Since Birmingham lost the City of Culture bid, it’s fair to say there’s been a bit of naval gazing going on. Why did it happen? What’s Derry got that we haven’t? Where has all this belly button fluff come from?? But maybe we’ve been looking at this all wrong. Maybe, we should be looking at … [Read more…]
Stirchley Village, St Irchley, Stirchville … Stirchley. It’s quite a hard word to type, but don’t let that put you off. This hitherto un(der)heralded little corner of Birmingham is undergoing something of a renaissance. Largely untouched by the nationals and multi-nationals, Stirchley has become the centre of a grassroots movement with a community focus. Leading … [Read more…]
Being a classical musician, I have often found that contemporary music is met with extreme unnecessary prejudice from most audiences, and even from the musicians themselves. However, we have come a long way since Arnold Schoenberg and his band of merry Serialist pranksters. We are lucky to live in city so diverse that there is … [Read more…]
As a musician, I love reading autobiographies and biographies of rock stars. As an unsigned musician, I’m always left disappointed that there isn’t more in these books about their time before they were famous. I don’t mean stuff like their Dad working in a factory and their cat being called Tiddles, or whatever. I mean … [Read more…]
A contemporary creative practice needs to be a problem solver, fund raiser, facilitator and business collaborator. While anyone experienced in cultural and community based areas would be ignorant to ignore the realizations that the current economics demand better value for investments and any funding, do our creative industry graduates know what they need to do … [Read more…]
To your right, you see glorious Cheapside. Factories and warehouses to let with flexible terms.They say that this area will eventually be regenerated, and this street, being closer to the main drag may be ripe for the pickings. Already, the café at the post office hosts storytelling and poetry evenings, serving drinks, snacks and light … [Read more…]
Fairtrade fortnight starts 28th February, the theme’s cotton, and this year Fairtrade Association Birmingham (FAB) are putting on more events than ever! This week will also witness binning of the last of my dubiously sourced Calvin Classic underwear. About the same time as I bought my last poor quality pants (and first of many fairtrade … [Read more…]
Design Space is a programme supported by the Birmingham City Council and the European Regional Development Fund that gives a select group of emerging jewellery artists free studio space and business classes for one year: in exchange, the participants must commit to work at least 30 hours a week developing their own design led business. … [Read more…]