John Madin, RIP
“John Madin, the architect behind Birmingham’s Central Library and many more buildings in the city, has died”
IdoXinY
Mark Steadman’s made a lightweight freelance directory. If you do [x] in [y] and are available for hire then maybe add your details (think you’ll need a Twitter account to do so)
Traditional pantos pack in audiences
Interesting to see some of the figures behind the pantos. Includes quotes from Birmingham Hippodrome (you’ll need to register to read it)
Marseille + Hang Fire | The Roadhouse Birmingham
I don’t usually give touring bands a mention but I’ll make an exception. Neil Buchanan (from Art Attack) is a guitarist in a heavy metal band called Marseille. They’re playing at The Roadhouse at the end of March
CBSO collaboration with Sir Anthony Hopkins released on CD
“Sir Anthony joined the orchestra on stage during the summer to introduce a performance of his original compositions and scores from some of his best-known films”. The CD’s coming out via Classic FM
The Birmingham Post has a pretty grim report on the latest Birmingham City Council arts funding decisions. You may remember that a significant chunk was taken away this time last year. Well, the current level of funding will be frozen for a couple of years, with plans to take away a further £1.4m in 2014.
In response to that, mac have said they might have to close for 6 weeks from January 2013, reduce their operating hours and feature less adventurous work.
The Music Hub organisations (Symphony Hall, the Town Hall, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Ex Cathedra) are apparently being accused of not getting their act together sufficiently and have been told they can just have one year of funding for the time being.
So, yes. Grim. The Post goes so far as to use the phrase ‘plunged into crisis’.
The leaked figures suggested a rather bleak scenario of 2012/13 and 2013/14 – one that’s been described as ‘politically unacceptable’. The idea, as I understand it, is for the figures announced yesterday to hold for the next three years. Funding is to be kept at this level by income generated by (for example) sponsorship secured by the likes of Performances Birmingham (Town Hall/Symphony Hall to you and I)
Is the scenario any less bleak or, for that matter, politically acceptable? The attempts to sell naming rights for the Town Hall and Symphony Hall have apparently fallen through too, by the way – corporate cash being a bit more tricky to come by these days.
One last thing – it’s worth noting that the Birmingham Post article was written by Paul Dale who left the paper yesterday. Over the years he’s done more than his fair share of bothering people in power and I’ve enjoyed reading his work. I was gutted to see him go (I bet there are a few who feel relieved) and wish him all the best in whatever he does next.
Make Your Voice Heard – City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra – “What have the cuts meant to the CBSO? […] to balance the budget this year, we had to cut staff and costs, reduce education activity and remodel our concerts”. After the open letter from the MAC, here’s the CBSO
The Other Way Works – We are recruiting Board Members | The Other Way Works
“The Other Way Works is currently recruiting Non-Executive (voluntary) Directors to join its Board of Directors.” Not sure if I should disclose that I’m on their board, but I will just in case. There are some great plans coming up for 2012
The Old Wharf Closes. | Digbeth is Good
“after five years Dave & Michelle have sadly taken the difficult decision to leave. Finer hosts of the old school variety you couldn’t wish to meet”. Midge’s send-off to The Old Wharf
Public Vote « 2Weeks 2Make It Brum 2011
“Take a look through the amazing videos the contestants made in just two weeks. Then pick your favourite and vote for it at the bottom of the page. It is that simple.”
Birmingham music groups urged to share facilities and staff
BCMG and Birmingham Jazz: “following concerted lobbying, the two music groups will be given an extra six months funding if they make moves to join a cost-saving music hub with the Symphony Hall, CBSO, Town Hall, Ex-Cathedra and other groups”
Creative England
First glimpse of Creative England – the new configuration of the regional screen agencies. Sign up to their mailing list to keep up with news/opportunities/etc
SOUNDkitchen | Feed your ears!
This is “an organisation dedicated to the promotion of composers and artists working in the field of sound”
Matt Edgar – Green Sand and Subterfuge
A story about Matthew Murray from Leeds and his battles with Boulton & Watt of Birmingham – dirty tricks in business during the Industrial Revolution
Michelin Guide recognises West Midlands restaurants
“Birmingham’s trio of Purnell’s, Simpsons and Turners all retained their one-star rating in the guide, as did La Bécasse and Mr Underhill’s in south Shropshire”
Inspired by events of 30 April 1975 at the end of America’s war in Vietnam, the film is based on the desperate escape by the South Vietnamese and Americans in the face of the advancing Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army.
The weekend will host screenings of classics such as Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket and Rescue Dawn plus little-seen arthouse titles The Scent of Green Papaya and When the Tenth Month Comes.
Entrance to the festival is free, with screenings being held in Ikon Gallery’s Events Room and CBSO Centre. For a full rundown of the programme, take a look at Ikon’s website.
