As part of Yto Barrada’s exhibition at Ikon and in collaboration with Birmingham’s independent Flatpack Festival, Slow Boat opens as a cinematheque for three weekends during May and June.

Full listings are coming soon but keep on eye on the Ikon website for info.

A group of artists from across the UK are descending on Birmingham’s great Perrotts Folly in partnership with Trident Reach the People Charity part of the Trident Housing Group

There have been a few things at Perrotts Folly over the years – Ikon have done a few shows there, at least – but I’ve yet to get down there for anything. Maybe this time. The artists involved include Alexis Soul-Gray, Eleanor Pearce, Alex Carr, Fiona Eastwood,Gaetan Sigonney, Caroline Underwood, Hannah Turner Duffin and Elizabeth Jordan, with texts contributed by Charlotte Levine and Jonathan Orlek. More info via Redstart Project.

are a Design and Fabrication Workshop based in Birmingham, UK.

Recent projects have included the design and fit out of a canal boat for Ikon Gallery, the Design & Fabrication of a modular wall system for Eastside Projects, the fabrication of a giant kite for Heather & Ivan Morison .

And here’s a very lovely film about that kite, called Little Shining Man.

Little Shining Man from Queen & Crawford on Vimeo.

a four-day celebration of Birmingham’s creative life showcasing the city’s artists, filmmakers and musicians. Ikon’s gallery spaces will exclusively exhibit works created in Birmingham, also hosting some of our best-known music festivals and organisations in a programme of live performances

The list of people involved includes Oliver Beer, Stephen Earl Rogers (below is a painting from his What To Do In An Emergency series of paintings), 7 Inch Cinema, Moseley Folk Festival (presenting Treetop Flyers), Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Capsule and others. There’s a PDF press release with more info here.

Working with galleries: part 1 is an informal and practical discussion with Ikon Gallery director Jonathan Watkins, providing insight into how relationships and working processes develop between artists, curators and public art galleries. Using Birmingham-based and international artists as examples, Jonathan will discuss how these working relationships begin, progress and develop and will also talk about his experiences as a selection panel member for art prizes, exhibitions and commissions. This is a rare opportunity for you to find out how large art institutions operate and there will also be time for your questions.

Via We Are Eastside.

SEARCH ENGINE

Starting next Monday is Grand Union‘s six-week open residency programme, which will run from 21 March – 30 April 2011. Three artist groups have been invited to work in the project space for two weeks each, starting with Manu Luksch & Mukul Patel.

MANU LUKSCH & MUKUL PATEL, Kayak Libre <<free thinking, free transport>>

Thursday 24 March, 6-9 pm: Opening
Artists’ talk at Grand Union, 6.30 pm
Screening of shorts by Manu Luksch at VIVID , 9 pm

Thursday 24 Mar – Sunday 27 March:
WATER TAXI available to book from 19 March.
For booking please contact info@grand-union.org.uk

Saturday 2 April, 12-2 pm: Final open workshop

Behna (Sisters)

This unique and intimate theatre production by Kali Theatre will be performed in the kitchens of Punjabi households across the Black Country from 22 March to 15 April.

It’s the day before a wedding, Ladies’ Sangeet Night, in a Punjabi household. The bride is having her henna done and the guests are busy eating, singing and dancing. But in the kitchen, sibling jealousy simmers alongside the samosas.  Fast-paced, funny and moving, Behna takes a look through the keyhole of a family house to reveal the secrets and lies of two generations of sisters.

For more information and to book tickets, visit The Public’s website.

One, Nineteen

One, Nineteen from local ‘Archers’ writer, Tim Stimpson, is on at The Old Joint Stock Theatre on 18 & 19 March.

19th January: Freak storms bring devastating floods to the English coast, but before the rescue effort arrives, the media are already in town spinning their story. A play about the power of the news, the strength of the government, the question of climate change, and of course, and the search for Sam, Jack and little Chloe…

After premiering in London, it was given a 4 star review from Time Out, so it’s probably worth a watch.

For more info and how to book tickets, visit The Old Joint Stock’s website.

LUNÄ Talks

Ikon and the Lunar Society present this series of evening talks revisiting themes discussed by the original 18th century Lunar Society within a contemporary context.

The next talk is happening on Wednesday 23 March, from 7 – 9pm and focuses on Education. The panel of speakers looks a bit like this:

Felicity Allen: Artist, writer, educator. Former Head of Learning, Tate Britain (2003-10). www.felicityallen.co.uk

Nancy Evans: Education Manager Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, freelance musician and trainer working in early years education

Colin Gale: Head of School of Fashion and Textiles and Course Director for MA Textiles, Fashion & Surface Design, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design

Kate Iles: PhD student, University of Birmingham; Constructing the 18th Century woman; The life and education of Sabrina Sidney

For more information on the future talks, entitled ‘Urban design and regeneration’ and ‘Medicine and science’, visit Ikon’s website.

Tickets cost £10 (£8 concessions), to book call Ikon Shop on 0121 248 0711.

The large exhibition space at the heart of Digbeth, has provided the perfect setting for large-scale work, video and events over the past few years. It’s hosted work by internationally recognised artists, including Andy Warhol, Damián Ortega, Józef Robakowski and Siobhan Davies Dance.

Rites of Spring, a three day music festival featuring Turner Prize winner Martin Creed, Modified Toy Orchestra and Epic45 will be the last event held at Ikon Eastside, from 7 – 9 April.

We are extremely saddened to be losing Ikon Eastside, but our commitment to bringing internationally recognised art to the city is unwavering. Looking to the future, our goal remains to create a permanent museum of contemporary art for Birmingham.

– Jonathan Watkins, Ikon Director

It’s not all sad news though, since Ikon are intending to keep up their involvement with the Eastside district, focusing instead on site-specific events and promoting cultural regeneration through their membership of the Eastside Contemporary Art Consortium. Their current study into the feasibility of this permanent museum, (‘Ikon Two’) also remains unaffected.

Marjolijn Dijkman
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theatre of the World)
The first UK solo exhibition of work by Dutch artist Marjolijn Dijkman, featuring archival works, video, animation, sculpture and an installation inspired by the dining table of Soho House, Birmingham, the 18th century meeting place of the Lunar Society.

Robert Orchardson
Endless façade
The first European museum exhibition of works by Robert Orchardson (born Glasgow 1976, based in London), an artist who makes sculptures inspired by science fiction and futuristic design.

Rabbya Nasser and Hurmat Ul Ain
White as Snow
Pakistani artists Rabbya Naseer and Hurmat Ul Ain present White as Snow (2008), a video short that challenges assumptions about women in the Islamic world.

This Saturday 29 Jan, Ikon will be hosting a free creative writing workshop in Erdington, joined by acclaimed writer Mandy Ross.

Inspired by historical photographs of nineteenth century Erdington resident Sir Benjamin Stone, creative writers and storytellers are invited to explore stories behind these photographs.

Ikon have had a rummage through the archives and collected images from the turn of the 20th century, including the Erdington orphanage, a society afternoon tea, agricultural workers and the inner workings of Big Ben.

All ages are welcome to drop by, with no booking needed. The workshop with take place from 12 – 3pm at Erdington Library, Orphanage Road, Erdington.

If you can’t make it on Saturday, fear not, Ikon are returning to Erdington in a few weeks, with another workshop on 19 February.