Interview

25.02.20

Q&A with artist Georgia Tucker

Artist Georgia Tucker, who showed at the end of 2019 as part of New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial, has been busy working on a new commission as part of the BBC New Creatives scheme. Conniveo, the resulting exhibition, comprised of a VR and physical installation, opens at Stryx in March.

Interview

24.02.20

Q&A with artist Farwa Moledina

Artist Farwa Moledina, who showed at the end of 2019 as part of New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial, has recently taken part in an exhibition in Lahore, Pakistan as part of Lahore Bienniale collateral activity.

Opportunities

19.02.20

Duplicate: Publishing Fair – call for submissions

Duplicate Publishing Fair welcomes applications from collective and individual self-publishers for their next iteration on 3 and 4 April 2020.

Media

19.02.20

Arts bodies threatened with funding cuts over lack of diversity

Arts Council England figures show BME and disabled people under-represented in sector – via the Guardian

Media News

19.02.20

My vision for a radical artist-led hotel

We need bold new cultural infrastructures to tackle entrenched inequality in the arts, says Amahra Spence. Can a new project combine business nous with social justice? – via Arts Professional

Media News

17.02.20

One man’s fictional journey across Britain

Photographer Lottie Davies’s latest work documents a fictional journey across Britain, from the south-west of England to the far north of Scotland. Her exhibition, curated by Dr Rachel Marsden, is on display at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry – via BBC

Media News

12.02.20

Sonia Boyce first black woman to represent Britain at Venice Biennale

The artist Sonia Boyce has been chosen to represent Britain at the Venice Biennale – the first black woman to do so. Her work will fill the UK pavilion from May until November next year. Boyce is one of the leading artists of the British Black Arts Movement and studied at Stourbridge College in the 1980s – via the Guardian

News

10.02.20

A3 launch new programme for 2020

Participate is a new programme from A3 Project Space that will support their studio members to collectively deliver a programme of socially engaged projects. The Digbeth-based project space and studios has relaunched as an artist-led space run by studio members Trevor Pitt, Cathy Wade, Ben Sadler and Philip Duckworth (Juneau Projects), Adam Carver and Carolyn Morton.

Engine Opportunities

10.02.20

Outside In Engine Micro Bursaries

Engine is pleased to be partnering with Outside In to offer artists living in Birmingham, Solihull, the Black Country, Coventry or Warwickshire the opportunity to apply for Micro Bursaries towards professional development activities of your choice. Two artists will be awarded a bursary of £500 each.

Feature Media

10.02.20

Edgar Martins’ photobook shows prisoners fear of being forgotten – by not showing them

Tom Seymour covers a new photobook by Edgar Martins, including a series commission by Grain Projects focusing on HMP Birmingham – via Wallpaper Magazine

Feature News

08.02.20

Lindsey Mendick featured

Lindsey Mendick, whose work is currently on show at Eastside Projects in solo exhibition ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’, is featured by Kathryn Hughes – via the Guardian

Engine News

07.02.20

Laura Dicken Announced as International Bursary Recipient

New Art West Midlands, Grain Projects, Aarhus Billedkunstcenter and Galleri Image are delighted to announce that Laura Dicken has been selected as the successful recipient of the International Bursary 2020.

Engine News

05.02.20

Curator’s Network: New Season Launched

The Curators’ Network launches a new season of activity with talks by Sylvia Theuri and Ian Sergeant in February and March.

Interview

03.02.20

Q&A with artist Pamela Schilderman

Fool’s Gold is a new exhibition by artists Hayley Harrison and Pamela Schilderman which opened recently at Rugby Museum and Art Gallery. We spoke to Pamela to find out more.

News

30.01.20

The New Art Gallery Walsall celebrates 20 years

Next month The New Art Gallery Walsall celebrates its 20th birthday with a series of exhibitions and celebratory events.

News

27.01.20

Arts Council England publishes their 2020-2030 strategy.

“By 2030, we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish, and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences.”

Arts Council England publishes their 10 year strategy.

Media Review

17.01.20

Meryl McMaster: As Immense as the Sky Reviewed

Anneka French reviews a solo show of work by Meryl McMaster, her first in the UK – via Photomonitor

News

16.01.20

Win for Eastside Projects

Eastside Projects has been announced as part of the winning team to design the new market of Birmingham as part of the £1.5 billion Birmingham Smithfield regeneration.

Media Review

15.01.20

Ikon’s Zou Zou Group exhibition reviewed

Betsy Porritt reviews ZouZou Group: – door open at Ikon Gallery – via this is tomorrow

Media

15.01.20

What has the Lottery done for artists?

Artists are the lifeblood of the arts, but their direct funding has steadily declined over the past two decades. A change in approach is now essential, says Susan Jones. – via Arts Professional

News

09.01.20

New festival to light up Worcester city centre this month

On Thursday 16 January 2020 from 5.30-10pm the Arches Festivals presents Light Night Worcester, the first of four brand new festivals for the city.