The generally stress free holiday of Halloween presents an excuse for some thrilling fun for all ages. Here’s a run down of a few things going on in Birmingham;
Invisible City‘s final event, Media Circus, takes place on 29 Oct at Fazeley Studios. With entertainment, music, drinks, performances and digital displays, along with the winners of the Invisible City categories to be announced. Fancy dress is along the lines of Victorian Circus.
Black Country Living Museum are holding Halloween at the Museum on 30 & 31 Oct from 6.30pm – 10pm, with opportunities for psychic reading and trick or treating along the cobbled streets.
Take a guided tour of Aston Hall, exploring the ghosts and legends on 31 Oct at 7.30pm. Full of spooky surprises, this is not suitable for children of a ‘nervous disposition’.
Halloween Night at the Museum Collections Centre invites you on a spine tingling trail for a chance to see some of the scariest objects not on general display, join the tour on 29 Oct from 6.30pm – 9pm.
Since Halloween falls on a weekend, it would be a crime to let an opportunity to get dressed up go unmentioned. Most weekend club nights will be welcoming heavy eyeliner and fake blood, on the only occasion where you can get away with wearing a bin liner, here’s a few that stand out;
Plus outfit inspiration is provided by this month’s issue of Area for how to pull off a creepy-but-cool costume, with just the right amount of effort to keep your street cred.
Artsfest, the annual free arts festival is on 10-12 September this year, so not long now.
Most of the details are yet to escape but there’s a few bits and bobs to be found. The general theme will be ‘Landscape and Heritage’ and the latest copy of Forward has some info about some of the bigger items:
Folk Dance Fest – Birmingham Royal Ballet will be going for a ballet dancing world record as part of their 20th anniversary celebrations
Classical Fantasia – CBSO doing their thing (populist classical music and film scores, I’ll wager)
The Land of Fairytales – street theatre happenings from the Hippodrome
Kerrangfest – with The Twang, The Young Guns and Elliot Minor confirmed so far
The CBSO‘s summer programme has landed in front of me, so here’s a little round-up of what you might expect to see in the next couple of months. This won’t be comprehensive, so check out the CBSO listings for yourself here for more performances and details.
Birmingham Hippodrome Brochure April 2010
The forthcoming summer/autumn/winter programme from Big Theatre. A whole heap of dance (esp IDFB and BRB) and musicals with a dash of opera
Creative Survival in Hard Times « D’log
“Creative Survival in Hard Times is a new report from New Deal of the Mind, commissioned by the Arts Council. It explores policy options for supporting young creatives in the UK, and the key useful suggestions are…” Click the link to read on
From the Sustain fund but still, an award’s an award, innit?
Arts Council England has made a seventh round of awards from its £40 million Sustain fund for organisations under pressure as a result of the recession.
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra:
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s application met the Sustain criteria as the Orchestra has been adversely impacted by the recession. As such, we have offered a Sustain award of £388,000 to maintain the quality of artistic output and resolve immediate cash flow problems caused by loss of development income and touring income.
Warwick Arts Centre:
Elements of Warwick Arts Centre’s application have been judged to meet the Sustain criteria. As such, we have offered a Sustain award of £215,000 to help the organisation with the adverse impact of the recession by maintaining the quality of artistic output and resolve immediate cash flow problems caused by loss of income from box office, trusts and foundations.
In other news, the Arts Council get their website redesigned and then go hiding all their information in Word docs, PDF’s and Excel spreadsheets. Irritating.
MySpace – ::The Other Woman’s Club
“The Other Woman’s Club are a creative women’s collective of talented DJs, Photographers, Musicians, Jewelery Designers, Clothes Designers, Journalists, Promoters…and one man”
FREESTYLE Exhibition | Hare and Hounds
I missed this – a showcase of twelve different photographers and illustrators from around Birmingham. I’m going to do some short posts on them instead (if I can find em online, and I think I’ve found most)
BASS 2010 commissions « Punch Records
“For BASS 2010 Punch are opening up the commissioning scheme and we are offering awards of between £500 – £3000 to support new work developed for the festival. We are looking for innovative and creative projects that explore the theme of DNA”
Mostly Jazz line-up
I don’t think I’ve linked to this yet. Anyway, the acts performing at the two-day jazz fest in Moseley have been announced. It’s being organised by the folks behind Moseley Folk and Birmingham Jazz and The Yardbird are pitching in too
One More Take
Tommy Pearson does the CBSO’s podcasts. This is his blog
Tom Binned over Queen’s speech gag
Mixed fortunes for (ex-)BRMB DJ Tom Binns – he got engaged on Christmas morning then went to work and got himself sacked
A nice project from the CBSO, Street Maestros will allow people to bid (via eBay for Charity) for various experiences with the world class orchestra.
The chance to win a conducting masterclass with the Andris Nelsons (CBSO’s Music Director) is a pretty big deal, and those who can play violin, viola, double bass or cello might fancy playing on stage with the main orchestra.
Bidding opens on 19 November. Here’s a teaser vid which raised a few smiles:
