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

Monica Perez Vega

Monica Perez Vega is an artist-curator and educator whose work explores ideas of uncertainty and adaptation.

Monica Perez Vega is an artist-curator and educator whose work explores ideas of uncertainty and adaptation.

She is originally from California, but has lived in Montreal, Amsterdam, London and currently Birmingham, UK. Her experiences of continually starting over have led to a process which investigates cycles of change.

Monica has an MFA in painting from the Slade School of Fine Art and a BFA in painting and drawing from the California College of the Arts. In 2016, she co-founded Hiraeth Magazine and Podcast and in 2020, she founded Small Works Art Gallery. Recent exhibitions include Beep Painting Biennial 2022 in Swansea/ Weary Harold at ASC Gallery in London 2022/ Wild Grapes at Unit 3 Project Space, London 2021/ ArtWorks Open 2020 at Barbican Arts Group Trust in London/ RBSA Prize Exhibition 2020 in Birmingham/ ‘To the Trees,’ solo exhibition at SUPA Gallery, Birmingham (Online).

Monica has experience teaching art to all ages. She taught IB Visual Art and Design for five years at the International School of Hilversum, Netherlands. She taught art and design at Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst. As an associate artist for Ikon Gallery, she led an after school art club with students at the Small Heath Leadership Academy in response to the Hew Locke commission. she also led Ikon’s first virtual Family Saturday Art Workshop during lockdown and facilitated an in-person outdoor workshop for adults. Additionally, in 2021, she was guest artist/ workshop leader for the Gallery 37 artist residency with Punch Records at Centrala Gallery in Birmingham.

Website: www.monicaperezvega.com

Instagram: @monicaperezvega

Address: The Old Print Works, Balsall Heath

E-mail address: info@monicaperezvega.com

Sophia Moffa

Sophia Moffa’s practice is focused on the connections between the plant kingdom and society, commenting on contemporary issues of privilege and inequalities within society.

Sophia Moffa’s practice is focused on the connections between the plant kingdom and society, commenting on contemporary issues of privilege and inequalities within society.

She uses natural found materials which she sources within the urban green spaces, creating works that often transforms in parallel with the seasons in the city where she lives. Her work is influenced by the belief that we live in an oversaturated environment, which clouds and persistently feeds the mind. Due to this, her works are cyclical, temporary, and sustainable.

Moffa often works collaboratively with artists across different countries to build on a more collaborative art world and practice. This year she also set up “the travellers’ tree” a CIC which runs art workshops in nature for asylum seekers living in hostels across the West Midlands. Merging art, physical activities, and nature together to enable refugees to have a safe space to express themselves. She has run workshops for the Canal & River Trust, Super Slow Ways, Amal and the New Art Gallery Walsall.

Website: www.sophiamoffa.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/s_moffa

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiamoffa/

E-mail: moffasophia@gmail.com

The Travellers’ Tree

A community interest group bringing art, cycling and nature together for asylum seekers in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

A community interest group bringing art, cycling and nature together for asylum seekers in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Website: sophiamoffa.com/the-travellers-tree

Twitter: https://twitter.com/travellers_cic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_travellers_tree/

E-mail: travellerstree.cic@gmail.com

Darkroom Birmingham

Analogue photography facilities and project space. Since 2012 we’ve been running photography courses, offering use of darkroom facilities, putting on exhibitions and delivering projects.

Analogue photography facilities and project space. Since 2012 we’ve been running photography courses, offering use of darkroom facilities, putting on exhibitions and delivering projects.

Website: www.darkroombirmingham.co.uk

Twitter: @darkroombirming

Instagram: @darkroombirmingham

Facebook: @darkroommbirmingham

Address: The Old Print Works, 506-8 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, B12 9AH

E-mail: info@darkroombirmingham.co.uk

Phone: 07779 159 217

Sonal’s Art

I am an artist, mainly working in acrylics, watercolor, oil paints, resin, alcohol ink.

I am an artist, mainly working in acrylics, watercolour, oil paints, resin, alcohol ink.

I take online kids art classes, half term painting workshops in Cartland Tea Room, Kings Heath and Creative Coffee Hub on Raddlebarn Road. I have participated in Birmingham Open Studios and various art fairs.

Contact: Sonal Gajbe

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonalgajbe/

E-mail: sonaldewle@gmail.com

Phone: 07954 144 734

Sharonjit Sutton

I am a Birmingham based multi-disciplinary artist and graphic designer who is interested in exploring the communal benefits of art, craft and design.

I am a Birmingham based multi-disciplinary artist and graphic designer who is interested in exploring the communal benefits of art, craft and design. A large part of my creative practice over the past two years has been working on educational, heritage, arts and community projects in the West Midlands, where marginalised communities benefit from the outcomes – such as having a platform to share their stories and/or access creative outlets that are not usually accessible to them.

Website: www.designsloading.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ideasloading/

E-mail address: sutton0sharon@gmail.com

General Public

General Public is the collaborative platform of artists Elizabeth Rowe and Chris Poolman. Broadly speaking, they devise large scale public art projects that incorporate elements of fiction, myth-making, local history re-invention and heritage rebooting.

General Public is the collaborative platform of artists Elizabeth Rowe and Chris Poolman. Broadly speaking, they devise large scale public art projects that incorporate elements of fiction, myth-making, local history re-invention and heritage rebooting.

Often this process involves re-working or inverting an established model or institutional structure. Their approach is interdisciplinary and collaborative: they produce artworks (writing, film, print), devise collaborative frameworks, organise events, curate / commission other artists.

