Visitors will be invited to take a moment of reflection in the busy environment to write their experience of coming to, or being in, Birmingham on a piece of paper, in their first language. The paper will then be made into an origami flower which will become part of the ‘Story Meadow’ within the Discovery Space. The stories will be shared on digital screens in the library and through social networking raising awareness of the positive contribution of migration to the city. As the week goes on the Discovery Space will become home to a meadow of stories which reflect the diversity of the city.

They’ll be in the Discovery Space between 26th November and 1st December. More information here about the residency… and more about the Discovery Season, as well as other upcoming Capsule events here.

Here’s the flyer:

After what has felt like a quiet few months (and extended January blues) it seems that the fun of a festival season is once again upon us what with Art SOAK, Theatre Fever, Flatpack and the University of Birmingham’s Arts and Science festival taking place in Birmingham over the next few weeks.

“Running Monday 18th – Sunday 24th March, and led by the University’s Cultural Engagement team, University of Birmingham’s Arts and Science festival celebrates the wealth of ideas, research and celebration across campus. The programme is rich and diverse and with over 70 events, there’s something for everyone – from Ancient Egyptian communication to Intelligent Robotics; Big Band performance to Classical Recitals; Urban vegetable growing to Dirty New Media. Alongside University initiated events, we have also collaborated with regional partners including Flatpack Festival, Vivid Projects, Birmingham Opera Company, Kino 10, and Writing West Midlands.”

Here’s a link to their programme of events.

Last call out for the ‘Arts & Culture Summit 2012‘ over at the University of Birmingham. This gathering, with lectures and discussions, seeks to “re-position the cultural offer of Birmingham – locally, nationally and internationally, in order that it makes the maximum impact on economic growth in the city.”

While at first that statement seems to surprisingly look as the arts as a money generator, the emphasis would appear to be more on investment in the development of the arts and creative industries, as outlined in their objectives for the Summit:

The objective of the event is to identify actions which will best support the development of Birmingham as a world class cultural centre.

Our aim is for a vibrant, diverse and robust sector which: 

• Plays a more effective role in attracting inward investment

• Grows jobs in culture and the creative industries

• Supports growth of jobs in the wider economy

• Develops innovation and creative skills, especially amongst young people

• Makes Birmingham a first class place to live for all our residents

• Improves wellbeing

• Supports community cohesion and a sense of Birmingham identity                                                     

Over two days, we will create a clear plan for:

• Working together with cultural organisations, public, private and third sectors on supporting the delivery of a shared cultural vision

• Introducing news ways of funding cultural development

• Reviewing our approach to promoting Birmingham’s reputation through our cultural offer

• Strengthening leadership of the sector in the city

• Tackling barriers to the growth of creative businesses

• Ensuring we have the creative skills we need for the future

• Improving the responsiveness of the sector to local need and building on delivery out of the city centre to address areas of low engagement

• Embedding cultural planning throughout the delivery of our Vision for Birmingham (eg Birmingham Baccalaureate, Smart City, Inclusive Economy).  

Speakers so far include:

• Sir Albert Bore, Leader, Birmingham City Council

• Councillor Ian Ward, Deputy Leader, Birmingham City Council

• Ruth Mackenzie, Director of the Cultural Olympiad, London 2012

• Darren Henley, Managing Director, Classic FM

• John Holden, Visiting Professor, City University London

• Graham Vick CBE, Artistic Director, Birmingham Opera Company

International speakers:

• Julie Burros, Director of Cultural Planning, City of Chicago

• Xavier Fourneyron, Deputy Director, Cultural Affairs, City of Lyon

• Reinier Weers, Senior Project Manager, Rotterdam Festivals

All sounds pretty good and I hope that many from Birmingham’s leading creative and artistic centres find time to make the trip over and participate, as while their seems to be some very well established figures on the list in what be great to have some input of some of the more up and coming creative teams around the city. It cannot be denied though that it is great to see such an event geared towards the development of the city.

You will be able to book to go along to this event here and then book workshops with the speakers on the day.

If you’re after something local:

• This link will take you to a list of West Mids culture/sport charities
• This link will take you to a search of charities that mention the keyword ‘Birmingham’
• Audiences Central has a list

The programme for Artsfest 2011 is now online (in addition to the PDF brochure that came out a few days back).

