Not yer usual call for artists this one. The Hippodrome are getting Smile to make an iPhone app that’ll be used to showcase live art around the city.
They’re looking to commission regional artists and designers to devise and produce a piece of live art that will be featured inside the iPhone app. It says here that inter-disciplinary collaboration is favourable.
The full brief is here. If you’re interested, you need to submit your idea by 8 Feb (that’s tomorrow). They’re only looking for 200 words and your contact details though, so it’s not too bad.
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
I like IDFB. It was probably the first one, back in 2008, that got me interested in dance in the first place. I then worked on the 2010 festival and managed to pack in 18 shows over the course of its month-long run. This one looks like being another good one.
Interactive/film and video artists wanted – The Public
The Public are currently inviting interactive artists and artists working in film and video to submit work to two unique open exhibitions, taking place early 2012.
Play More
“This is the temporary page for the newly created Birmingham based arts collective Play More; a group of artists who aim to promote play one ridiculous event at a time.”
All together now – AMA Commons
I thing I wrote for the Arts Marketing Association about online collaboration and mentioning a few Birmingham-based case studies
If I was a child aged 8-15 years I would definitely be badgering my parents to go to this half-term circus skills workshop with Cirque Eloize that the Hippodrome are putting on. They taught me some juggling and trampolining a few weeks back and it was great fun. If you’re over 15 then maybe just go and watch the show itself the week after, that’s a lot of fun too.
Birmingham Hippodrome Autumn Season 2011
A few musicals (Top Hat, Evita, End of the Rainbow), some dance (plenty of BRB, Some Like It Hip Hop, Burn The Floor), opera (WNO doing Don Giovanni) and acrobatic craziness (Guangdong Acrobatic Troupe of China and Cirque Eloize). All to be squeezed in before the panto
70-Eight.com
Or 78. Maybe even Seventy-Eight or 7eventy Eight. The replacement for the Medicine Bar at the Custard Factory opens this weekend
Bring Out Your Dead
“We are working with Grand Union, an artist-led studio and exhibition space, that support the development of artists and aim to establish a dialogue between contemporary visual artists and art organisations”
7 Inch Cinema – Event – Adventures in freelancing
“At this free one-day event you can explore what it takes to be a freelancer in the film and moving image industries, getting inspiration and advice from professionals in a huge range of fields – from art to animation, from gaming to graphics.”
Heritage Lottery Fund workshop | The Moseley Exchange
“To find out more about Heritage Lottery Fund grant schemes, top tips for filling in the application form and a chance to meet the HLF Development Team come along to a workshop at the exchange on Tuesday 4th October – 10am til 12.30″ You’ll need to register for this.
Birmingham Ballroom Wall Of Fame Open Day – Saturday 3rd September
“Following the unrest not only in the second city but throughout the UK, we were very sad to announce that the original date for the Open Day had to be re-scheduled, however we’re very happy to inform you all that the show is now most definitely going on and we will now be opening the venue to you all on Saturday 3rd September to welcome you all back to the bosom of Dale End once more!”
transmissions from the hub
“A volunteer based radio venture homed in the Our Place Community Hub, Sutton Coldfield” Volunteers wanted
Home of Metal Black Country Weekender
On the first week in the Sept the folksters will be in Moseley for the festival, the metalheads will be in the Black Country for this
The performers in the show are phenomenal (and nice folks too) so as well as doing interviews and things I tried out a bit of trampolining and juggling with them. I also suggested they use me for one of the routines that trial biker Thibault Phillipe performs. We videoed it and the Hippodrome stuck it on their YouTube account the other day.
More Hippodrome-backed craziness in the streets of Birmingham this year, from 9 July to 13 August.
Giant lobsters, a scary ice cream van and a man with a big red balloon over his head. There’ll be some extra stuff on Fridays this year too. Splendid. I’ve also just learnt that the area outside the Hippodrome is called the ‘Hippodrome Piazza’. Now there’s fancy.
Just look at that! That’s the Hippodrome 30 years ago that is.
Seriously, I mean you’d think that rebuilding a stage might involve swapping out a few planks, maybe putting in some new struts, checking the hydraulics and giving the whole thing a new coat paint. Or something. Apparently not. Apparently diggers are involved.
