Burgundian manner.

Off to Wales
The next Roadshow will take place the 1st, .2nd and 3rd of November at the Collabor8 partners in Wales. The VMK team will be here again representing Tilburg prominently and ensure knowledge transfer and innovation. Offering a free program is made possible by grants from the European Union, Midpoint Brabant and the city of Tilburg.

READ THIS ARTICLE IN DUTCH:

Vorige week is de Mobile Unit van Studio VMK uit het Tilburgse Veemarktkwartier neergestreken in het centrum van het Belgische Eeklo, het hart van het Oost-Vlaamse Meetjesland. Het meereizende team van VMK-ondernemers adviseerde vanuit deze mobiele werkplek, ondernemers uit de regio over innovatie in de toeristische industrie.

De Mobile Unit, een opvallende futuristische kubus, tourt momenteel met een internationale Roadshow langs partners van Studio VMK in het kader van het Europese project Collabor8. De Mobile Unit was een in het oog springende verschijning midden op de historische markt in Eeklo. Het VMK-team bood er haar creativiteit, digitale vaardigheden en kunde kosteloos aan. “Zeer interessant om frisse ideeën te krijgen uit totaal andere werelden” aldus Piet Notteboom, werkzaam bij Plattelandscentrum Meetjesland. “De ideeën die tijdens de business consults naar voren kwamen, waren soms onverwacht, maar zorgden daarmee wel voor een verandering in onze soms toch wat bescheiden mentaliteit”, vertelt Tony Mathieu van de Bierkamer in Maldegem. De Vlaamse zender AVS besteedde aandacht aan de Mobile Unit in haar nieuwsprogramma. Bekijk bovenaan dit bericht het fragment.

Toerisme Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen heeft zorg gedragen voor een warm onthaal van de Tilburgse delegatie. Tijdens een rondrit door het gebied maakten de Tilburgers kennis met al het moois dat dit relatief onbekende gebied te bieden heeft. De ondernemers in de toeristische branche ter plekke hebben echter vaak nog de nodige vragen over conceptvorming, marketing, promotie en het gebruik van technologie. De creatieve branche uit Tilburg heeft gezorgd voor een duwtje in de goede richting. De partner ter plekke zorgde ‘s avonds voor een sessie creatief tafelen, waarbij op Bourgondische wijze gezamenlijk werd gedineerd en gebrainstormd.

Op naar Wales
De volgende Roadshow zal op 1,2, en 3 november plaatsvinden bij de Collabor8-partners in Wales. Het VMK-team zal hier wederom op opvallende wijze Tilburg vertegenwoordigen en zorg dragen voor kennisoverdracht en innovatie. Het aanbieden van een gratis programma is mogelijk door subsidie van de Europese Unie, gemeente Tilburg en Midpoint Brabant.

Recently Studio VMK has interviewed Marc Sanders, Leslie and Mark van Berkel Vankan, audiovisual companies based in the Veemarktkwartier. A look into of the audiovisual industry in the area.

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Each has their own business with different clients, but they also like to work together when the opportunity arises. The trio met in Media House, a building just a stone’s throw away from pop center 013, in the heart of the Veemarktkwartier. Marc Sanders of Phalera Filmworks,, specializes in the filming of reconstructions of historical events, realized together with Mark and Leslie a remarkable project. “We have made a demo movie of the construction of a Roman fort in the Netherlands. The final product has to serve as an example of how film and animation could be used as material for school. In this production we brought all our specialties; film, motion graphics, 2D and 3D animation. We wanted, rather than a sum of it’s parts, to make a joint product. I think we were quite successful with this.” It’s evident that this is an understatement when you see the result: the movie, wich looks like it could be from the makers of Discovery Channel, looks impressive.

The Limes: building Rome’s northern frontier from Phalera Filmworks NL on Vimeo.

The audiovisual sector is clearly an industry where hard work is the standard. “My most recent project was for the Progress Factor, a company based in the Veemarktkwartier in Tilburg.” Tells Mark Vankan, 2D ‘motion designer’, working under the Anidesign. “It was the opening of the gate terminal, a large port complex near Rotterdam in the presence of Queen Beatrix. I’ve created an animation that was used in a huge projection of 52 meters to 3.5 meters. I only had five weeks to finish it … so I had to put all effort into it. ”
The trio is clear about the developments in the sector. “More attention for creative multi-tenant buildings. The economic value should not be underestimated” ,says Leslie from ivorm. A message that Studio VMK is happy to support.

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Onlangs interviewde Studio VMK Marc Sanders, Leslie van Berkel en Mark Vankan, audiovisueel ondernemers gevestigd in het Veemarktkwartier. Een kijkje in de keuken van de audiovisuele industrie in het gebied.