Interview Media

08.01.20

Matt Gale Interview

New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial artist Matt Gale is interviewed by Santanu Borah – via Asian Curator

News

07.01.20

Melanie Pocock appointed curator at Ikon Gallery

Melanie Pocock who has been appointed as curator of Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery, will begin her new role this month – via Art Review

News

02.01.20

Arts Council boss vows more funding for those at early stages of career

More artists, writers and composers at an early stage of their careers should get public money from Arts Council England, the body’s chairman, Sir Nicholas Serota, has said. ACE will publish its 10-year strategy for the arts next month outlining its strategic visions and goals. It replaces its previous strategy, Great Art and Culture for Everyone, which covered the years 2010-20. – via The Guardian

News

30.12.19

Martin Green to lead 2022 post-Brexit UK festival

Martin Green, Birmingham 2022’s Chief Creative Officer has been asked by the government to develop plans to curate, manage, and promote a UK-wide festival in 2022 – via The Art Newspaper

News

30.12.19

Wolverhampton earns Cultural Compact champion funding

City of Wolverhampton Council has secured funding from Arts Council England to put in place a Cultural Compact champion to support the further development of the city’s strong cultural offer.

News

19.12.19

Herefordshire Cultural Strategy

Herefordshire Cultural Partnership, a consortium which comprises of cultural organisations, Herefordshire Council, the local business community, and a wide range of arts and heritage groups from across the area have produced a new cultural strategy for Herefordshire. It has been informed by in-depth local consultation, a three-month online survey, an Arts Council funded consultancy, and research into national and international good practice.

News

16.12.19

Craftspace+

Birmingham-based charity Craftspace has launched Craftspace+, a new supporters network for people curious about craft.

News

16.12.19

Arts Council takes steps to tackle working class gaps in workforce

Next year arts organisations will have to provide data on the socio-economic background of employees as a step towards tackling working class gaps in their workforce – via The Guardian.

News

13.12.19

Artists selected for Engine Room programme and Herbert Art Gallery & Museum exhibition

We are delighted to announce the 6 New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial artists selected for the Engine Room professional development programme and the forthcoming autumn 2020 exhibition at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.

Opportunities Travel

11.12.19

International Bursary Opportunity

New Art West Midlands and GRAIN Projects are jointly offering a bursary of £2000 to an artist working with photography based in the West Midlands region. The bursary is a significant international research opportunity to support professional development activity in Aarhus, Denmark. Deadline: Monday 20 January

Media

09.12.19

The Row – Axisweb Vacant Space, Coventry

The Row is a former NHS building located in the centre of Coventry. The space is currently being used by Coventry Artspace, a charity supporting the development of artists and the visual arts in Coventry. Most recently it was a venue for Coventry Biennial 2019.

In their film, Axisweb talk to Mindy Chillery, Executive Director of Coventry Artspace; Ryan Hughes, Founder and Artistic Director of Coventry Biennial and Mousethings (artists Adelaida Antúnez Egurbide and Alfie Gibbs) who were the recipients of the Axisweb commission to show work at the Coventry Biennial.

News

05.12.19

Harun Morrison selected for 2020 Wheatley Fine Art Fellowship

Birmingham School of Art and Eastside Projects have announced artist Harun Morrison as the winner of the Wheatley Fine Art Fellowship.

News

04.12.19

Turner prize awarded four ways after artists’ plea to judges

All four artists shortlisted for the 2019 Turner prize have been named winners after they came together and made a plea for judges to recognise the causes of “commonality, multiplicity and solidarity”. – via The Guardian

News

02.12.19

General Election Artists Toolkit

In the lead up to the General Election on 12 December a-n has published a toolkit to make sure the new government understands – and reflects – the needs and contribution of the UK’s visual artists. It sets out some key messages, ideas for communicating those messages and a sample letter/script for using when communicating with candidates.

Feature Media

27.11.19

Assembly Stoke-on-Trent: “artists can use their voices in subtle, strategic and disobedient ways”

Take a look back at some of the highlights from the recent a-n Assembly, which focused on activism in the arts and the artist as activist, activator and change maker. – via a-n news

News

25.11.19

Artists face financial squeeze as ‘perfect storm’ of market trends favours the elite

Artists will increasingly need multiple income streams and brand collaborations to fund their creative practice in an Instagram-fuelled marketplace, a new report says – via Arts Professional.

Feature

22.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Georgia Tucker

Georgia Tucker’s virtual reality installation Terra Firma was selected by International Curators Forum for New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial. Her work is on display at The Row.

Feature

21.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Ameera Sadiq

Ameera Sadiq’s installation at The Lanchester Gallery is the subject of our next New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial artist spotlight.

News

21.11.19

WONDER on Google Arts

The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum recent exhibition WONDER has launched on Google Arts two months after the exhibition closed.

Feature

20.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Betsy Bradley

The painting-based practice of Betsy Bradley is the focus of today’s artist spotlight from New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial.

Media Review

20.11.19

Coventry Biennial reviewed

Emily Hale reviews Coventry Biennial: The Twin, focussing on exhibitions at The Row and Herbert Art Gallery and Museum – via this is tomorrow

Feature

19.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Farwa Moledina

Today’s artist spotlight is Birmingham City University graduate, artist Farwa Moledina, whose work can be found at The Row as part of New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art.

