A panel of four, chaired by Creative Times editor Chris Sharratt, will share their own experience of the creative interplay between old and new, followed by an audience Q&A and a chance to chat in the bar afterwards.
The panel for the night is:
Pete Ashton, Blogger, photographer, ‘webmonkey’ and trainer (peteashton.com/) Chris Unitt, Head of Social Media, Made Media Ltd (mademedia.co.uk) The Brothers McLeod, BAFTA-nominated animators (brothersmcleod.co.uk/)
I have the opportunity to start a new space where creatives can have a permanent base whilst having the opportunity to work with other like minded people. I’d like to tell you about it and see if you might be interested!
There’s information about the event here although the highlight of the evening will be:
a panel debate with some high-profile industry figures including; Chris Deering, former President of Sony Entertainment Europe, Kim Blake, Education Liason Manager of Blitz Games, Leigh Thomas, CEO of First Light and Mike Nutley, former Editor and Chief of New Media Age. The topic will be Nurturing the Digital Talent of the Future.
After settling at 183 Fazeley Street back in 2008, Ikon have confirmed that as of April 2011, Ikon Eastside will be closing up for the final time, due to public funding cuts.
The large exhibition space at the heart of Digbeth, has provided the perfect setting for large-scale work, video and events over the past few years. It’s hosted work by internationally recognised artists, including Andy Warhol, Damián Ortega, Józef Robakowski and Siobhan Davies Dance.
We are extremely saddened to be losing Ikon Eastside, but our commitment to bringing internationally recognised art to the city is unwavering. Looking to the future, our goal remains to create a permanent museum of contemporary art for Birmingham.
- Jonathan Watkins, Ikon Director
It’s not all sad news though, since Ikon are intending to keep up their involvement with the Eastside district, focusing instead on site-specific events and promoting cultural regeneration through their membership of the Eastside Contemporary Art Consortium. Their current study into the feasibility of this permanent museum, (‘Ikon Two’) also remains unaffected.
Or it does according to someone at the new Fallen Angel Bakery in Harborne if the experience of Paul at Ricemedia is anything to go by:
Fazeley Studios might host some fine digital media companies, Ikon Eastside and our own fair office but there’s still some work to be done apparently. That or the guy’s a numpty.
A quick but heartfelt thanks to Lucan, Nicola and the other good people at Fazeley Studios who have helped me out big time over the past few weeks, lending some storage room for the furniture from the CiB Shop at ridiculously late notice.
Incidentally, we’re out of their now, so if you’re interested in leasing it the details are on the sign there.
Pete Ashton, who occasionally still pops up around these parts and is looking into bringing the CiB Shop back, has announced a couple of notable things.
First up, he’s resurrecting the social media surgeries that he used to run out of Rootys a couple of years ago. £20 will buy you half an hour to pick his brains, which should give you plenty of time to learn a shedload about how the Internet works and how it can work for you (especially, but not only, if you’re on the artsy/creative side of things). There’s some more info about these surgeries here.
To book a session with him, click this link and follow the instructions. Dates are:
13 July – MAC cafe
14 July – Fazeley Studios
15 July – Urban Coffee Co
He’s also doing one of the ‘These are a few of my favourite things’ talks at the Ikon on 11 August.
That’s me (on the right) working the mulled wine stall on Saturday at the Kings Heath Big Party. A huge thanks to everyone who came down and bought a cup of something warm.
I’ll soon be putting up some info about the next project that’ll see CiB getting out and about in the world. I’d best write some posts about other folks first though.
Only 3 short months after their launch, Fazeley Studios are now hosting their own digital festival which aims to bring together the city’s creative businesses through a variety of events, including the usual seminars, debates and networking opportunities, but also including Fazeley’s own innovative slant of unconferences, swap shops and media mash-ups including Second Life, Twitter and live video streams.
The event which has most piqued my curioisity is entitled “My Dad’s on Twitter but he doesn’t know why”. More than just another opportunity to ‘talk shop’, this event promises to collate the ideas and input of attendees into a collaborative group mind map exploring how and why people use social media. In addition, after the event there will be an opportunity for an online audience to have input into the map as well. I’m keen to see how this will utilise Bubbl.us – something I stumbled across earlier this week, and which looks like another great free tool.
