Greetings all, I hope you had an enjoyable bank holiday. I’ll start by introducing myself, my name is Dan and I am one of the five who have taken over the reigns here at Created in Birmingham. I’ve been subdued over the past few weeks as I have been busily preparing for my move into the second city. Things have been quite hectic, but I shall finally be opening the door to my new home this weekend. I have been working in Birmingham for the past 6 months but have commuted in, so the start of September signals a start of a new life and a new art scene to sink my teeth into.
Whilst Birmingham is not new to me, my youth was spent attending gigs at the Barfly and the Academy and I have spent many a Saturday traipsing around the Bullring for one reason or another, I am not familiar with the finer points of Birmingham culture. I do not know the art galleries, where I can attend a good play or even the best places to eat food.
This is where I need your help readers. I’m looking for suggestions of the best places for a newcomer to enjoy in our city and why you think they are a great visit. In turn I shall visit said locations and my posts will become a ‘beginners guide’ to the Birmingham arts community. I think it will be a great adventure and one that, along the way, even the more seasoned socialites will find some new venues and events to enjoy.
I’ll take suggestions in all forms. Email createdinbirmingham@gmail.com, tweet @createdinbrum, comment on Facebook or at the bottom of this article. I look forward to reading your replies and can’t wait to get started.
Be sure to go the IKON gallery just of broad street, not open mondays! I’ve spend many an afternoon wondering around there..
Definitely the Electric Cinema, the oldest independent cinema in Britain and which usually shows a mix of classics and new films, serves absinthe, and has sofas.
You could come and see me perform a gig at Vegged Out this friday eveing (8pm on). It’s an intimate vegatarian cafe/restaurant on Fletcher’s walk http://www.vegedout.co.uk/
The Barber Institute. A proper hidden gem.
Come and see us at Eastside Projects, then take a wander to Grand Union and The Lombard Method then round it off at Edible Eastside. And there are a few new spaces opening up at the moment – Stryx is setting up in Minerva Works, A3 project space is in development and MSFAC are about to start a 12 month residency at The Edge – Friction Arts Space. All within ten minutes slow saunter of the Bullring. You can also find things happening occasionally at The Wig in Ladywood – currently a nice little show by a group of students from the School of Art.