Feature

18.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Laura Onions

Laura Onions is the focus of our artist spotlight today. Her work can be found as part of New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial at The Row and Bell Green Library in Coventry.

News

15.11.19

NO LIMITS: a visual arts strategy for the West Midlands

NO LIMITS is a visual arts strategy for the West Midlands. It has been initiated by New Art West Midlands in response to the needs of the sector, and developed as an effective working plan. It has been informed by the region’s network of artists, curators and arts professionals, educators, audiences and stakeholders from business and local government.

Media

15.11.19

Head to head: can a toolkit solve the sector’s class problem?

This year Jerwood Arts published a toolkit for cultural organisations, designed to encourage greater socio-economic diversity in the arts. Julie Lomax, Chief Executive of a-n The Artists Information Company, sees it as a starting point for helping solve the sector’s ‘class crisis’ – but arts consultant Chrissie Tiller isn’t so sure. – via Arts Professional

Media

15.11.19

Is the Countryside the Future of the Art World?

From Cample Line in rural Scotland to collective Myvillages, artists are reconsidering their relationship to ‘the rural’ – Tom Jeffreys via Frieze

Feature

14.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Hira Butt

Artist Hira Butt is the subject of our artist spotlight today. Hira’s work was selected for New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial by International Curators Forum.

Media

14.11.19

Museums Association publishes Museums Manifesto ahead of General Election

The Museums Association (MA) has published the Museums Manifesto (2019), outlining what museums, galleries and heritage organisations require from the next government. – via Museums Association

Feature

12.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Amy Guo

Next in our artist spotlight series is Staffordshire University’s Amy Guo. Amy’s work is on display at Arcadia Gallery as part of New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial selected by International Curators Forum.

News

11.11.19

No Limits: Launch of the visual arts strategy for the West Midlands – Friday 15 November 2019.

New Art West Midlands invites you to the launch of No Limits, the visual arts strategy for the West Midlands, devised following consultation events across the region.

The launch will be followed by a very special performance by artist Shiyi Li of her percussion and live collage work ‘Minister of Loneliness’.

News

11.11.19

Discover! Creative Careers

Since April the Contemporary Visual Arts Network has helped develop the Discover! Creative Careers programme and has written a series of job profiles highlighting some of the available roles in the contemporary visual arts sector.

Feature

11.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Lily Wales

Lily Wales is today’s artist spotlight. Her work is shown at The Lanchester Gallery and The Row, as part of New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial. Her new body of work aims to critique the presence that underwater nuclear weaponry has on our natural and political climate.

Review

08.11.19

Twin Stranger: Entangled State Reviewed by Helen-Kilby Nelson

Helen Kilby-Nelson reviews Twin Stranger: Entangled State, a video work by Georgiou & Tolley, currently on display at The Row as part of Coventry Biennial 2019.

News

08.11.19

Arts Councils won’t enforce minimum pay

The Arts Council of Wales has said it won’t fund projects that don’t budget minimum pay rates for artists. We asked the other councils why they aren’t doing the same. – via Arts Professional

Feature

08.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Ewan Johnston

Wolverhampton-based painter Ewan Johnston is the next of our New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial artist spotlights. A selection of his work can be seen at The Row, a former NHS facility and Coventry Biennial venue.

Media

07.11.19

The Twin at Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art 2019

Axis Directory member Helen Kilby-Nelson reports back from The Coventry Biennial, a city-wide arts festival taking place 4 October – 24 November 2019, including the work of New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial artist Ewan Johnston – via axisweb

Feature

06.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Shiyi Li

Shiyi Li’s work is showing at The Lanchester Gallery, with a special live performance on 15 November as part of the launch event of New Art West Midlands’ visual arts strategy for the West Midlands.

Feature

04.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Rosie Piercy

The next of our artist spotlight features is University of Worcester graduate Rosie Piercy, whose work is shown at The Row and St. Mary’s Guildhall, Coventry.

Feature

04.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Navi Kaur

Navi Kaur, today’s artist spotlight from New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial, is showing two video pieces, one in Leamington and one in Coventry.

News

04.11.19

Warwick District Council Announces Plans for Development of New Creative Strategy for the Area

Warwick District Council has announced the formation of a 5-year plan to support the development of a world-class creative cluster in the District.

Creative organisations and residents will be invited to input into the creation of Warwick District Creative Framework: A strategy for creative sector growth from early November 2019.

Media News

01.11.19

University of Birmingham Arts & Science Sculpture Commission Awarded to Juneau Projects

The winner of the Arts & Science Sculpture Commission is Juneau Projects’ proposed sculpture Mosswerk. They have been selected from finalists which also included Andrew Gillespie, Intervention Architecture and Hipkiss and Graney.

Feature

01.11.19

Artist Spotlight: Matías Serra Delmar

Matías Serra Delmar, our next New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial artist spotlight, exhibits his work at The Row. Matías is a graduate of Hereford College of Arts.

