Just a quick reminder that tomorrow night (Weds 29th July) we’re holding PKB – a Powered by Pecha Kucha event.

There are still a few tickets available here on eventbrite.

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PechaKucha 20×20 is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images advance automatically and the speaker talks along to the images. 

The event will be taking place at Cherry Reds John Bright Street, Weds 29th July 6-8pm (6:30pm start) and you’d be welcome to join us for drinks afterwards.

Speakers include:

• Lee Kemp (Vermillion Films)
• Sian Hindle (Jewellery)
• Steve Chamberlain (Sellotape Cinema)
• Pete Ashton (Rabbits)
• Chris Randall (Second Home Studios)
• Jessica Rose (Authenticity)

PechaKucha 20×20 is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images advance automatically and the speaker talks along to the images. 

The event will be taking place at Cherry Reds John Bright Street, Weds 29th July 6-8pm (6:30 start), and you’d be welcome to join us for drinks afterwards.

If you’d be interested in talking at PKB, then email us at createdinbirmingham@gmail.com with I <3 PK in the subject line. There’s a Pecha Kucha FAQ here.

TICKETS AVAILABLE ON EVENTBRITE HERE.

Birmingham Literature Festival

This week Birmingham Literature Festival have released their full programme, running from 2-11 October 2014. For updates and news follow them here.

Fierce Festival

The Fierce Festival programme is also now live, running from 2-12 October 2014. They recommend joining their mailing list for updates.

Plastic Fantastic at Ikon Gallery

On Saturday 23rd August join Ikon Gallery for an hour-long 80s inspired jewellery workshop by Working Clasp. Book online or call Ikon Shop on 0121 248 0711.

The Gloaming Tales at mac birmingham

An Artist Rooms Project, The Gloaming Tales is going to be a spellbinding night of myth and legends told by storytellers around the campfire during the most magical time of day, twilight. Find out more here.

Glug Birmingham

We are on the final countdown to Glug, with less than a week to go! This week we have been sending out more flyers and beer mats, folding programmes and also released a promo video by Created in Birmingham’s Finlay Bell. It’s not too late to book tickets, visit the website to book.

Glug Birmingham: Midland Masters [PROMO] from Inkygoodness on Vimeo.

Local artists create edible flag to mark Indian Independence Day

Local artists Alexandria Robinson-Sutherland and Lexx Carby of Uneek Walls worked with ingredients at Birmingham wedding caterer and restaurant, Itihaas, to adorn the four-foot canvas. Using turmeric, basmati rice and coriander leaves the artists created the edible flag to mark Indian Independence Day.

We’re thrilled to be joining forces with Inkygoodness & Glug to present Glug Birmingham: Midland Masters – a series of talks by local designers, illustrators and studios celebrating the creative talent of the Midlands.

What is Glug?

Glug is a series of events for the design and creative community. Their showcase event is held in London but there are now 6 other events around the world. Based around a series of talks and informal networking, Glug has become one of the most exciting, credible and well attended creative events around.

Studio Output

Studio Output are a creative agency making still, moving and interactive work. And whatever the medium, they have one aim in mind: to make amazing work. Work that goes far beyond ticking the boxes on a brief. Work that takes you by surprise, makes you see things differently, and inspires you to share it with other people. Truly creative work, that will be remembered. Glug exists thanks to Studio Output.

Waste Studio

Waste is an award winning independent creative agency based in Nottingham, UK. We’re a collaborative, diverse, and forward thinking team who have a geniune passion for what we do. We deliver considered and engaging design for a wide range of clients across both the private and public sectors. Waste have curated events and collaborated on projects in the Midlands since 2004.  Waste were invited by Type and Birmingham Institute of Art & Design (BIAD) at Birmingham City University to be involved in the production of ‘The House of Caslon’. 

Matt Nation – PROVIDE

PROVIDE is an experiment. We’re following our passions, interests, beliefs and ideals wherever they take us and collecting curious, inspiring and talented people along the way. We produce a graphic-led line of clothing and accessories which we sell alongside books, magazines and other things we love in our retail shop in Digbeth, Birmingham. Everything we do is motivated by three simple choices; Choose Adventure. Embrace Failure. Defy Impossible.

Gemma Germains – Well Made Studio

Well Made Studio are a design studio based in Liverpool, specialising in design for brands, realised through well considered and emotionally engaging print and digital projects.

Dan Button – FRUKT | Hero Of Switzerland

Co founder and Creative Director of illustration collective Hero of Switzerland, Dan Button is also Senior Designer at FRUKT Source, a creative agency specialising in music, entertainment and lifestyle marketing trends from across the globe.

@FRUKTsource | wearefrukt.com | @heroswitzerland |heroofswitzerland.com

The venue

We’re taking over Fazeley Studios in Digbeth.

Tickets

Tickets are – £7.50 for an early bird.
Glug combo pass* – £20 (Save £2.50) – Limited availability. 

