If you’re a photographer you may have already come across the petition to “stop proposed restrictions regarding photography in public places” as it’s been getting a fair bit of word-of-mouth action. As well as being all over Flickr like a rash it’s been covered by photography agency Rhubarb Rhubarb and Film Birmingham. 35,000 people have signed it to date and it runs until August so that number is bound to increase.
The chap who started the petition, Simon Taylor of Farnborough, explains his reasons at length here.
I have NOT said that a bill is in preparation, or that legislation is being prepared, but am referring to the ID cards proposed by various bodies which will serve to create an ‘uber class’ of photographer, and restrict the use of cameras by normal citizens. These cards will only further the suspicion and misunderstandings that many photographers already suffer.
It’s unfortunate that the petition is rather inaccurately phrased and that he doesn’t identify these “various bodies”, but then the whole issue of public photography is something of a mess in this country. Cameras are now everywhere, from the ubiquitous cameraphone to affordable SLRs, and photography as a hobby and artform has become much more widespread. On a more prosaic level photography in public places by the public means we have a record of our society and environment like no other time in history, not to mention that these people who might not consider themselves artists are indulging in creativity and learning to see.
I think this petition is worth signing, not necessarily because it’s right but because it sends a signal that the pendulum has swung too far in paranoia’s direction.
Related to this, the UK Photographers Rights guide is a 2 page printable PDF which any photographer is advised to take a look at.
Co-production is becoming an increasingly viable option for independent producers who are looking to finance their projects. Join the Producers’ Forum for an afternoon of talks, discussion and case studies from producers experienced in this field. Guest speakers include:
- Rebecca O’Brien (Producer, The Wind That Shakes The Barley)
- JJ Lousberg (UK Film Council)
- Isabel Davis (UK Film Council)
- Christine Alderson (Producer, Ipso Facto Films)
To book your place please email Tom Norton at the Producers’ Forum or call 0121 772 6070.
Date: Wednesday 21st March 2006
Time: 14.00 – 17.30.
Cost: £100+VAT, Free to members of the Producers’ Forum PACT, NPA & Shooting People members, £75+VAT.
Location: The Electric Cinema, Birmingham, B5 4DY
Film Birmingham has a brief Interview with Tom Norton about the Producers’ Forum.
The New Generation Arts festival brings all the various UCE arts graduate shows under one banner for two weeks in this summer. It’s a neat idea allowing them to make more of an event of their varied shows and really push the creatives involved. It’s still early days but the website looks to be adding profiles and portfolios for all of the artists featured across six categories: fine arts, music, performing arts, design, animation & film and creative writing.
The slightly mind-boggling calendar of events is here and it runs from June 14th – 29th.
Hat tip to D’log.
BirminghamMusic.com, the umbrella site that attempts to cover all the musical activity going on in the city, have announced plans to run a recording studio which will be made available for free to Birmingham based musicians. As plans are put into motion over the next few months interested artists are invited to get in touch at admin@birminghamusic.com. Presumably doing so will also inform what shape the studio takes.
The Event is “a series of artist run activities in permanent and temporary spaces throughout central Birmingham” running for a fortnight from Martch 31st to April 15th.
Participating organisations are a.a.s., Capital Art Projects, Colony, [insertspace], International Project Space, Modulate, Periscope, 7inch Cinema, Spectacle, and the Springhill Institute.
There’s also a launch party on Saturday March 31st, apparently at Curzon Street Station.
More details as they emerge…
Thanks to D’log for sourcing all the links, making my job easier…
D’log went to the Birmingham Open art show and reports on the artists that caught his eye, finding links to them where possible.
Andrew Dubber, a music lecturer at UCE, gives news of a talk he’s giving for the Moseley Creative Forum on March 15th, 7pm upstairs at the Epic Skate Park. The title is “There’s never been a better time to be in the music industry”.
There’s a bit of a presupposition in there that I don’t think I entirely agree with — so let’s call that a ‘provocation’, rather than an accurate summary of what my central thesis will be.
I’m being joined by music manager John Mostyn (The Beat, Fine Young Cannibals — and, more recently, Lizzie Parks and Trio Gitano), the guys from Jibbering Records and Steve Harding from the Conservatoire.
Full details here.
The Night Times is a free 16 page tabloid covering the Birmingham club scene. I’ve seen this sort of thing before but it’s usually national and therefore quite London-centric. Bars are reviewed, club nights photographed, DJs interviewed, opinions spilt and the centre pages is a pull out calendar.
I picked up my copy at Old Skool Daze in Selly Oak but I’d imagine it’s available city wide.
No website to speak of so email info@thenighttimes.com or call 0121 440 4691 for more info.
The Images of Birmingham Photo Library is an agency run by Craig Holmes holding over 10,000 images of the city by Craig and a team of 6 freelance photographers. As well as licensing photos they also sell prints directly from their site. Craig’s own photos from around the world are represented by Crowded Gallery.
Plugged In is a one day event run by Digital Central and Neon “to debate the future of the region’s music and radio industries” on Monday 26th March from 10am to 4.30pm.
- How do we sustain a vibrant regional music industry that helps contribute to the regional economy?
- What can be done to better facilitate and develop new and existing music scenes and industry clusters in the region?
- How can regional radio better represent the region’s music?
- How can our music heritage and events enhance the West Midlands’ tourist industry?
- How can the industry capitalise on new music and radio technologies?
More details here.
A regular selection of photos from the Birmingham Flickr community.
Sarah Abnett
nobody knows anything
ikkio too
harri b
All copyright as applies.
To suggest photos for inclusion in this feature add them to this thread or leave a link in the comments.
I picked up a flyer for the New Art Birmingham art market on March 15-18th because it was very pretty and noticed that the venue is Curzon Street Station. If you’re not familiar with the name it’s this building in Digbeth:
While the building has a fascinating history as the first railway station linking Birmingham to London and is a striking part of the Digbeth landscape it has laid dormant for years now and access to the public has been fleeting. Occasionally it is used for events, notably the 7 Inch Cinema / Capsule shindig at Artsfest last year, but any chance to get inside has to be leapt at.
So, while the art market is bound to be well worth a visit there’s now another incentive. You’ll also get to see the petrified cat.
New Art Birmingham previously blogged here.
4Talent has a 6 minute video interview with Dan Read, writer/director of the previously blogged Straightheads feature film. Aimed at up and coming film makers he talks about starting out in documentaries, how this educated him in the art of dialougue the advantages and disadvantages of being a writer/director, the value of having a huge ego and ends with some tips for the aspiring writer. Well worth a look if you looking to start out in this industry.
Liquor Is Quicker is a fanzine covering the Birmingham music scene. Emphasis on the zine as this type-written, hand-crafted publication looks like a historical artifact from the early 80s. Nine issues have been published on a shockingly regular basis and all are available to download as PDFs. Print copies can be picked up at various venues and shops in the city.
Future plans include expanding their coverage to Coventry, Wolverhampton and Walsall. I’m hoping these plans don’t involve getting a DTP system.