Feature

30.10.19

Artist Spotlight: Matt Gale

Our next artist spotlight feature is on Matt Gale, an artist who graduated from Birmingham City University. His work Soma can be found at The Row as part of New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial.

Feature

29.10.19

Artist Spotlight: Anna Katarzyna Domejko

Anna Katarzyna Domejko is our next artist spotlight. Her installation, comprising of paintings and sculptural pieces, is on show at The Lanchester Gallery as part of New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial.

Feature

28.10.19

Artist Spotlight: Gemma Costin

Today Gemma Costin is the subject of our artist spotlight. Her work can be found in the Learning Space at The Row, as part of Coventry Biennial. She will be running a free seed bomb workshop on Saturday 9 November.

Media Review

25.10.19

Fierce Festival: Performance Art for the End of the World

Sean Burns reviews Fierce Festival 2019 – via Frieze

Feature

25.10.19

Artist Spotlight: Sarah Byrne

Our next artist spotlight is Sarah Byrne, a graduate from University of Wolverhampton, who is showing at The Row as part of New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial. Her work forms a reflection of experiences growing up in England as a British girl with an Asian mother.

Feature

24.10.19

Artist Spotlight: Mengxia Liu

Our next Artist Spotlight is on Mengxia Liu whose work explores the collision of multiculturalism in public spaces in different locations around the world. She is a recent graduate of Birmingham City University and currently an artist in residence at Grand Union.

Feature

22.10.19

Artist Spotlight: Tayyibah Mota

Our second artist spotlight is on the work of Tayyibah Mota, currently showing at The Row as part of New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial.

Media Review

21.10.19

Fierce festival review – a daring whirl of theatrical thrills

Gareth Llŷr Evans reviews Fierce Festival, Birmingham’s long standing programme of live art and events – via The Guardian

Feature

21.10.19

Artist Spotlight: Andreana Fatta

In the first of our artist spotlights from New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial, we focus on the work of Andeana Fatta.

Interview

18.10.19

Q & A with Asylum Art Gallery

We speak to Director Hannah Taylor about the gallery and studios, as well the Discursive Spaces Residency Programme, a paid residency for five West Midlands based artists exploring the spaces of Wolverhampton.

Media

15.10.19

The Twin at Arcadia Gallery, Coventry Biennial Selected as one of a-n’s exhibitions of the week

a-n news select Coventry Biennial’s exhibition at Coventry Biennial, including work by New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial artist Amy Guo as one of their picks of the week – via a-n

News

15.10.19

New Art West Midlands & International Curators Forum Curator in Residence Appointed

Sylvia Theuri appointed as New Art West Midlands and International Curators Forum Curator in Residence at Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery.

News

11.10.19

Four new festivals for Worcester in 2020

Worcester is to welcome four new festivals in 2020, showcasing national and international creative talent whilst supporting local emerging work.

Media

10.10.19

Coventry Biennial 2019: The Twin

a-n news report back from the opening of Coventry Biennial: The Twin, including a focus on New Art West Midlands – via a-n

News

09.10.19

Studio Visits 2019 Announced

We are delighted to announce that 10 artists and curators have been selected for our 2019 round of Studio Visits, an initiative as part of our professional development programme run in collaboration with The New Art Gallery Walsall.

Interview

09.10.19

Q&A with Faye Claridge

‘Humour, tea and cake’ – Faye Claridge discusses her recent residency at the National Trust’s Dudmaston Estate, a new project at Ripon Prison and Police Museum, and gives advice on working with heritage sites.

Interview

09.10.19

Anna Berry interview

Anna Berry, curator-in-residence at Midlands Arts Centre talks about learning the role of curator, touring exhibitons, access and reveals what her curated exhibition will be about.

Media Review

08.10.19

Amalia Pica at The New Art Gallery Walsall reviewed

Emily Hale reviews Amalia Pica: Private & Confidential at The New Art Gallery Walsall – via this is tomorrow

News

08.10.19

Planning permission granted for more studios in Stoke

ACAVA has announced that planning permission has been granted for the further development of studios and workspaces in the historic former Spode Pottery factory in Stoke – Spode Works.

News

25.09.19

Sharon Baker awarded the Westmorland Landscape Prize

Birmingham-based artist Sharon Baker has been announced as the winner of this year’s Westmorland Landscape Prize. The Prize aims to document, celebrate and interrogate our relationship with the landscape.

News

25.09.19

Six museums and heritage organisations in Midlands take part in contemporary art programme

Six museums and heritage organisations across the Midlands have been selected to take part in Meeting Point, an Arts Council England funded programme that partners museums and artists, resulting in the creation of new artworks, each inspired by an individual venue and its collections.

Feature

25.09.19

Q & A with Nilupa Yasmin

This month artist Nilupa Yasmin has been in residence in Brixton market as part of a GRAIN and PhotoFusion collaboration. Annabel Clarke talks to her about the residency.

