Posts Tagged ‘ event ’

What ‘culture’ do you do?

Brum is, as you’ll no doubt be aware, is bidding to be UK City of Culture 2013. The final bid has to be in in May and getting a full picture of what culture is for Birmingham is and important part of it. We’ve already had Cliff Richard and heavy metal ballet suggested — but what do people actually get up to? One idea to capture that is to let everyone contribute to a one day celebration of all Birmingham’s cultural activity. For 24 hours from midday on Friday 23rd April to midday on Saturday 24th anyone can blog anything cultural they’re doing on the bid website (it’ll be at http://birminghamculture.org/blog) — you contribute via email. Anything sent to blog@birminghamculture.org will make the site — pictures video or audio included. I think this is the opportunity to show all that stuff that’s going on that doesn’t usually get publicity — culture is a pretty wide thing; are you watching football and singing? In a book club, out doing some parkour? All three at the same time? From the grottiest punk gig to the, er, soppiest punk gig, it’d be good if someone was there and recording it in some...

Flatpack – part of the furniture

Brum’s (perhaps the World’s) best film festival starts today — I’m off to the Stephen Duffy film on Sunday at least. But here’s some recommendations from other people Danny Smith (more here): “Down Terrace – Friday 26 march Normally I stay away from anything that even resembles a kitchen sink drama having been inoculated against the allure of grey bleak humanity by growing up in a house with EastEnders on every single day. But when you introduce Ben Wheatly (him what did Ideal and Modern Toss) and tense crime plot then I have to say I’m a little more than intrigued.” & PixieSixer from More Canals…: “Short Film Triple-Bill at VIVID on Thursday 25 March (6-10.30pm). With a selection of regionally made animated shorts, highlights from Shooting People’s Shooters Film of the Month competition, and an assortment of music videos and other shorts from London’s only weekly short film evening, Short and Sweet, it is sure to be a highly entertaining evening jam-packed with creative audiovisual goodness. And, what’s more, it’s free!” If you’ve got any yourself I’m sure we’d be glad to hear them.

Part of the build up to Brum’s City of Culture bid is the Canvas Birmingham site, where people can either say what culture they enjoy in the city or suggest odd ideas that they’d like to see. No idea is odder than the concept of a week long play version of a Cliff Richards film, but that’s what I wanted. Fierce have produced a ‘fantasy’ festival programme — which features some of the best ideas, including a giant sculpture of Spaghetti made out of spaghetti and art on the buses (go see it all here). And the Cliff Richards play: By the way, if you still haven’t seen the film it’s online here. It did amuse me a lot to see how the Mail couldn’t really cope with the idea of a ‘fantasy’ brochure and think that the ideas are going to happen.

The 4am Project would like to invite you to a very special 4am photography event in Birmingham. This event is going to be held at the Bodies Revealed Exhibition at the Custard Factory, and there are 100 FREE tickets for this event! Please visit EventBrite to register for your free ticket(s). “BODIES REVEALED the incredible exhibition about the amazing and complex machine we call the human body. Using real human specimens, painstakingly prepared and respectfully displayed, BODIES REVEALED lets visitors of all ages explore deep within the human body.” What is the 4am Project? The 4am Project, a worldwide community experience, aims to capture a time of day that many people rarely see. Brainchild of UK photographer Karen Strunks, and building on the ever growing phenomenon of social media, the 4am Project is an exercise in global solidarity to encourage the sharing of visual imagery that reflects the world we live in. Utilising Flickr, the web space for sharing images, photographers around the world will be leaving the cosy confines of their beds to create a shared online gallery that illustrates the strange and wonderful life that goes on while we sleep. How to take part: You can get...

