Echoes for the Edge – New Exhibition on Cheapside

Zara from Friction Arts writes,

Here’s news of a fantastic exhibition we’re running from 23rd April to the 30th May 2009, in collaboration with US company Touchable Stories Friction Arts’

The exhibition is navigated in a tour group of 12 people at a time, who are met by an artist-facilitator and then left to explore the exhibition alone.

The tour proceeds through the rooms and visitors are encouraged to delve into the exhibition. At the end of the tour the audience sit down at a dinner table for refreshments and a short facilitated discussion about the experience.

Lee Griffiths, co-director of Friction Arts, said: “Echoes from the Edge will be the first stage in a three-year project to accurately reflect a unique, historical area as it undergoes its biggest changes for 50 years.

“The long-term ambition is to create a community-inspired, living history museum in the neighbourhood, which grows and changes with its environment.”
Booking in advance is essential and places are limited to 12 spaces for each tour of the installation. You can book individual or group places in a number of ways these include via the website at www.frictionarts.com/bookings, email us at info[AT]frictionarts.com or call us on 0121 772 6160

Euro Fun Park is back for 2009 – Starts 12th February

Ahh, it is that time of year again, when Eastside becomes a fun fair.  Just think what it would be like when VTP200 is built.  Oh, let’s get to the chase, here are the details:

(Photos by Tom)

Euro Fun Park, Birmingham

Opposite Millennium Point, Curzon Street

Thursday Feb 12th until Sunday 22nd Feb 2009

Open Daily 1pm-9pm, last entry 8pm

Unlimited Rides for £5.99

Children under 1 metre £2.00

Link to the Euro Fun Park.

What’s On at the Custard Factory

I think it is worth reposting here what Johnathan has written at the Custard Factory blog…

What’s On this weekend and next week at the Custard Factory:

Walsall College exhibit Winter Show - Artists from Walsall exhibit their finest – sure to warm our wintry cockles all week long.

Encore Cabaret Show – an extravaganza of show-stoppers, song and all things hummable, with proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Society. Tickets are rapidly selling out, so be quick!

Young Actors Company – UK-renowned drama school run regular training master-classes every Saturday morning. Tap into the talent within!

Chuckles Comedy Workshops – get your chuckle muscles working with these many-smiles-per-mile-guaranteed classes. I’m smirking just typing this!

Birmingham Music Network meet this Thursday

The Birmingham Music Network meet on the last Thursday of each month.  Everyone is welcome, the meet is aimed at anyone working or interested in the music industry, whether you work in radio, TV, record industy, or a musician, publisher, composer, producer, sound engineer/technician etc.

They meet at the Technology Innovation Centre at Millennium Point in Birmingham City Centre, just a few minutes walk from New Street and Moor Street stations.  4-6pm.

See the Birmingham Music Network web site for more information.

I will be there, so see you there.

Overcoming Dictatorships – Conference and Exhibition

Exhibition (9 October – 9 November 2008, weekdays, 10-5) and conference (9 October 2008, 9-4), Aston Webb Building, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

What has happened to the art since the collapse of the Soviet bloc in 1989? How do artists respond to the political, social and economic changes?

17 works by 10 artists from across the EU give us an insight into processes of mourning, remembering and overcoming the past. This exhibition will be opened by a conference exploring the roles of the visual in overcoming dictatorships (programme and booking form attached).

The exhibition and conference is part of the EU-funded project ‘Overcoming Dictatorships – the Encounter of Poets, Artists and Writers’ (principal investigator: Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Besier, Professor of European Studies, Technische Universität, Dresden).

Overcoming dictatorships Information – PDF

Conference programme and booking form – PDF

Flashmob water fight this Saturday, Centenary Square, 1.15PM

I like flashmobs, cleaver idea.  I’m supposed to be an organiser for Brums very own army of flasmobbers, so I better make something of my position.  I’m still yet to do anything or attend one.

EDIT:

Location Centenary Square (on the grassy part), 1.15PM

I have received an e-mail on the latest event:

“BIRMINGHAM’S BIGGEST WATER FIGHT, 2PM 1.15PM, JUNE 7th

This year we’re being much more cunning. We now have a dedicated group of agents operating undercover within brumob to help us achieve or interests. These agents constitute our contingency plan. If at any point – AT ANY POINT! – during the proceedings on the 7th a member of the mob approaches you with the opening phrase “I am your agent…” calmly and discretely follow their instructions TO THE LETTER.