Feature

22.09.19

BEDLAM Arts and Mental Health Festival

BEDLAM is a celebration of how the arts help wellbeing, taking place across Birmingham from 1-12 October 2019. Welcoming artists from across the UK, the festival will present a programme of theatre performances, dance, movement workshops, art installations, wellbeing walks, film screenings, family events, Q&A’s as well as a special BEDLAM Symposium.

Media

20.09.19

Art Education Is in Crisis: Can We Stop Culture Becoming the Preserve of the Privileged?

Cash-strapped schools in deprived areas across the UK have been particularly hard hit by the shift away from the arts. Chris Sharratt reports – via Frieze

Media News

18.09.19

Audiences for Visual Arts

Ever wonder what motivates your visitors?

The Contemporary Visual Arts Network (of which we are part) and The Audience Agency have launched the Visual Arts Report – a collaborative project that draws upon data provided by more than 100 visual arts organisations across England.

News

17.09.19

a-n Assembly 2019: Stoke-on-Trent event announced

a-n’s programme of one-day artist-led events continues with Assembly Stoke-on-Trent, throwing into focus the idea of the artist as activist, activator and change maker.

News

09.09.19

‘We are living in disturbing times’: artist Barbara Walker on Margate and racism

Place, Space and Who at Turner Contemporary, by Birmingham-based Barbara Walker, looks at the experiences of five black women living in Margate – via The Guardian

Review

05.09.19

Who Is Adam Neal and Why Is He Dead?

Emily Scarrott reviews Adam Neal’s “In Loving Memory Of” at Coventry Artspace’s Arcadia Gallery, which took place during August 2019 as part of their graduate-in-residence scheme.

News

29.08.19

Coventry City of Culture secures £450,000 for leadership programme

Coventry City of Culture have been awarded funding from Arts Council England to deliver a new leadership training programme for the city.
The Transforming Leadership programme will train a diverse cohort of 15 established, independent and emerging cultural leaders.

Feature News

29.08.19

Curating disability part one: bringing the outsiders in

In the first of a series of articles co-published with Disability Arts Online, artist Anna Berry writes about becoming DASH curator-in-residence at Midlands Arts Centre – via a-n

News

22.08.19

In:Site Festival 2019

In:Site Festival returns to Birmingham city centre for a ninth year from 5-7 September 2019. Over three days recent graduates will work with the public to transform the outdoor space around Birmingham Cathedral, creating craft interventions inspired by the space, architecture, people and heritage.

News

19.08.19

ACE ‘may have to revise’ NPO funding agreements from 2020

Arts Council England has warned that if its grant-in-aid from DCMS is cut in the forthcoming spending review, it may not be able to afford its existing funding commitments – via Arts Professional.

Feature News

15.08.19

International Festival of Glass

This month the International Festival of Glass returns to Stourbridge to celebrate glassmaking, with a wealth of top international artists, fantastic exhibitions and family friendly events and performances.

News

15.08.19

Creative Black Country expands work to Dudley

Creative Black Country has been awarded £1,403,154 of National Lottery funding through Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme (CPP) to expand its current CPP activity to include Dudley, in partnership with Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Council for Voluntary Service.

Feature Media

14.08.19

The culture cure: how prescription art is lifting people out of depression

From singing together to being read to in a library, an arts participation scheme is transforming lives in Denmark. Helen Russell reports – via The Guardian

Media News

12.08.19

Samuel West’s Open Letter to Boris Johnson

National Campaign for the Arts Chair, Samuel West, has sent an open letter to Boris Johnson, urging the profound importance of the Arts in the UK.

Interview

09.08.19

Q&A with artist Helen Kilby-Nelson

Artist Helen Kilby-Nelson discusses her research interests and working methodologies ahead of her exhibition at Coventry’s City Arcadia gallery at the end of August.

Media Review

09.08.19

Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?

A critical review of Stryx Gallery’s SOUP Pt V: BLENDER residency by Emily Scarrott – via a-n reviews

Interview

07.08.19

Q&A with artist Adam Neal

Artist Adam Neal speaks about his autobiographical body of work exploring social class ahead of his exhibition ‘In Loving Memory Of’, opening at Coventry’s City Arcadia later this month.

Media News

07.08.19

Artists Selected for Craftspace’s In:Site Programme

Craftspace announce this year’s selected artists for In:Site, featuring graduates from universities across the UK who are working with a variety of different making processes. Many of the activities will be participatory and everyone is welcome to join in alongside the artists to create their ambitious art works.

Interview

07.08.19

Q&A with artist Joyce Treasure

Artist Joyce Treasure speaks to us about her recent exhibition and residency at Bruntwood’s Cornerblock building in Birmingham in partnership with Grand Union.

Feature News

07.08.19

British Ceramics Biennial celebrates 10 years

The British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) returns to Stoke-on-Trent from 7 September to 13 October 2019, bringing together more than 300 contemporary artists and makers in a programme of exhibitions, installations and events taking place in six cultural venues across the city.