Paul Hamlyn Award for Capsule « We Are Eastside | Birmingham
Capsule have had £60k from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. “The award will be used toward capacity and organisational development in particular the successful delivery of forthcoming projects Home of Metal and Supersonic 2011, and the development of a five year plan”
collaborationx2011
“The aim of Collaboration X is to create a collection of music that will go on to be sold at online music stores, iTunes, eMusic, Napster, Amazon, and more. This will be produced by six musicians who have never met before and will only meet once the collaboration has ended. The whole production process will take place over the internet on kompoz.com. All proceeds will be donated to Sound It Out Community Music”
Creative fund supports Birmingham arts firm
Artbrand Publishing (who supply retailers with prints, paintings, etc) have received £150,000 investment from the Creative Advantage Fund
Media Trust’s Youth Mentor Training
“Media Trust’s Youth Mentoring scheme enables media professionals to share practical skills with disadvantaged 13-25 year olds working on media projects”. Want to be a mentor? Info’s here
Marketing Birmingham funding cut by more than £500k – News – THE DRUM
“A Marketing Birmingham spokesperson confirmed: “Marketing Birmingham has received an 11% cut in funding from Birmingham City Council for 2011/12, which is equal to 6% of its total annual budget of £8.5 million”
Say It Online
“The Say it Online project will see 6 Birmingham families immerse themselves in arts and culture for 4 weeks and review their experiences using digital media”
design and innovation west midlands
“A blog to uncover the wealth of design excellence and innovation in products and services produced across the West Midlands and Heart of England referencing the inspirational from around the world”
a-n magazine – Social media: Blogging
I did an interview for a-n magazine’s new series of videos about social media and mentioned a few blogs by some local folks – BRB, Stan’s Cafe, DiG and Clusta
I didn’t make any new year resolutions, but if I did ‘go to more theatre in 2011′ might have been on there. On Saturday I ticked that box good n hard, clocking up the Rep, the Hippodrome and the Old Rep before 5pm.
The Rep’s closing for a couple of years while they finish off the new library (which will integrate with the Rep to a fair degree). They’ll be touring around venues across Birmingham but before then they held one last little event. Joanne Malin hosted and Polarbear had written a piece for the audience to perform with some help from performers from the Young Rep.
It was short, sweet and good, wholesome fun and a nice way to see off the current place.
They were doing backstage tours after that but we didn’t have time for that because we wanted to go and see…
This was ace. I went to a little preview on Friday night and it was so good I went back on Saturday. (re)Stretch answers the question ‘how much fun would it be to string up 8 miles(!) of fine elastic to make a 10 metre-wide screen and then project things on to it and make it make noise too?’. The answer is, of course ‘very fun’, especially as you’re encouraged to get involved and play with the thing.
At the preview on Friday a couple of dancers cavorted in and around the piece (it’s presented in association with DanceXchange), which was lovely, but they were no match for the unrestrained glee shown by a class of young ballet dancers on Saturday when they were let loose on it.
It’s free and it’s there until Sunday 16 January. Martin Pickard’s taken some lovely pics from the Friday which you can see in this slideshow:
We managed to score some tickets to this at the last minute, leading to the admission that I’d never actually been to the Old Rep before. It’s a good place and the staff were very nice and friendly. The show itself (written by Philip Pullman) was more kiddy-friendly than the sort of thing I’m used to (this was the Christmas show, after all) but it was entertaining enough – the elephant costumes were ace and it had a good energy about it.
The first show of The Rep’s next peripatetical two years is The Rememberers on 4 February, also at AE Harris. It’s a ‘classic tale of good versus evil, told through rap narration, lyrics, projection, music and graphic novel illustration’ which sounds good to me
Tate team up for Ikon – Audiences Central
“Ikon Gallery are one of the partners of the new Plus Tate initiative which aims to support the development of the visual arts across the UK, and to foster a climate where exchange and partnership can flourish”
New apprenticeships launched in creative sector – Birmingham Post
“Noel Dunne, director of Creative Alliance, an organisation which aims to support and develop creative talent, said: “The new creative and digital media apprenticeship will help employers attract talented young people to their organisation”
Jobs in the Meeja | Mind over Matter
Ian gives a few of his top tips for getting a job in the media (although most of it applies to pretty much any sector). Worth a read
If you’re aged 25 or under and you like getting things for free then make haste to A Night Less Ordinary and see what tickets you can snaffle up. This scheme’s getting the chop soon, so take advantage while you still can.
Artists wanted for smoke-free project
Suggest an idea. A group of young people may choose to apply for a grant (up to £2000) and commission you to deliver it. Interesting model
Screen WM: News
Not sure what this is about, but I’m putting it out there – “Submissions for BRAIN WASH BRUM are now open, as we have not confirmed a date there is currently no deadline although it is probably wise to get them to us by the middle of October”
Screen WM: News – Full Circle
“Tucked away in attics, sheds, cupboards and garages are forgotten gems capturing local life and history on film. These are a vital part of the Midlands’ screen heritage. With the help of 60 midlands groups, MACE is looking for these old films and videos to preserve and share them with future generations”