Previous projects have included:

  • a re-interpretation of the biennale concept in inner-city Birmingham (Balsall Heath Biennale 2011 – 2013),
  • a science fiction themed light festival exploring the politics of regeneration (Longbridge Light Festival, 2014),
  • a community competition resulting in 4000 new coins for an inner city area of Birmingham (Handsworth Currency Competition 2014 -15)
  • an 18-month strategic touring exhibition that uses the migratory movements of hop-pickers as the conceptual basis for a tour (The Hop Project 2016-17).
  • In 2017/18, they conceived & produced The Endless Village, an apocalyptic sitcom that investigates life in an imagined post-Brexit Britain of the future. This was presented as exhibitions at Eastside Projects and Aspex Portsmouth.
  • Over the 2018 summer holidays they delivered the ‘Heathland Festival, a ‘children’s festival of ideas’ that occurred at Birmingham Community libraries.
  • During 2019/20, they were artists in residence at the University of Birmingham where they developed ‘The Pomology Project’ (a reimagining of British orchard traditions in an urban context).
  • Their current project Let Us Play explores the history of the Adventure Playground movement in Birmingham. The oral histories and archive material generated through the project will be presented in 2021 as part of a series of exhibitions, events and a publication.

Website: www.generalpublic.org.uk

Address: 69 Station Road, Kings Heath, B14 7SS

E-mail: generalpublicprojects@gmail.com

Phone: 07769 530 557

Hall Green Art Society

A local society whose members meet to paint, discuss art and develop their skills through a varied programme of demonstrations, workshops and exhibitions. Artists of all abilities very welcome.

A local society whose members meet to paint, discuss art and develop their skills through a varied programme of demonstrations, workshops and exhibitions. Artists of all abilities very welcome.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hallgreenart

Address: Meetings at Chatterton Hall, 93b School Road, Hall Green, B28 8JQ. Exhibitions usually in Moseley, Kings Heath or Hall Green.

E-mail: mandywearing@btinternet.com

Phone: 0121 778 3811

Jane Thakoordin

I am a participatory artist, working mainly in textiles. I combine my creative skills and knowledge with my background (& current work) in adult mental health social work.

I combine my creative skills and teaching to run an arts practice that is rooted in coproduction, therapeutic mental health and trauma informed and socially engaged.

I mentor and am an associate artist with GAP Arts. I have a community studio space at TOPW where I create protest banners.

I qualified with a degree in Visual Arts from Lancaster University and have many years experience of reseaching, facilitating and evaluating arts projects, workshops and events.

Following a career as an arts administrator, I built on my community arts experience by qualifying in Social Work from Glasgow University. I went onto to manage a number of community based mental health services both in Glasgow, and more recently in Birmingham. I have a commitment to creativity and engagement and have been recognised nationally for my work in creative approaches to organsiational change and consultation. I deliver learning and engagement opportunities  with diverse groups of adults, young people and older adults.

Appearance

I am founder of Birmingham Artivistas – combining creativity and political activism- two elements both very close to Jane’s heart.​

In 2016, I established The Black and Blue Collective a collaborative live arts organisation that works in co-production with artists and people with lived experience of mental health issues

Website: www.janethakoordin.com

E-mail: thakoordin@gmail.com

The GAP

All activities aims to work with young people and local communities to make make sense of the world using creative and cultural action.

All activities aims to work with young people and local communities to make make sense of the world using creative and cultural action. There is a combination of one of projects that use a variety of art forms appropriate for the subject, and also one off events that are hosted by either the organisation or members of the community.

Address: The GAP, 498 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, B12 9AH

Website: www.thegapartsproject.co.uk

E-mail: arron@thegapartsproject.co.uk

Instagram: @the____gap

Twitter: @the____gap

Facebook: @TheGAPArtsProject

Sajida Asif

Sajida Asif is a Birmingham born artist based in Moseley.

Sajida Asif is a Birmingham born artist based in Moseley.

After graduating with a Master’s degree in Fine Art, Sajida held exhibitions of her work both locally and abroad, with previous exhibitions held in Amsterdam, Walsall New Art Gallery, a six week solo exhibition in Winterbourne Coach House Gallery, Birmingham and other West Midlands and Birmingham based galleries such as Direct Art Action, The Art Yard and Moseley Exchange.

Sajida has carried out lots of commissioned projects with schools and other organisations. These projects have involved murals, fabric hangings and art, painted benches with the Big Read and an outdoor public piece as part of Stechford Art Trail in Birmingham. Sajida has also been commissioned to create tapestries for Birmingham’s Soho House Museum.

Sajida has worked with many different mediums and art forms. Recently Sajida has also begun creating quilts and tapestries as mediums used to explore history, culture and heritage. Sajida has carried out lots of artist workshops with adults and young people through working with Birmingham Centre for Art Therapies.

Craft, Fine Art, Visual Arts

Website: https://saj-art.wixsite.com/sajida-asif

E-mail: sajidaasif925@msn.com

Phone: 07875 031 574

Helena de Reybekill

Visual artist currently focussed on painting vibrant geometric mandalas which have often been said to remind individuals of kaleidoscope imagery. I also make upcycled crotched rag rugs.

Visual artist currently focussed on painting vibrant geometric mandalas which have often been said to remind individuals of kaleidoscope imagery. I also make upcycled crotched rag rugs.

Fine Art, Visual Arts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenadereybekill

E-mail: helena_de_reybekill@hotmail.com

Phone: 07845 591 605

Ort Gallery

Ort Gallery is an artist-led space in Birmingham with the social mission to facilitate dialogue in the community.

Ort Gallery is an artist-led space in Birmingham with the social mission to facilitate dialogue in the community.

(picture credit Marcin Sz, artwork by Leah Gordon)

Website: http://ortgallery.co.uk/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrtGallery

Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/OrtGallery/

Address: 496 Moseley Road, B12 9AJ

E-mail: Josie Reichert – josie@ortgallery.co.uk

Phone: 07724 613 406