Art of Ideas kicks off towards the end of this week, the four day event will celebrate the cultural life of Birmingham, with a series of talks, exhibitions and related events held at various galleries and institutions around Birmingham.

We’ve already mentioned a few of the associated events such as The Witching Hour and In Conversation with Brian Griffin and Stuart Whipps, so here are some of the other highlights…

12 November: Grand Union Event,
7.30pm – late

Launching the new Grand Union Editions, patrons scheme, plus an artists talk will be given by Jamie Shovlin on his current exhibition, Hiker Meat, along with Mike Harte and Euan Rodger.

Places must be booked, so e-mail Grand Union to reserve your spot.

12 November: What is an art collector?
6.30 – 8.30pm at Ikon

13 November: The Future of Public Collections, Collecting and Spending £1m.
6.30 – 8.30pm at Ikon

13 November: In conversation with… Paul Hedge (Director of Hales Gallery, London)
3 – 5pm, New Art Gallery Walsall (free event, no booking required).

14 November: Brokerage, Endorsement and Representation.
3 – 5pm at the Lecture Theatre, BIAD, Margaret Street

Unless stated otherwise, e-mail or call 0121 248 1200 to book your place for these events.

Artists Clinics

Art of Ideas have also teamed up with Business Link West Midlands to deliver a series of development workshops aimed at new and emerging artists. They will look at how artists can increase their income through alternative routes to market.

mac: 12 November, 11am – 1pm
Wolverhampton Art Gallery: 18 November, 10am – noon
mac: 19 November, 11am – 1pm

Places for this must be booked, e-mail or call 0845 113 1234. Places are limited.

Jennifer Tee: Local Myths at Eastside Projects
Exhibition continues to 6 November 2010

Eastside Projects presents the first UK solo show by Amsterdam-based artist Jennifer Tee, including existing sculptures, and a 3.5 metre tall carved marble column that will be a long-term work in the gallery, eventually to be located in a permanent site in the Eastside area.

AVPD: Hitchcock Hallway at Ikon Eastside
Exhibition continues to 14 November 2010

Ikon Eastside presents Hitchcock Hallway, an installation by Danish artist duo AVPD, whose work typically consists of complex spatial and perceptual experiments that analyse the ways in which people respond to their environments.

Jamie Shovlin: Hiker Meat at Grand Union
Exhibition continues to 13 November 2010

Grand Union is proud to present an exhibition of new work by London-based artist Jamie Shovlin. His latest project Hiker Meat examines the degree to which a film director (or artist) has control over their works’ intended message, exploring the inherent tension within any creative endeavour.

An artist’s talk with Jamie Shovlin will take place on 12 November.

While I’m at it, I may as well give a mention to the other exhibitions which have recently opened at Ikon Brindley Place, Kitagawa Utamaro, Donald Judd and Anthony Goicolea, which are also running until 14 November.

• Poster and press release for Hiker Meat by Jamie Shovlin at Grand Union
• Supersonic flyer

Two organisations mailing their stuff out together – you’d think that sort of thing would happen more often. Looks like Grand Union will be staying open later during Supersonic too.