It’s sad because Brightspace were behind a huge number of inspirational projects that took artists into schools to work creatively with students and teachers. Now, despite a great report from OFSTED setting out the great value of these projects, the plug as been pulled, the axe has fallen, the bubble burst, the goose cooked, the turkey plucked, the swan sung and the full stopped.
On Friday 30th September 2011, regional screen agency Screen WM will bring the curtain down on nine years of support for the screen media industries in the West Midlands and welcome Creative England as the new umbrella body for the creative sector.
The closure of Screen WM follows the coalition government’s decision to replace the UK Film Council’s support for film-making, which core-funded the regional screen agencies, with funding through the British Film Institute.
All the best to the folks working at these organisations who are moving on.
Sadly, I’m predicting a few more posts like this over the next few months.
Custard Wednesdays Launch Event – Eventbrite
“You are invited to come along to the official launch of this exciting new approach to film exhibition and distribution. We’ll be running live film events and screenings every Wednesday from 5th October. Join us as we share our vision for a community-run cinema and find out how you can host your own cinema nights for fun and profit.”
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Meanwhile, FAKE magaine‘s crowdfunding campaign to produce its second issue has just been extended until 13 October. You can donate to help them get it made on their Crowdfunder campaign page.
I am not an incredible photographer but I aim to fairly attractively show what’s happening on Birmingham’s streets, mostly in Digbeth. I’m also a Landscape Architecture student and knitter of toys and vandalism.
I’m not just posting this because I think the idea of sticking Dappy on CiB is somehow amusing (although I do) but because there are a few agencies around Birmingham who work behind the scenes on big music releases, it just doesn’t get pointed out very often.
Here’s photographer Jonathan Cherry on his recent trip to Rohini, India:
I was in India for only two weeks & the majority of that time was spent in the 30-year-old sub city of Delhi called Rohini. It was a fascinating place to stay & apart from feeling a little out of place Rohini offers a beautiful sense of community. I was drawn into photographing the people of Rohini because of their openness. One wet and humid afternoon I walked to the nearest park where I watched some local boys play cricket. Within 5 minutes of being sat on a bench I was surrounded by 20 boys wanting to know where I had come from and what my name was. It was an interesting scenario because after these two questions we sat in silence for many minutes simply looking at each other. Experiencing their intrigue from my point of view was something I decided to use within my photography. By pointing my Hasselblad at people I no longer became the focus but my subject was drawn into the spotlight. It was an interesting dynamic and I plan to explore it further.
Tony Graffiti presents Keep Graffiti Real, Smoke Crack, Sign On… a graffiti exhibition at Green Street Arts. The exhibition launches on 14 October and will run through to 23 October.
…a house band, DJ Boogie Dave, Drop Beats Not Bombs along side DJ Rosko, as well as Emjay Ladie, DJ Punk N Ska with Justin Bond from Boogie Down Brum playing early rave and britpop.
I could never draw much more than a stick man on an Etch-a-Sketch but as part of The Big Draw, mac have been inviting people to show off their knob-twizzling skills and produce Etch-a-Sketch artwork for Re:sketch.
And the creativity hasn’t been restricted to the classic etch-a-sketch picture, as artists have been actively encouraged to paint and take apart their red framed tablets to create something new.
All of the artworks will be displayed in a public exhibition between 1-16 October and the deadline for submissions is 5pm, 27 September 2011, so there’s still time to get etching. For details on how to get involved, contact learning@macarts.co.uk.
Home is where the Art is: Progressive Birmingham
“‘Birmingham Faces and Places’ is a late nineteenth century publication celebrating the great and the good in Birmingham, people and places. I talked to Dr Andy Green about ‘Faces and Places’ and Birmingham in the late nineteenth century, when it was granted city status, and attempting to define itself as a modern, progressive city.”
THE COMMENTATORS | and
Speaking of. “The Commentators are delighted to be invited to report on all the action at Egremont Crab and Sports Fair. See them in the flesh or tune in via the widget below for the latest manifestation of this occasional project by theatre company Stan’s Café”
Winterbourne Call for Artists
“We are now seeking new artists to exhibit their work in the Edwardian visitor attraction during 2012.” Which is nice. As impressive though is the mention of the £3m redevelopment of the Arts and Crafts house in 2010
It’s with a great deal of sadness that we have to announce BOXXED ceased trading on Monday the 19th Sept 2011. We’ve had fun and we hope everyone that experienced our unique space did too, but it’s time for us to bow out.
Massive thanks go to everyone that was part of our project, particularly Dave Checkley, Ksmk Neil, all the graff guys that painted our walls just for the love of it (especially Hoaks & Fluid), The Project Pigeon Crew and everyone that volunteered their time to help us out. You know who you are.
According to Digbeth is Good (hat-tip for posting about this originally), Project Pigeon, which is based on Boxxed’s Custard Factory grounds, will be unaffected for now and there will be a couple of closing parties at the venue to see it off in style. Inquiries should be directed to the Boxxed team on 07826 523 650.
Dean Melbourne‘s first solo show is now up at BryantPriestNewman. It’s on until December and you’re welcome to go check it out during office hours, just give them a shout first.
Ridhi Kalaria, Josephine Reichert and Noemi, three artists and philosophers are planning to open ORT on the 11/11/11, an artist and community café and bar space in Balsall Heath
I’ve got nothing to base this on particularly, but something tells me that the Shout Festival has been growing year on year. Is that right? I’m not sure what it is – maybe it’s something about the programme or the list of partner organisations involved. Maybe, heading into its third year, it’s something to do with a natural maturing and putting down of roots. Hmm. Thoughts welcomed – I could be well off on this.