Elk hebben ze hun eigen zaak met eigen opdrachten, maar ze werken ook graag samen wanneer de gelegenheid zich voordoet. Het drietal ontmoette elkaar in Villamedia, een pand op een steenworp afstand van popcentrum 013, in het hart van het Veemarktkwartier. Marc Sanders, van eenmanszaak Phalera Filmworks, is gespecialiseerd in het filmen van reconstructies van historische gebeurtenissen en realiseerde samen met Leslie en Mark een opmerkelijk project.”We hebben een demofilm over de bouw van een Romeins fort in Nederland gemaakt. Het eindproduct moest als voorbeeld kunnen dienen van hoe je film en animatie als lesmateriaal kunt gebruiken. Bij de productie brachten we elk onze specialiteit in; film, 2D motion graphics en 3D animatie. We wilden een gezamenlijk product van ons meer laten zijn dan de som der delen, en dat is mijns inziens aardig gelukt.” Dat dat een understatement is, blijkt bij het zien van het resultaat: het filmpje, met een hoog Discovery Channel gehalte, maakt indruk.

The Limes: building Rome’s northern frontier from Phalera Filmworks NL on Vimeo.

De audiovisuele sector is duidelijk een branche waarin hard werken de standaard is. “Mijn meest recente project realiseerde ik in opdracht van the Progress Factor, ook een Tilburgs bedrijf gevestigd in het Veemarktkwartier.” Vertelt Mark Vankan, 2D ‘motion designer’ onder de naam Anidesign. “Het ging om de opening van de Gate Terminal, een groot havencomplex op de Maasvlakte, in het bijzijn van Koningin Beatrix. Ik heb een animatie gemaakt die werd gebruikt in een enorme projectie van 52 meter bij 3,5 meter. Dat moest in vijf weken af…erg hard knallen.”

Het drietal is stellig over de ontwikkelingen in de sector.”Er moet meer aandacht komen voor creatieve bedrijfsverzamelgebouwen. De economische waarde ervan moet niet worden onderschat.” Vertelt Leslie van ivorm Een boodschap die Studio VMK graag onderschrijft.

Wherever the Mobile Unit is, the sun is shining! Both literally and figuratively. Similarly, last Monday at ‘Fort aan de Klop’ in Utrecht, where the Mobile Unit was an important part of the Entrepreneurs with our partner ‘Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie’. The enthousiastic VMK entreponeurs took care again for inspiration, new insights and creative solutions to difficult business problems.

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On Monday, September 26, the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie’ and ‘Stichting Liniebreed Ondernemen’ organised a entrepreneurs day, as a part of the Fort Month. This day is aimed at entrepreneurs in the area of the ‘Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie’, to get them in contact with each other and help them bring their business to the next level. The Entrepreneurs in the Mobile Unit were offering workshops, individual business counseling and inspirational presentations – including “Make me smarter than my Smartphone” and “Social Media for Dummies,”. The day ended with a barbecue, thanks to the lovely weather a great success, and a beautiful projection on the Mobile Unit with colored LED lighting of Smart Light by Vincent Vriens (Victor-Zorro), Julian of Buul and Dennis Buster (Fiss-Wise).

The purpose of the Mobile Unit is to build bridges between traditional and creative industries. According to Titia de Zeeuw, chief of marketing and communications at the Nieuwe Nederlandse Waterlinie , that goal was achieved, “‘A visit to the Mobile Unit was especially very useful for the forts and small businesses. “The forts have their many activities to run to the fort, and often little time to learn about the creative industries. Its abilities opened their eyes. Smaller companies have benefited the most from the workshops and networking meetings. Especially in these difficult times, online marketing can improve your business results” says Titia.
“In any case, the operators become aware of the importance of integrating new technologies into their business. Because consumers are increasingly using various social media and mobile applications, you must respond to it as an entrepreneur. That’s well understood by the entrepreneurs of the Waterline by now. They were impressed with the diversity of knowledge and experience the entrepreneurs of the Veemarktkwartier had to offer. “Titia advises both businesses and governments to visit the Mobile Unit. “Because the government can make so much better and more use of new technologies.”

Peter Vogel, entrepreneur located in the Waterlinie and director of tent rental company McAir, visited the Mobile Unit. After his visit to the launch of the Mobile Unit in May 2011, his curiosity grew. During the workshop “Make me smarter than my Smartphone” he discovered a lot about new technologies. “The workshop showed me how diverse the possibilities are. But I also learned that the relevant options and solutions are not applicable to any organization.” Peter has followed a consultation by an entrepreneur from the Veemarktkwartier. When he was asked what he considered to be the most useful advice of the consultation, he answered “The simple advice to buy an Iphone instead of Android smartphone, even in that area you can expect an opinion! After a number of questions it seemed that is the best choice for me.” Peter indicates that the future must show how meaningful his visit to the Mobile Unit actualy has been, but he certainly has positive expectations. He recommends a visit to the Mobile Unit for any entrepreneur who is searching for creative solutions to problems within the IT and multimedia business.
After the visit of the Mobile Unit to Utrecht, it leaves on 16 October for an international tour to the Studio VMK’s Collabor8 project partners in England, Ireland, Wales and Belgium to bring more interesting consults, workshops and presentations.