theplan |
This is the starting point to find out more about me, Jon Hickman, a Lecturer at Birmingham City University's School of Media and a member of Interactive Cultures. Entries below are my contributions to a number of blogs: click through to read the full article and join the conversation in the comments. I am available for speaking and web / social media consultancy via email jon [at] theplan.co.uk |
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Art in Empty Shops
Here’s an idea that keeps going around and coming back again: making use of empty shops, by turning them into pop-up galleries. The idea is back on the table right now; Birmingham’s Community Arts Team have just closed a call for “an arts led organisation with registered charity status to produce, co-ordinate and programme exhibitions accompanied by a minimum of 50 days participatory activity at five empty shop venues across the city between February 2010 and March 2011.”The shop venues are likely to be in the City Centre, Erdington, Hodge Hill, Ladywood, and Perry Barr. Erdington had its own pop-up gallery in the summer, which created a vibrant community arts experience. The Erdington pop-up was unfunded, so it will be interesting to see if the grant funding given to this venture enhances the experience.On our walkabout yesterday we observed a lot of empty space in our local area. If I were to suggest a place within Grounds’ area that could benefit from a cultural lift, it would be John Bright Street: there’s even a photography gallery, ready to go.Where do you think a community arts space for the city centre could be located?