*Inclusive access to all three Glug ‘Midland Makers’ events in August, November & March. (Dates and speaker info tba.)

Tickets are on sale via Eventbrite. 

Stalls

Are you a Midlands based illustrator, designer or creative? Are you interested in a FREE stall to sell your wares to Glug attendees? You’re in luck! A limited number of stalls will be available at each of our #GlugBrum events. Register your interest by emailing submissions@inkygoodness.com with ‘Glug Brum’ in the subject line. Please include a link to your website and a brief introduction – no attachments please.

Sponsorship

If you’re a local business and interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact glug@inkygoodness.com for a sponsor pack.

Phew, that’s a lot of information

To keep up to date with everything Glug Birmingham:

www.createdinbirmingham.com • facebook • twitter

www.inkygoodness.com • facebook • twitter

www.glugevents.com • facebook • twitter

We also have set up a facebook event.

In early October I put out a post saying that Created in Birmingham was looking for writers to join Kassie and I.

We received 50+ applications from all kinds of people with different interests and backgrounds. Many of the applications were fantastic, and we quite obviously couldn’t say yes to them all.

We said yes to ten of them though, so there is now a team of CiB contributors who will submit their posts for review, to be approved and scheduled alongside other posts. This will hopefully ensure variety and it will still be ‘curated’ / quality controlled. We’re going to try this new process out and review in a few months.

I met up with the new writers the other week, and didn’t manage to put any of them off – so if you are interested – here they all are:

• Amos Mallard has lived in Birmingham for the past 12 years, originally moving to the city to study documentary photography at the School of Art. He worked as a freelance photographer for several years before joining NHS Birmingham South Central. Amos is an aspiring writer, currently honing his craft with short stories, poems and a novel. @AmosMallard
• Ed Bentsi-Enchill is a youth and social action worker born and bred in Birmingham, currently helping young people tackle social issues in their communities with Envision. Ed writes about music, film and theatre, and celebrates all things Brum. @EdBentsiEnchill
• Francis Clarke is a digital communications specialist and freelance photographer who is interested in the role technology can play in supporting social change. Besides photography, Francis is into music (particularly vintage reggae), film and popular culture. Francis is also a keen cyclist and blogger. @FrancisClarke
• Jessica Davies is a recent graduate with an interest in all kinds of art; photography, film, performance, sculpture and everything in between, she also holds an interest for creative writing. She hopes that her exploration of artwork and literature can help make both mediums more accessible to everyone. @JessMayDavies
• Kate Wilkins is one of life’s appreciators and a magpie for the creative and quirky. She loves to see the changes around the city, and people going about their day – all interacting in the warmest and most non-judgemental way seen anywhere around the country. @radiantserenity
• Katie Metcalfe‘s background is a combination of Commercial Interior Design and Automotive Design. She is currently working as a Colour & Materials Designer for a large British car manufacturer. For Created in Birmingham she intends to focus on Art, Design & Craft exhibiting and being made in Birmingham. @k8tiemetcalfe
• Matt Saull is currently on an internship at Town Hall Symphony Hall. Among working on other projects around the city, he was part of the team that ran OxjamBrum in 2012. In addition to a passion for live music, he is a comic writer and performer. @MattSaull
• R J Baddeley has worked as an artist, director, photographer and designer in Birmingham for over 10 years and has recently joined 107.5 Switch Radio with hopes of making an arts program for the Midlands. @RJBaddeley
• Rob Green is an Art Director who has been working in the creative industry for nearly a decade. A fan of language, typography, photography and illustration, Rob has always been passionate about how every discipline can work together seamlessly, creating stunning outcomes. @go_RobGreen
• Sophie Horace-Beck works as a visual merchandiser within fashion retail. She fell in love with Birmingham when she moved here for her fashion studies, in 2008. Sophie enjoys blogging about retail indies. @sophichka.

Expect full service to resume shortly.

At the moment, the team comprises of myself Kerry and Kassie (more on the about us page.)

Here’s a marginally tweaked repost of what Chris Unitt wrote when he was recruiting in June last year:

WLTM

You don’t need an exhaustive knowledge of everything going on in the city to write on CiB. Quite the opposite. It’s worked really well when the writer has been curious about what’s been going on, taking nothing for granted and not quite understanding who does what and why.

You should probably:

• Be able to write with reasonable grammar and as few typos as possible
• Be up for writing something regularly
• Have an idea about how blogs/social media work
• Understand that CiB is all about promoting everyone but yourself

What’s in it for you?

Um… well, unless you count the (occasional) invitations to shows and events, nobody gets paid for writing things on this site. It’s a bit of fun. Or something to put on your CV. Or an excuse to get out and about more often.

You’ll have free rein to write about what you like, how you like (within reason – no more legal troubles, please).

How to get involved

Email createdinbirmingham@gmail.com saying hello and that you’re interested. Please don’t write an essay, it’s really not necessary – just a short message will do. Include a link to your own blog, and twitter account if you have one.