News

05.08.19

New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art: Artists announced for new look New Art West Midlands 2019 exhibition

We are excited to announce the New Art West Midlands 2019 artists, selected by International Curators Forum:

Betsy Bradley, Hira Butt, Sarah Byrne, Gemma Costin, Anna Katarzyna Domejko, Andreana Fatta, Matt Gale, Amy Guo, Ewan Johnston, Navi Kaur, Shiyi Li, Mengxia Liu, Farwa Moledina, Tayyibah Mota, Laura Onions, Ameera Sadiq, Matías Serra Delmar, Rosie Piercy, Georgia Tucker and Lily Wales.

Media News

01.08.19

Creative Black Country’s 100 Masters – bringing local artists to a global audience

Find out how Creative Black Country used digital content and platforms to bring local artists to a worldwide stage – via The Space.

Opportunities

26.07.19

Call for Birmingham collection point: Outside In

Outside In has recently launched the call out for its next national art exhibition. They are currently looking for an arts organisation in Birmingham to act as a collection point and provide short term artwork storage.

Media News

24.07.19

Inquiry into future of the National Lottery launched

A parliamentary inquiry is to examine the future of the National Lottery and how it can raise more money for good causes like the arts. – via Arts Professional

Travel

24.07.19

New Art West Midlands Engine Micro Bursary: Breath and Ice

Artist Brian J Morrison reflects back on his research trip to Stroe in the Netherlands earlier this year, funded by an Engine Micro Bursary.

Media Review

24.07.19

Supersonic review – giant monsters and ghoul-sponge at UK’s best small festival

By embracing the heaviness in Birmingham’s heritage, and adding a strong dose of eccentricity, Supersonic is world-class. Review by Ben Beaumont-Thomas – via The Guardian

Media Review

15.07.19

Pelicans, fossils and fingered lemons – recreating the paper museum of Cassiano dal Pozzo

Katy Barrett reviews The Paper Museum: The Curious Eye of Cassiano dal Pozzo at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham – via Apollo Magazine

Opportunities

11.07.19

Curator in Residence, New Art West Midlands

Hosted by Culture Coventry at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum In partnership with International Curators Forum In partnership with

Engine Travel

11.07.19

James Lomax visits Madrid

Last year James Lomax was awarded an Engine Micro Bursary to undertake a research trip to Madrid. He reports back.

News Review

10.07.19

If we value artists, we should pay them benefits – Ireland is leading the way

From September, artists in Ireland will be permitted one year on unemployment benefit without having to look for work, to allow for time to pursue their practice, rehearse, or develop a portfolio. – via The Guardian.

Media

07.07.19

Living Memory Bursary Artists Announced

The 6 bursary artists for Living Memory have been announced. Working alongside 6 commissioned artists, the bursary artists will be working with partner venues across the Black Country to undertake new research circling community, archives and photography in Sandwell.

Media News

05.07.19

Socio-Economic Diversity and Inclusion in the Arts: A Toolkit for Employers

Fair access to working in the arts remains one of the most urgent issues facing the sector today, with those from lower socio-economic backgrounds still vastly underrepresented amongst the artists and employees of UK theatres, festivals, galleries and arts organisations of all kinds.

Jerwood Arts and the Bridge Group have joined forces for this Toolkit with a mission to look to the future: to support long-term change across the arts sector by sharing knowledge, providing expert support, and encouraging take-up of an intersectional approach to equality, diversity and inclusion. – via Jerwood Arts

Media News

05.07.19

Funding cuts for Birmingham arts organisations softened

Birmingham City Council decided a proposed 30% cut would have been too “damaging”, but says there is still an urgent need to find new sources of revenue. Adele Redmond reports – via Arts Professional

Opportunities

03.07.19

Engine: Opportunities for Studio Visits

We are delighted to once again offer artists and curators living in the West Midlands region the opportunity to receive a studio visit from an arts professional. This is an opportunity to discuss your work and to seek valuable feedback and practical advice on either artistic or curatorial practice.

Engine Travel

03.07.19

Biocity and the Fall

Salt Road artists Jaime Jackson and Dr Sally Payen report back from their research visit to Bilbao in May, part funded by an Engine Micro Bursary.

Feature News

01.07.19

New Publications launched – Photography for Whom? and Forward

Two new publications launched in the region last week – Photography for Whom? and Forward, which aim to forefront some of the best photography, art and writing happening in the West Midlands.

Interview

28.06.19

Q&A with Dr Rachel Marsden, Curator of Wonder at the Herbert Art Gallery

Wonder, an exhibition designed around play and interaction featuring new commissions from a number of West Midlands-based artists, opens this evening in Coventry. We catch up with its curator Dr Rachel Marsden to find out more.

Media

24.06.19

One hell of a city: how Birmingham embraced its heavy metal legacy

Vanessa Thorpe reports on Home of Metal, a series of exhibitions and events taking place across multiple West Midlands galleries – via The Observer

Media

20.06.19

Paying artists for their time

Why do so many artists not include a fee for their own time when they apply for funding? Lilli Geissendorfer explains how Jerwood Arts is challenging a pervasive low-pay culture – via Arts Professional

Media

18.06.19

The data illusion

Funders are increasing their demands for data from arts organisations while only paying lip service to quality in their own statistics. It’s time to stop indulging them, says Jonathan Knott – via Arts Professional

Interview

14.06.19

Q&A with Shaheen Ahmed

We speak to artist Shaheen Ahmed about her practice, influences and current exhibition Threads at Gallery Maison Mayci, Birmingham, on view until 10 July.