As ever, there’s an unfeasibly huge amount happening. I’ve not had time to have a proper browse, but here’s what I’ve spotted after a swift glance through the listings:

• 2 for 1 entry to the Home of Metal exhibition at BMAG all weekend
• Birmingham Young Poet Laureate, The Library Theatre, Saturday at 2pm – performances by the shortlisted poets
• Birmingham Royal Ballet, Centenary Square, Saturday at 6.30pm – doing excerpts from their autumn season
• Classical Fantasia, Centenary Square, Saturday at 8.15pm – the CBSO, Birmingham Opera Company and fireworks
• BE Festival presents Move Me, Broad Street Stage, Sunday at 2.30pm and 5.30pm – an interactive contemporary dance event hosted by Barbara Nice.
• Best of Birmingham from Kerrang & Q Radio, Centenary Square, Sunday from 5pm – with The Guillemots headlining
• In Conversation With… is a whole strand of interviews with the likes of Tindal Street Press, Michael Seal, Ian Emes, Paul Kaynes, Keri Davies, David Massingham and Rosie Kay
• The film strand at the Crescent Theatre is usually good too.

I’ll be spending Saturday in the Dancing for the Games-sponsored Dance Marquee before nipping off to the (not Artsfest-affiliated) The Boat That OxJamBrum Rocked, returning to catch the end of Classical Fantasia.

Looking at that list it’s mainly the bigger names that have stood out, which means there’s probably loads of decent stuff I’ve missed – let me know if you’ve got any recommendations.

There’s a bigger point to be made behind this. It’s kinda obvious but I might write it up sooner or later.

And it’s not just that I couldn’t think what to write about today (although that too).

This programme, an extension of our Board Bank initiative, is a bold and unique programme aimed at the UK’s brightest corporate prodigies. Our goal is to detect the best up-and-coming talents that British business has to offer and place them on the boards of leading arts charities in the UK.

With full governance training, access to an experience mentor and development support, the programme is open to 18-30 year olds.

If you think this could be beneficial and you’d like to give it a shot visit the website for more information, or contact Carolyn Pugh at carolyn.pugh@artsandbusiness.org.uk or call 0121 248 1200

The festival runs this weekend, from Fri – Sun, and is the biggest free arts and culture festival in the UK, with around 600 performing, visual and digital artists at events taking place all across the city.

I would give you a run down of everything happening, but there are heaps of events, performances, screenings, workshops and all sorts of goings-on, so I’m not even going to attempt it. Chris did, however, mention a few things to look out for the other week.

Arts Council England has opened a consultation on the priorities for the arts over the coming decade.

They want your views to help form a 10-year strategic framework with long-term goals for each artform and find new ways to help those they fund already. Alan Davey, chief executive of Arts Council England, has this to say:

If we are to succeed in supporting art and artists, creativity and excellence, we must identify the key long-term goals that drive our decision-making, our investment priorities and our relationships with artists and audiences.

This consultation sets out our understanding of the current landscape, celebrates the success of the arts and identifies areas for development over the next ten years.

The consultation closes on 14 April 2010, so if you want your voice to be heard and your input used, you can complete the Arts Council’s questionnaire here. For more information on the process and background to the consultation, take a look at the Arts Council website here.

Still, I did make it along to the Arts & Business Awards. The special guest was Patrick Stewart (who walked, not teleported on stage – disappointing) and the winners were:

• Community Award – EC-Arts & National Express Coach
• Cultural Branding Award – Stan’s Cafe & AE Harris (Birmingham) Ltd
• Museum, Libraries and Archives Award – Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust & Inchscape Motors Shrewsbury
• People Development Award – Holte Visual & Performing Arts College, St Francis Primary School & Signet Trading Ltd
• Sustained Partnership Award – Sinfonia ViVA & Rolls Royce plc
• Young People Award – County Youth Arts & Balfour Beatty Capital
• Business Volunteer of the Year Award – Colin Wells from Prologic plc & Multistory (also winner of the Champion of Champions Award)

Congrats to all of them.

After that I wandered down to the Sunflower Lounge for Gallery of Owl’s ‘All You Can Eat Zine’ which was fantastic – billed as ‘a night of Zines, comics, small press, music and performance’. It provided all of that as well as a palpable sense of

I didn’t stay for that long, but long enough to catch Richard Peel‘s entertaining performance of Dracula, have a chat with Claire from ATTA grrl a buy a couple of zines (ATTA grrl and Girls Who Draw, since you asked). There was a good turnout, a great atmosphere and the excitement of knowing there’s loads of interesting stuff going on around the city.

Here’s what I picked up:

And check out the hand stamp too – easily the best one I’ve had in a while: