2011 will be welcoming Polish artists to Birmingham as they collaborate with British artists on Post-Industrial Revolution, a residency exchange project between industrial districts in Birmingham and Gdansk, Poland.
The project is in collaboration with the Lombard Method (Digbeth) and Wyspa Institute of Art (Gdansk, Poland), where the artist residencies and exhibitions will take place.
An exhibition from Polish artists, Kamila Szejnoch and MASH/HER/DIP, will take place at the Lombard Method from 18 February. The exhibition will showcase new work directly responding to the district of Digbeth, its historical and social context, produced during their month long residency from 15 January.
The comparisons between Digbeth and the Gdansk Shipyard as post industrial sites are of significance, each city has at some stage been deeply affected by the demise of industry, its movement abroad, and more recently the development of cultural and leisure industries in these former industrial areas.
The call for British artists will be announced in the new year, so keep an eye on their website and blog for more information and updates.