Interview

12.06.19

Q&A with Lorna Brown

We speak to Herefordshire-based artist and New Art West Midlands Alumni Lorna Brown about Eye Am She, her current project at National Trust property Berrington Hall.

Media

12.06.19

What’s the Cure for the UK Art World’s Gender Gap?

A new report highlights the key role commercial galleries must play in achieving gender parity in the arts. Hettie Judah reports – via Frieze

Interview

07.06.19

Q&A with Lucy McLauchlan

Artist Lucy McLauchlan opens Unfold at Centrala this evening. We find out more about her plans and practice.

News

07.06.19

Pangaea Sculpture Award 2019 recipients announced

Earlier in the year we supported Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre’s Sculpture Production Award, open to emerging artists working in 3D, based within the UK but outside of London. The recipients of the Award have been announced, and include Suzi Osborn and Andrew Gillespie from the region.

Media

05.06.19

Women Outnumber Men at Art School – Why Do More Men Make it Into Galleries?

A new report released by the Freelands Foundation has found that while more women (66%) are enrolling in postgraduate study in the creative arts and design this figure is effectively reversed for commercial gallery representation. In 2018, 68% of artists represented by major commercial galleries were men. – report via Frieze news desk

Interview

05.06.19

Q&A with photographer Sam Ivin

We speak to photographer Sam Ivin about Settling: Exploring Human Migration, an exhibition at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in partnership with Appetite and Grain Projects.

Media

31.05.19

Coventry Biennial 2019: programme and exhibiting artists announced

The second edition of Coventry Biennial will be entitled ‘The Twin’ and feature a series of exhibitions, events and activities taking place at various locations across the city – via a-n news

Review Travel

29.05.19

Laura O’Leary reviews Larissa Sansour: Heirloom at the Venice Biennale

Curated by Nat Muller, a postgraduate researcher at Birmingham City University, Larissa Sansour’s exhibition Heirloom is now showing at the Venice Biennale. The project is reviewed by Laura O’Leary and is on show at the Danish Pavilion at the Giardini until 24 November 2019.

Travel

25.05.19

Frederick Hubble: Hypha showing at KH7artspace, Aarhus, Denmark

New Art West Midlands alumni artist Frederick Hubble is currently showing at KH7artspace, Aarhus, Denmark. Curated by our Project Co-ordinator Anneka French, Hypha is Fred’s first international solo exhibition.

Interview

24.05.19

Interview with Ryan Kearney: The Club’s Conception (or How the Egg Was Cracked)

The Club’s Conception (or How the Egg Was Cracked), currently on show at Recent Activity in Digbeth, retraces the demolished past venues of Birmingham’s The Nightingale Club, the city’s longest-running queer space. In collaboration with those who attended its three preceding venues, Ryan Kearney and Intervention Architecture map these spaces from recollections, replacing absent photographs and creating an archival presence.

We talked to Ryan about the exhibition.

Engine

24.05.19

Engine Bursary: TRANSMISSION pilot for an online radio station

Trevor Pitt reports on TRANSMISSION, a pilot project funded through our Engine Micro Bursaries to support research and training with a view to set up an arts radio station in the West Midlands.

Media

23.05.19

Ruptured Histories: How Hew Locke is Peeling Back the Layers of Britain’s Colonial Past

A new exhibition at Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery feels at once reminiscent and foreboding. Aurella Yussuf reviews the Ikon Gallery exhibition – via Frieze

News

22.05.19

Blast! – a festival of photography, talks and walks

Blast! is a new festival from Multistory made with and for the people of Sandwell which runs from Friday 24 May to Saturday 29 June.

The festival has invited 40 outstanding artists, photographers and curators to showcase work, develop projects and collaborate with communities to present stories about everyday life. With exhibitions, film screenings, events, talks and walks across Sandwell, Blast! will be presented on the streets, the Metro line, in shops, libraries and pubs, on historic buildings and in the community halls and venues of Sandwell.

Review

21.05.19

Not quite ‘The Range’ you’ve seen before

Birmingham City University student, Gurpreet Kaur, responds to Eastside Projects’ recent group exhibition, The Range.

Engine

20.05.19

Matt Gale at NTU Summer Lodge 2018

Matt Gale reports on his residency at Nottingham Trent University’s Summer Lodge last year.

Engine

17.05.19

New Art West Midlands x Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art

We are delighted to launch the open call for New Art West Midlands 2019 in partnership with Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art, Herbert Art Gallery and International Curators Forum (ICF).

Engine

15.05.19

Thomas Wynne Micro Bursary Report

Thomas Wynne reports on his research visits and the development of his work exploring Unidentified Flying Objects.

