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10 April 2024: Collage Club Social

Think of it more like a studio or social than a formal workshop. I’ll be there to answer any questions and give you some tips, tricks and starting prompts but ultimately its a chance to play, have fun and create through cutting and pasting with collage. Any level of collage skill welcome! Even if you’ve never done any before- I can’t wait to introduce you!

Each session will have a slightly different theme where we explore different techniques and exercises. This session will be abstract themed! All materials are provided! There will be some shorter warm up exercises and time for longer prompted pieces.

Hosted by Jenny- a multidisciplinary creative and collage artist who revels in a hands-on approach using analogue mediums. The venue is Chai Ra Coffee House (formerly known as RA coffee) in Kings Heath. This independent cafe is kindly lending out their upstairs space to us! The coffee shop will be open as normal with hot and cold drinks available to purchase.

For tickets, which cost £11, go to Eventbrite Collage Club Social.

Andy Cheffings

I am a community musician and writer. I’m also part of Brum LGBTQ+ Writers.

Most recently I ran the Buddhist Choir in Malvern and I also did an impromptu inter-faith choir for one of the COP demonstrations in Birmingham City Centre during the period of Covid lockdowns (I did this under the Footsteps umbrella – Faiths for a Low Carbon Future – part of Birmingham Council of Faiths).

My musical specialism is inclusion and when I lived in Leicester I took part in, led and organised a number of inclusive performances, particularly at the Richard Attenborough Centre. My musical creed is that everyone has a musical voice worth hearing, so when I work towards a performance I do a lot of workshopping around improvisation and composition, so that everyone has a creative voice in the final piece.

Contact me: archeffings@gmail.com or 0121 459 2989

Hope for South Birmingham creatives and communities

Art Works is all set to grow its work with artists and communities despite the anticipated loss of funding from Birmingham City Council in 2024.

We hope to create a programme to develop artists in wellbeing, business and community skills during the spring and summer.

To date Art Works has been funded by the City Council. However, when councillors approved a Section 114 notice in September, we developed out plans to find ways of continuing our work without City Council support.

Earlier this year, we surveyed 57 creatives from many different backgrounds across South Birmingham. We discovered that 30 of you wanted help with basic business skills, 30 wanted to know how to work with community groups, 40 wanted help with marketing, 47 wanted to know how to apply for funding and 46 wanted to know how to be connected to the wider sector.

As a result we have devised a programme to meet this need and are pitching for Inclusive Communities funding to make it happen.  If we aren’t successful with that particular bid, we have other ideas of where to go for support.

We have every reason to be hopeful that during 2024, the neighbourhoods of Balsall Heath, Moseley, Kings Heath, Sparkbrook, Springfield, Sparkhill and Hall Green will be abuzz with the chatter of creatives learning new skills and growing in community.

Get to Springfield this half-term for family fun

Children can take part in free creative activities at the Springfield Centre, Sparkhill this half-term.

Get down there to make, play and be inspired at the Creative Families Festival. There will be artists, performances and workshops for you and your children aged between 0 and 11-years to explore your creativity and enjoy together.

The fun will be happening on Tuesday 31 October and Wednesday 1 November, 10am-3pm at The Springfield Centre, Springfield Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9NY.

Get your FREE TICKET from reception. Call them on 0121 777 2722 or email info@springfieldproject.org.uk with any questions

Art is there every morning – reflections from Art Works Hall Green AGM

Art is there every morning, a passport to unknown places, feel good and relaxing therapy leaving you feeling accomplished and liberated…

Art is there every morning, a passport to unknown places, feel good and relaxing therapy leaving you feeling accomplished and liberated…

Those were some of the things written by participants at the annual general meeting of Art Works Hall Green, held in Highfield Hall on Friday 21 July.

Together we wrote a poem about what art means to us

Art is

There every morning

A passport to unknown places

A feel good and relaxing therapy leaving you feeling accomplished and liberated

Art is an innate expression of one’s true self

A passport to unknown places

Art expresses meaning, gives meaning

An innate expression of one’s true self

A liberation of the senses

A feel good and relaxing therapy leaving you feeling accomplished and liberated

Soul to soul

A liberation of the senses

Art expresses meaning, gives meaning

Soul to soul

There every morning

We also looked at how we can support artists in pursuing meaningful creative careers and how we can make our neighbourhoods viable places to make art.

At the next Art Works Hall Green steering group, we will explore how to turn the numerous excellent ideas into our strategy for the coming years.

Watch this space.

16 September 2023: acrylic landscape painting workshop

Acrylic landscape painting workshop with Julia Borodina from the Sky Arts Landscape Artist series.

Julia Borodina, as seen in Sky Arts Landscape Artist series 7, will be doing an acrylic landscape painting workshop.

  • Saturday 16th September
  • 10.30am to 4pm
  • Chatterton Hall, Church of the Ascension, School Road, Birmingham B28 8JQ
  • Cost – £35

To book and to pay, please contact vicmartalben@blueyonder.co.uk. Details of what you need to bring, will be provided.

Pheeb Robinson

I’m a freelance illustrator and mural artist. I specialise in creating large-scale illustrations and murals that can transform blank walls into captivating visual narratives.

I’m a freelance illustrator and mural artist. I specialise in creating large-scale illustrations and murals that can transform blank walls into captivating visual narratives. Whether it’s a public space, office, or residential area, I have a passion for designing and executing murals that feature bright colours, bold shapes and playful characters.

Visit my website: Pheeb

Contact: pheebrobinson@gmail.com

21 July 2023: Art Works gathering and AGM

Event where we imagine together how we can nurture the arts within Balsall Heath, Moseley, Kings Heath, Sparkbrook, Springfield, Sparkhill and Hall Green.

Artists, makers, community convenors and those interested in the power of making art are invited to a space where we can share our work and what we would like to happen in the coming years.

The workshop and pot-luck lunch will be at Highfield Hall Community Centre, 127, 129 Highfield Rd, Hall Green, Birmingham B28 0HS on Friday 21 July from 10am to 1pm.

Book online via Eventbrite

Who we are

Art Works Hall Green connects artists, community groups and people who are passionate about the arts across the Hall Green Constituency. We want to see our neighbourhoods of Hall Green, Sparkbrook, Springfield, Balsall Heath, Moseley and Kings Heath thriving with creativity. We are made up of a voluntary steering group and a part-time coordinator, funded by Birmingham City Council.

Event agenda

  • Introduction to Art Works plus AGM (less than 20 minutes)
  • Making some art
  • Imagining future arts activities together
  • Sharing a pot-luck lunch

Questions we will be asking

  • How might we make our neighbourhoods viable places to make and create art?
  • How might we engage more people in community arts and making?
  • How might we ensure that local artists can pursue meaningful creative careers?
  • What do we want from this community and what can we give?

What to bring

  • Yourself, just as you are
  • Some food to be shared, if you would like to stay for lunch

Lever Arts

Lever Arts is a small organisation run by Gillian and Jake Lever in South Birmingham – a city they love for its heart, soul and super-diversity.

Lever Arts is a small organisation run by Gillian and Jake Lever in South Birmingham – a city they love for its heart, soul and super-diversity. Gillian is an artist who makes abstract paintings; Jake’s practice spans drawing, painting, printmaking and installation. As well as working to commission and creating exhibitions they devise participatory experiences in the areas of health, education and spirituality. They believe that art can offer a resource for centered living in a frantic and fractured world.

Visit our website: Lever Arts

Contact: glever@btinternet.com

Pathcarvers

Pathcarvers uses craft to help with mental and physical health and for positive social change.

Pathcarvers uses craft to help with mental and physical health and for positive social change.

We are based at The Old Print Works, 498 – 506 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, B12 9AH.

Visit our website: Pathcarvers

Contact: info@pathcarvers.co.uk

Sundragon Community Pottery

Sundragon Community Pottery offers classes for beginners and improvers in all pottery techniques.

Sundragon Community Pottery offers classes for beginners and improvers in all pottery techniques. We offer membership of our pottery studio, for those with enough experience to make under their own steam.

We are based at The Old Print Works and Moseley School of Art, Balsall Heath, B12 9AH.

Visit our website: Sundragon Community Pottery

Contact: Becky Belcher at becky@sundragonpottery.co.uk or on 07590 402633

Kinmos makes blossom with Art Works Hall Green

What does mental health look like? “There is no way that it looks in particular,” says Leah Anderson, volunteer coordinator with Kinmos. In July 2022, it looked like people making blossom in the sunshine and sticking it to a giant heart in Kings Heath Village Square.

Kinmos is a charity, based in Kings Heath, Birmingham, for people with lived experience of mental health. During the summer it worked with its members to create handmade blossoms. This process, which had been enjoyed by all, was then shared in the square with singing and face-painting too.

The event was part of the 10-11 project, in which a bus travelled the number 11 bus routes, stopping off at events hosted by each of Birmingham’s ten local arts forums.

Art Works Hall Green is one of those ten forums, which connects artists, community groups and people who are passionate about the arts in neighbourhoods of Hall Green, Sparkbrook, Springfield, Sparkhill, Balsall Heath, Moseley and Kings Heath.

Paid development opportunity for young people at Moseley Road Baths

Moseley Road Baths is looking for six young people to work with them on a steering group, for which they will be paid £200 per day.

Are you: 

  • Aged 18-30
  • Local to Balsall Heath (within a 15 minute radius on bus, bike or foot)
  • Have a desire to discover and tell the stories of Balsall Heath and Moseley Road Baths
  • Eager to build a network in Birmingham
  • Curious!

Then the Young Curators Steering Group Opportunity could be for you.

What is the Young Curators Steering Group?

It’s a paid opportunity for six young people aged 18-30 in Balsall Heath to form a Steering Group. As part of the Steering Group, you will have the chance to discover new and/or respond to already collected stories related to the Baths and Balsall Heath. With support from a mix of our staff team and experts from our wider network you will be provided with the skills, resources and agency to decide how you want to explore each story with your chosen audiences and communities. 

The aim is to ensure that young people are represented and feel ownership of Moseley Road Baths’ and their own future by exploring the past and present.

This is a 6-month commitment in which participants will be paid £1200 for 6 days of work (approx 1 day per month). The group will decide when they work, including when they have skill-based sessions. 

Find out more: Young Curators of Moseley Road Baths

We blossomed with Kinmos and the National Trust in Kings Heath Park

Art Works Hall Green and Kinmos came together with the National Trust to host a Blossom Picnic in Kings Heath Park in April.

We were celebrating the planting of blossom trees in Kings Heath Park, as part of the National Trust’s blossom project. The National Trust has been working with communities along the number 11 bus route to create a ring of blossom around the city.

In January, ten cherry blossom trees were planted in the park, as part of the project, with the help of Friends of Kings Heath Park.

Kinmos, which works with people with lived experience of mental health, had previously taken part by creating a beautiful blossom heart that was hung on a tree.

At the Blossom Picnic, around 60 people came together to celebrate with face-painting and mask-making with artists Rachael Hawkins, Mitch Schofield and Claudeine Turner-Schofield.  There was drumming with Damon Wilding.  Dennis the Menace and Captain America were there too…

How we blossomed

9 May 2023: Spread your Wings – wellbeing course for young women

Spread your wings

Spread your Wings is a creativity and wellbeing drama project for young women aged 18-25 with mental health support needs.

Participants will work over seven sessions, starting on Tuesday 9 May, to create characters and a story using lots of creative processes including fabric printing with natural dyes, and designing costume jewellery to represent their character. Jewellery making will be led by acclaimed artist, Farwa Moledina.

They will then record a short video portrait each, in character and wearing their item of costume, and these will fit together to tell a story. Our eight session will be a sharing of the videos and artwork.

