Homegrown is an ambitious artist development programme run by Birmingham live art agency Home For Waifs and Strays,  supported by Arts Council England and the Jerwood Charitable Trust. The aim of the programme is to showcase some of the great live art and performance talent in the West Midlands by giving emerging artists the chance to receive mentoring, develop new work and perform at venues across the UK.

After touring to some of the country’s premiere live art venues, Homegrown comes to Vivid Projects for the final performance of the programme. On Friday, there will be a showcase of the work developed by the chosen artists over the last four months. The artists are an eclectic group, with practices comprising drag performance, performative baking, filmmaking, writing and theatre. One of the artists, Albert Smith, uses baking and bread making metaphors to explore his ideas and tell his stories. Another, Andy Howlett, is an artist and filmmaker who is exploring the possibilities of film as a live medium. Andy draws inspiration from the streets of Birmingham and is interested in the work of the Birmingham surrealists. China Dethcrash is a ‘swamp witch, performer and storyteller’, who invites audience members into her specially constructed dwelling for one-on-one performance.

Homegrown takes place from 7-10pm on Friday 9 September at Vivid Projects, Digbeth. Entry is free.

With suitable weather upon us, this weekend Summer in Southside brings the seaside to the city.

Over the weekend, experience a vibrant carnival atmosphere where Hurst Street will be transformed with seaside sights, sounds and silliness. Be swept away by nautical encounters from a cod choir, deep-sea divers and even some pirates.

Play on wooden street games, dive into the mouth of an enormous whale, enjoy street acrobatics, a marching band with a difference and much, much more.

The festival takes place from 12-5pm on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 July. The programme can be found here.

Join Warwick Bar this Saturday for a free day of family fun, films, art installations, open studios, activity workshops, a craft market, live music, street food and drinks!

• Grand Union’s studio artists will be opening their doors to the public, offering a rare opportunity to see behind the scenes.
• Edible Eastside will open their doors for the last time. They will be selling-off plants, tools, fridges, polytunnels, compost and even their pizza oven!
• Beautiful ceramics exhibition.
• Off the Scale will be selling an amazing selection of vintage clothes and accessories by the kilo.

…and much more.

Warwick Bar is located on Fazeley Street, Digbeth. For more information, see the Facebook event page.

MADE are looking to commission five artists from Birmingham and the Black Country to enliven a space under the M5 motorway in Sandwell for a one day event on Saturday 16 July 2016.

The commissions are inspired by MADE’s vision for a Black Country Garden City utilising a neglected section of land under the raised section of the M5 motorway between junctions 1 and 2.

Full information can found here. Deadline: Midnight, Wednesday 22 June 2016.

Yarningham is a new yarn festival produced by Stitches and Hos, Brum’s motley crew of enthusiasts for all things knitted, crocheted and stitched. Taking place over the weekend of 16 and 17 July at Stirchley Baths, it will feature stalls from independent yarn producers from across the UK…and two live alpacas (called Cookies and Cream).

To compliment the marketplace, Yarningham will also include a programme of workshops for visitors. Learn how to knit socks, or even how to spin your own yarn. It will also feature demonstrations from the Weavers, Spinners and Dyers Guild.

Yarningham will be open from 11am-5pm with day tickets available for £5 (+ booking fee) in advance or £7 on the door.

More information on Yarningham can be found here.

• An open day at Moseley Road Baths.
• Tours of the Gun Barrel Proof House.
• Tolkien Tour of Birmingham with Two Towers Brewery.
• City Centre Historic Pub Walk.

The full programme can be found here.

Ikon and Birmingham Cathedral present a new site-specific work by Birmingham-born artist Roger Hiorns, Untitled (a retrospective view of the pathway), 2016

Working with the choir of St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham, the event sees choristers undertake Choral Evensong whilst lying on their backs on the floor, within the nave of the church, rather than standing to sing in stalls behind the altar. This will be a full service rather than a performance – led by The Very Revd Catherine Ogle, Dean of Birmingham, and directed by Canon Marcus Huxley – with the congregation seated in the aisles and galleries. The event raises important questions concerning the aesthetics of faith and worship in modern life; plays with perceptions of life and death and sleep and consciousness; and re-imagines an ancient ritual, part of an establishment that defines our society – all within sight of the Cathedral’s stained glass windows by Edward Burne-Jones depicting the Last Judgment.

Untitled (a retrospective view of the pathway) takes place from 5.30-6.30pm on Wednesday 15 June and Friday 17 June 2016. Places are free but should be booked.

Longbridge Public Art Project (LPAP) is offering recent graduates in art, design or media related subjects (such as Art & Design, Fine Art, Performance, Music, Visual Communication and Architecture) the opportunity to further their artistic practice and career.

During a two month long Summer School, participants will have opportunities to learn new skills, attend talks by LPAP artists-in-residence, national & international artists, develop site specific work that responds to Longbridge independently or collaboratively, support the LPAP programme of activities, manage the project space and work closely with the WERK team.

The LPAP Summer School will start week beginning 20 June and run until the end of August 2016 with activities scheduled to take place on a weekly basis, with some evenings and weekends.

More information can be found here.

Deadline: 5pm, Friday 10 June 2016.

Running until Saturday 18 June, City Camp is a festival exploring the theme of city futures and the future of Birmingham. It is an open festival – anyone can pitch an idea to be part of the programme, thus recognising that we all have a role to play in feeding into the city’s dialogue and unleashing positive solutions.

Events include:

• Build your own film night, a masterclass from Flatpack Assemble.
• Ministry of Data – Rave with some dodgy data. Over dancing, drinks and DJs, consider today’s Big Question: To Brexit or to Bremain?
• Art Against the Grain – an evening of spoken word, discussion and debate exploring Diversity and Decolonisation.

The full programme can be found here and also includes workshops & hack days, talks & panels, masterclasses, learning circles, art & performance and themed dinners.

Constructing The Self is raising funds for Cancer Research UK. Please give what you can on the night.