1. On Thursday we will release the location of a meeting point. THIS IS NOT THE FINAL LOCATION.
2. On the day of the waterfight assemble at the meeting point at 1.15pm. From here you will be given further instructions.
3. Arrive precisely at 1.15pm. If you are early, wait across the street. The effect should be of everyone turning up all at once so that we can’t be easily moved along.
4. Stay standing, keep close together, and mingle.
5. If the powers that be are waiting for us be polite and respectful. We need to show them we aren’t looking to cause trouble i.e a repeat of the Leeds waterfight.
6. The waterfight will kick off at 2pm at the sound of a whistle. If you hear a second whistle blow leave quickly and calmly, this means trouble’s brewing!
7. Make sure your water distribution mechanism of choice is pre-filled. In fact, bring lots of water! This mean that if all else fails we can still have waterfight.
8. Make sure your water distribution mechanism of choice is and concealed in a bag or whatever. We don’t want to be easily identifiable before its too late.
9. Go with the flow. We have no idea what the reaction will be to us turning up in town but if you follow the instructions of your agent this ought to be one hell of a Saturday afternoon.
10. Invite all your friends to this group/event, even if you don’t think they’ll be interested. We can’t stress how important this is. By sending invites we get exposure on peoples home, group and event pages just from the activity alone.
11. Join us for a drink on Wednesday. The pub of choice is The Wellington: 37 Bennetts Hill, B2 5SN, in the city centre. We’ll be there from 8pm. Thanks to everyone that came down last week, I ended up staying far later than was prudent

Finaly we have to clarify a few points to put the mind’s of the council at rest. Minds which may be understandably nervous about our imminent arrival. The water fight will not take place in an overly crowded area where possible harm (or wetness) could come to a member of the general public. This is not to say that it won’t be a central and relatively public area, we’re just not going to rampage around the Bullring or anything. In addition, whilst the rest of us are converging on the meeting point (see above), the rest of the Brumob team will be dispatched to warn any sunbathers/grannies with ice cream/ladies with Prada handbags of our imminent arrival. The waterfight will be well organised and we are not looking to cause havoc or commit offences of any kind. Such activity is condemned by Brumob.

See you in the mob!

Brumob Team“

NUS Awards to be held this Monday at Millennium Point

The National Union of Students will be hosting an award ceremony on Monday 9th June at the Thinktank museum at Millennium Point to celebrate students who have made their mark for their university. The event is sponsored by Endsleigh.

The awards given out will be:

• The Endsleigh Student of the Year
• Student Unionist of the Year
• Course Representative of the Year

Students’ Union Awards

• Participation Award
• Campaign of the Year
• FE Students’ Union of the Year
• HE Students’ Union of the Year
• Equality and Diversity Award

Media Awards

• Students’ Union Publication of the Year
• Student Journalist of the Year

This comes after much criticism from many universities over the lack of representation and leadership from the top regarding many matters such as top-up fees.

More information can be found on the NUS microsite for the event, and the Birmingham Post have also written a short article.

Thanks to Simon Felton for the heads up.

Ikon Eastside Launches on the 27th

Chris Unitt writes:

“Ikon Eastside opens on 27 May with a party entitled ‘Flip Flop Or Die’ hosted by Soi Project. The party starts at 8pm with DJs, a band and a (pay) bar. The dress code only specifies the footwear required, which I’ll leave you to work out.

Soi Project’s installation ‘Island’ will be on show from 27 May to 22 June.

Ikon Eastside is at183 Fazeley Street, Digbeth and will be open 1pm to 5pm Thursday to Sunday. Admission will be free.“

Photo by Stuart Whipps.

Soweto Kinch follow-up from Creative Networks meeting

I unfortunately missed this months Create Networks and Birmingham Music Network meeting due to having to complete my dissertation for my degree.

They keynote this month was from Soweto Kinch, I wish I hadn’t missed it, sounded very good.

My good friend Andy Derrick and Bobbie have covered the story in their blogs.

Eastside Projects launches 2nd May

Not quite Eastside, it is on Heath Mill Lane;

“Eastside Projects is a new artist run space for the city of Birmingham and beyond. Eastside Projects proposes the development of a new type of physical space for the gallery, a complex evolving programme of commissioned works and events based on radical historical positions and a new gallery spatial identity providing vital distinctive features to the area. Eastside Projects, in partnership with Birmingham City University and funded by Arts Council England West Midlands, aims to commission and present experimental contemporary art practices and exhibitions boosting confidence in the cultural activity of the city both inside and out.“

D’log has covered the story.