Participants will also have the opportunity to complete a Discovery Level Arts Award as part of the project.

The sessions will be held on Mondays at the EcoPark, Hob Moor Road, Small Heath – a beautiful, natural setting.

Our approach

We will be using Systemic Constellations, an individual and group therapy technique to create a safe space and gently connect with our participants, and this approach will underpin the whole project. Our lead facilitator, Maria Pattinson, is a theatre director as well as a qualified and experienced Systemic Constellations practitioner.

Who we are

Spread your Wings is delivered by Mimar Collective CIC in partnership with the Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSNHSMHFT) at EcoPark Small Heath.

Mimar Collective CIC is a community arts organisation serving diverse audiences in inner city Birmingham through an integrated arts and wellbeing approach.

The BSMHNHSFT will manage the registration process. It is asking for referrals of young people who will most benefit from this programme.

Further information

If you know of a young woman who could benefit from this programme, call 07985 883324 or email claireterrington@nhs.net.

Blossom picnic in the park

We’re teaming up with Kinmos, The National Trust and our wider Local Arts Forum family as ‘Number 11 Arts’ to host a picnic in Kings Heath Park this April.

We’re teaming up with Kinmos, The National Trust and our wider Local Arts Forum family as ‘Number 11 Arts’ to host a picnic in Kings Heath Park this April.

Pack a picnic and join us for drumming, crafting, facepainting and family fun.  We’re crossing everything that the blossom will be out and the sun will be shining!  Look out for the gazebo!

Saturday 15th April
11:00am-1:00pm
Kings Heath Park

The GAP Arts Project – Development & Operations Manager

We’re looking to fill this linchpin role, to work alongside The GAP team on the exciting developments ahead as a new NPO.

We’re looking to fill this linchpin role, to work alongside The GAP team on the exciting developments ahead as a new NPO.

Working as a senior member of the team, you’ll be helping to steer the organisation through a crucial period of growth and transition. You will be a successful fundraiser, a strategic thinker, a passionate enabler and a highly organised operations manager, supporting our creative team to deliver high-quality projects and arts programming for marginalised young people. Applications close 3 April.

Secret City Arts – Making micro-films

Secret City Arts is seeking a creative individual with an interest in using social media creatively to share content  from our new project Well Being Brew! 

Secret City Arts is seeking a creative individual with an interest in using social media creatively to share content  from our new project Well Being Brew! 

 Your task will be to capture moments and snippets from a series of participatory workshops creating micro films/reels (each around 1 minute long) to communicate and share via Instagram and other social media platforms.  These micro films will widen the reach of the project, communicating its processes and outcomes.

You’ll need to attend six half-day workshops with adult participants, where we will be sharing storytelling activities, brewing teas from different herbal materials, doing creative journalling and other activities for wellbeing, indoors and outdoors. 

Workshops will be held mostly afternoons 2-4pm April-July in and around Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12. 

Specific dates will be 
Mon 24th April 2-4pm
and Mon 10th July 2-4pm

plus four other dates tbc from this list: 
Tues 25th April
Tues 9th May
Mon 15th May
Mon 22nd May
Tues 23rd May
Mon 12 June
Mon 19th June
Mon 26th June
Mon 3rd July

You will use a phone, talblet or camera to document activities, offering a close focus, and capturing an informal sense of immediacy in the moment.  

You will need to work sensitively with participants who may not wish to be identified in the films (ie showing hands, materials etc, rather than faces etc).

There may be opportunities to encourage participants to use their phones to create their own micro-films too, sharing skills and building confidence. 

Your work will be shared via Instagram and other social media, and will be credited within the project’s details, and your micro-films will contribute to the overall project outcome.

This is a supporting artist role so the fee for attending 6x 2hour workshops and creating a series of micro-films/reels is £300. 

Please email your brief CV or statement about why you would be suitable for the role and a sample of short digital films or social media postings you have created, to give us a sense of your work. 

Deadline for applications is 12pm Wednesday 5th April.

Interviews will be held on Monday 17th April via Zoom.