We’d like to get things moving quite quickly, so if you could please send your expressions of interest by the end of next week (18th October). If you know anyone who you think would be interested, or good at it, please do tell them to get in touch.

Essentially the site isn’t changing too much – but if we have a team who write at least once a fortnight each, then you won’t just have our voices to listen to, and the site will remain populated with fantastic content. Or at least that’s the plan.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Kerry and Kassie.

You won’t notice any major changes to the site as we carry on letting you discover what’s going on in the city, and we’ll bring a fresh approach to reporting on the creative industries. This site exists for it’s readers so if there’s anything you’d like to see or anything you’d like us to cover please get in touch. The email address is createdinbirmingham@gmail.com

Craig, Daniel, Kassie, Kerry, Lexie & Mark

It’s the end of my second stint on CiB. I ran it for much of 2008 and picked things up again from October 2009 until now. Over this last period there’s been a few new things – CiBmail, a Facebook Page, the CiB Tumblr a month of contributions from guest bloggers and the shop in the Bullring (I’ve just about recovered from that last one).

I’ve just looked up the figures and apparently I’ve published 991 posts since October 2009 (with Alex Jones and Ian Ravenscroft chipping in a few more). That seems to me to be quite enough – no wonder I thought some fresh blood was long overdue.

There’s a small group of people taking over the site shortly but it’s probably best if I let them introduce themselves (if they want to do that). I think they’ll all be excellent custodians of CiB and hope that you’ll give them a warm welcome and support them in whatever they choose to do with the site.

I’d like to give a big, hearty thank you to all those responsible for the stuff that I’ve written about, who’s emailed to say hello, shared links with friends, left a comment, said hello at events, invited me to things or simply asked to meet up for a coffee and a chat. CiB wouldn’t be any good (and certainly wouldn’t be any fun) without you.

So then, onwards…

Anyway, quite a lot of people got in touch saying they’d be interested in contributing and I only wanted to pick a handful this time round. Thing is, I reckon all of the people I turned down would be great at blogging about creative stuff around Birmingham. Really great.

Thing is though, the whole point of CiB was to show that it’s now ridiculously simple and cheap to publish info online and build your own audience for that – there’s no need to focus on the limited number of incumbent publishers. The idea was that once enough people saw that there would be tens of CiBs and this site wouldn’t be needed anymore. Instead, CiB has become one of the limited number of incumbents.

There are literally dozens of people out there who have said that they’d be prepared to do some regular writing. Imagine if they all had their own sites – all writing about different things in different ways, linking to each other, competing with each other and making this site gloriously obsolete.

So basically, I’d love it if the people who asked to contribute to CiB started their own websites and talked about what’s happening in Birmingham in their own way.

Sure, to start with you wouldn’t have the audience that this site has, but that’ll come – it took this site ages but could be done much quicker now, if that’s what you want. If you want to get started but don’t know how or you fancy a helping hand of some sort – maybe someone to help share the load or bring complementary skills – then leave a comment below and  we’ll see if we can match you up.

Otherwise, I’d recommend you head to wordpress.com or Tumblr, sign up for a free blog and get started. The more the merrier, I say.

I’m thinking it might be nice to have a small handful of contributors. Maybe after six months or so some new people will come in and maybe the previous people will move on. We’ll see how things go.

Meanwhile, I’m going to take a bit of a backseat, looking after the site from behind the scenes to make sure everything works properly.

WLTM

You don’t need an exhaustive knowledge of everything going on in the city to write on CiB. Quite the opposite. I reckon it’s worked really well when the writer has been curious about what’s been going on, taking nothing for granted and not quite understanding who does what and why.

I don’t want to be too prescriptive, but you should probably:

• Be able to write with reasonable grammer and as few typo’s as possible
• Be up for writing something regularly (I tend to post something daily, but we’re hardly talking essays here)
• Have a vague idea about how blogs/social media work (although I’ll be around to provide a few pointers if needed)
• Understand that CiB is all about promoting everyone but yourself

What’s in it for you?

Um… well, unless you count the (occasional) invitations to shows and events, nobody gets paid for writing things on this site. It’s a bit of fun. Or something to put on your CV. Or an excuse to get out and about more often. Personally, writing on CiB has been one of the best things I’ve ever done.

Of course, you’ll have free rein to write about what you like, how you like (within reason – no more legal troubles, please). In fact you don’t even have to write – if video, photo, audio or something else is more your style then go for it.

How to get involved

Email createdinbirmingham@gmail.com saying hello and that you’re interested. Please don’t write an essay, it’s really not necessary – just a short message will do. Maybe with a link to your own blog, Tumblr, Twitter account  or whatever instead.

Depending on how many people express an interest (if anyone) by the end of next week, I’ll work out how to take things forward. You may detect that I’ve not really thought this through completely, but then that’s always been the way with this site…