The event which has most piqued my TASTEBUDS however, is definitely the festival finale – a grand high tea for 300 creative workers in Fazeley Studio’s magnificently restored 19th century chapel reception. Fazeley currently provides a high tea for tenants every Thursday and have decided to build upon the success of this for the festival. I’ve been promised there are exciting and secretive things planned for this event which will be unveiled on the day, but if the promise of the tea alone isn’t enough of an incentive, there will also be a preview of the latest Ikon Eastside exhibition – an installation by an emerging Chinese artist called Xu Zhen.
For more details on all of the events taking place during the festival, the Fazeley Digital website will keep you in the loop, as well as provide opportunities to sign-up for certain events and provide feedback/interact with others.
Some fellas named Mudlark have been in touch, a cross-platform company who have recently moved into Fazeley Studios in Digbeth from my hometown of Tamworth. I didn’t know anything about the company but from the projects outlined on their bright and breezy website I recognise some past projects. Notably, ‘Love City’ – an SMS mobile phone and web game played over several different locations, bringing players together through sending messages of love.
The aim of the game is to move about in the real world to locations that are mapped onto the game world of Love City. Players score points by sending messages to players who share locations with them in the game world. The game was originally launched across 3 cities (Nottingham, Leicester and Derby) on Valentines Day 2007.
Mudlark are currently developing ‘Chromaroma’ a project backed by the 4IP fund and Screen West Midlands. The website describes it as ‘a pervasive online game played in the real world’. It uses smart cards and urban mass transit systems as a currency and environment to allow people to play as they commute, travel and move around their urban environments.
This is one of the most exciting companies I have seen in a long time, who seem to be successfully combining a games company, a TV company and a web company. The website is clean, crisp and outlines what they do without all of the usual alienating mumbo-jumbo speak. They will be getting together with an invited a group of people who are also developing new practices, projects and ideas on a similar ethos on Friday 22nd, and hopefully will be posting any interesting outcomes onto their website.
Many apologies for the lack of posts the last week, with this and that happening I haven’t been able to bring you as many posts as I would have like to, normal blogging service shall be restored from herein.
One great thing I missed out on last Friday was the launch of Fazeley Studios in Digbeth. I have gathered together photos, reviews and anecdotes for the pleasure of both you and I to enjoy. As far as I can tell the night was filled with live music, art, a fashion show and lots of booze.
Developed by Lucan Gray, son of Custard Factory owner Bennie Gray, Fazeley Studios, in Digbeth, is a 1.25 acre collection of magnificent but previously derelict listed buildings fronting Fazeley Street which have been restored to form 44 studio offices for creative and digital businesses.
“They [digital industries] are great success stories for the city at an extremely challenging time, so it is important that we can provide them with the kind of space and support that they need in order to grow.”
“The Studios are beautiful and it is starting to become a hub for creativity, which in our minds is a about time. The people behind Fazeley Studios have obviously recognised that creative people don’t always want to work in damp and dirty places such as the Custard Factory and clients want to visit clean and well-presented studios. Long live this new era of creativity in Brum.”
Creatives are invited to comment on the Big City Plan Following the cancellation of the Big City Plan workshop, Creative Republic have rescheduled the event for 6pm on Wednesday 11th February. The format remains the same with the event featuring a presentation on the Big City Plan with a discussion afterwards that will be written up as a formal submission to the consultation process.
Kate Beatty – new website
Kate is a photographer based at Fazeley Studios, Digbeth who’s impressive portfolio and client list can been seen on her brand spanking new website, designed by Substrakt. The site is clean and functional and is home to the beginnings of a passionately written personal blog.
an exhibition of original artwork exploring the philosophy of interconnectedness by James Dawson. Jibbering Records will close its doors for the last time on Saturday 21st February and will be sadly missed by many people, it has been a hub of creative activity for many years.
Arts Assembly
Arts Assembly is a non-profit making organisation based in Warwickshire. They are hosting their next group exhibition at the Vaad Gallery, The Custard Factory, March 6th, 7th and 8th. The preview night is on Friday 6th with the usual free drinks to quaff.
Audiences Central job vacancy
Audiences Central is the audience development agency for the West Midlands and they are currently looking for a Data Inputting Administrator.
Our next production – The Rage Ensemble
The Rage Ensemble “are looking for people to be part of the ensemble cast for a production which we will be putting on at a Birmingham theatre”. Get in touch if you’re interested in getting involved
Regional Youth Arts Conference for the West Midlands
“This free one-day regional conference brought to you by ENYAN (English National Youth Arts Network) and the Regional Youth Work Unit will act as a forum for the development of youth arts across the West Midlands region” It’s at The Public in West Brom on 24 March 09