American cartoonist and underground comix artist Gilbert Shelton is going to be in Brum on Friday November 13th at Nostalgia & Comics. He’s the bloke who did The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers (which is being made into a stop motion film), and the spin off series Fat Freddy’s Cat. He has also contributed to Wonder Wart-Hog, Not Quite Dead, and is also well known in some circles for his cover art to The Grateful Dead’s 1978 album Shakedown Street. Knockabout Comics have just published The Fat Freddy’s Cat Omnibus and they also have The Freak Brothers Omnibus available., and Nostalgia & Comics is welcoming Gilbert to sign both books between 4.00 & 5.30. It’s at 14 –16 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham, B5 4EN. For further details: 0121 643 0143 or noscomic@noscomic.plus.com

It was an absolute pleasure to have the chance to photos of UB40 at their Raise The Roof gig at The Rainbow in Digbeth this week. UB40 came back to their roots gave their support to The Rainbow because it is under threat as it has received a noise abatement order from local residents (or resident). Although the landlord Kent Davis has agreed to build a noise insulating roof, there was still more funding needed. UB40 stepped in, and the sales from the tickets and takings behind the bar will go towards the new roof. Digbeth is a vital part of Birmingham’s cultural scene and the music in and around the area plays an important role. I hope that The Rainbow has managed to raise all the funding needed. As the local saying goes “Keep Digbeth Vibrant!” There are some more photographs from the gig over on my blog. Have a great weekend! See you next Friday :)

Reaching out from beyond the grave…… Sorry, that’s a rubbish intro! But have you heard what has come to town?! It’s the controversial Bodies Revealed exhibition and it’s being held at the Custard Factory in Digbeth. From the website: Using real human specimens, painstakingly prepared and respectfully displayed The Bodies Revealed exhibition lets visitors of all ages explore deep within the human body in a way that informs but doesn’t overwhelm. It opens today and is running until January, maybe longer if the demand is there. I got a sneak preview of the exhibition at the press day on Wednesday, and it really is a unique way to view and learn more about the human body. I found it fascinating and a bit surreal. If you would like to see more photos, pop over to my blog. It’s was very interesting subject to photograph, if not a little unnerving when I found myself getting a little too close to one of the bodies…..! Have a fab Halloween weekend! See you next week :)

Remember, remember the 5th of November! If you fancy a party of light and fire this Bonfire night, head over to Pype Hayes Park in Erdington. You are promised a firework spectacular, a magnificent bonfire and a huge fun fair. It’s a great autumnal night out. And it’s all FREE! (Well, you have to pay for the funfair rides) Parking isn’t that great around the area, though you may be lucky and get a space nearby if you get there early enough but there is free parking at The Fort shopping centre with a shuttle bus leaving from outside WHSmith. Buses 28 and 67 will also get you there. 5pm – Gates/funfair open 7pm – Bonfire lighting 8pm – Fireworks and music 10pm – Event ends On another note, I’m pleased to announce my new website! Have a look, save it in your favourites, subscribe to updates with RSS and say hello! :) Have a great weekend!

Birmingham’s always been a place for stirring up a bit of trouble, a bit of controversy, enjoying a frisson of something a little bit special from Joseph Priestley defending the revolutionaries in France and having to flee the city to The Winterval Debacle to the decision to take away our HP sauce and make it somewhere else. I love how Birmingham opens it’s heart to everyone who visits the city and gives them a warm welcome. I love it’s arts scene, it’s creative community and the city has (another) long tradition of innovation in the arts. I’m quite excited about a new Arts festival that’s about to spread out over the whole city & take over. SHOUT is a festival of LGBT art, music, dance, theatre and sport. It also has a dollop of political and community activity. (There is literally something for everyone and if you can’t see something that doesn’t stir an emotion you need to check your pulse) The festival has come about through a number of key partnerships between the LGBT community, arts organisations and lots of dedicated volunteers and they’ve pulled together a really diverse and exciting programme. For full listings of events you...

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Posts Tagged ‘ event ’

What ‘culture’ do you do?

Flatpack – part of the furniture

Making it up as we go along

Friday Photo by Karen Strunks

Fat Freddy’s Bloke

Friday Photo by Karen Strunks

Friday Photo by Karen Strunks

Friday Photo by Karen Strunks

Get ready to shout!- some highlights.

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