Engine Travel

14.05.19

Joanne Masding Visits Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark

Joanne Masding reports from her recent visits to Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark, the result of an Engine Micro Bursary and the follow up to Traverse #2, a dialogue and research exchange devised in collaboration between New Art West Midlands and Aarhus Billedkunstcenter.

Engine Feature

14.05.19

Traverse #2 – Working in the Periphery

Research by artists Mette Boel (DK) and Joanne Masding (UK), organised by New Art West Midlands in collaboration with Aarhus Billedkunstcenter (DK) on working outside the perceived centre and what that means for practice. An Engine professional development opportunity.

Feature

10.05.19

Residence & Research: An Event in Partnership with the National Trust

Back in February we held an event with our partners Trust New Art at the National Trust to share some of the experiences, research and results of five Short Residency Awards given to New Art West Midlands alumni artists Larissa Shaw, Lindy Brett, Aileen Doherty, Theo Ellison and Grace A. Williams.

Engine Travel

10.05.19

Andrew McNiven Micro Bursary Report

Andrew McNiven used his Engine Micro Bursary to visit a number of significant museums and galleries in Northern Europe to generate source material for a new project. He reports back.

Engine Travel

08.05.19

Laura O’Leary Visits Berlin Biennale 2018

Curator Laura O’Leary used her Engine Micro Bursary to visit the Berlin Biennale back in June 2018. Read more about her research here.

Engine Travel

24.04.19

Emily Roderick Visits Berlin Biennale 2018

Engine Micro Bursary awardee Emily Roderick visited the Berlin Biennale back in July 2018. She reflects on the trip here.

18.04.19

Birmingham 2022 announces Chief Creative Officer

Martin Green CBE has been appointed Chief Creative Officer of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. He will be responsible for the official opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the wider cultural programme for the Games – via Arts Professional

News

17.04.19

Arts contribute more to UK economy than agriculture

Arts and culture has overtaken agriculture in terms of its contribution to the UK economy, according to research from Arts Council England, whose chair is warning that continuing cuts threaten further growth – via The Guardian

Feature

17.04.19

Angela Kingston responds to Sarah Taylor Silverwood: Daphne

Freelance curator and writer Angela Kingston reflects on Sarah Taylor Silverwood’s solo exhibition Daphne, on display at The New Art Gallery Walsall until 12 May.

News

15.04.19

Arts Council England urged to replace Grantium

In a consultation on its new 10-year strategy, the funder also heard from ‘many’ that funding should be reduced for the largest organisations, and that it is seen as using too much jargon – via Arts Professional

News

12.04.19

Ort Gallery selected to be part of GUILD programme

Ort Gallery in Birmingham is one of 20 artist-led spaces up and down the country selected to be part of East Street Arts’ four-year GUILD programme.

The programme will explore new approaches to business modelling, to embed groups within their localities and advocate their impact on social and political environments. It will seek to address the challenges faced by these groups, such as limited funding, resource and their tendency to experience burnout.

Media

05.04.19

The Range reviewed, Eastside Projects

Divya Osbon reviews Eastside Projects’ exhibition The Range, curated by artist Rehana Zaman – via this is tomorrow

News

05.04.19

Finding common ground

In the wake of budget cuts, local arts groups in Birmingham have come together to help shape a new democratic approach to culture in the city, says Tom Jones – via Arts Professional.

Media

03.04.19

Hardeep Pandhal: Paranoid Picnic: The Phantom BAME reviewed

Amelia Seren Roberts reviews Hardeep Pandhal: Paranoid Picnic: The Phantom BAME at Primary and New Art Exchange. Originally from Birmingham, Pandhal’s work dissects projects of cultural assimilation and the performance of heritage – via this is tomorrow

03.04.19

Vacancy with National Trust for People’s Landscapes Art Commissions, Peak District

Vacancy with our partners at the National Trust for a Project Assistant to work on People’s Landscapes Art Commissions, Peak District, Derbyshire

Media

01.04.19

Hew Locke Interviewed by Studio International

Currently exhibiting at Ikon Gallery, Hew Locke discusses monarchy, nationhood, bigotry, boats, Brexit and the seductive silliness of TV’s historical dramas – via Studio International

News

01.04.19

Anneka French re-appointed Project Coordinator for New Art West Midlands

We are delighted to announce the re-appointment of Anneka French to the role of Project Co-ordinator for New Art West Midlands. Having worked with New Art West Midlands since 2016, and with former sister project New Art WM prior to that, Anneka brings a wealth of experience working with and for artists based within the region.

Interview

20.03.19

Q&A with Charlie Levine, ITV Creates Project Curator

We speak to Charlie Levine, the Project Curator for ITV’s new on-screen identity project ITV Creates about her development process and ambitions for the project.

News

20.03.19

Bharti Parmar commissioned for ITV Creates project

Artist Bharti Parmar has been commissioned to take over ITV’s logo for the channel’s new on-screen identity project ITV Creates. Her work can be seen broadcast this week until 24 March.

News

12.03.19

Green light for new £3m arts venue in Wolverhampton

The Green Room will act as a community venue and as well as hosting performances, will also be available for exhibitions, concerts and local groups. – via The Express and Star.

News

11.03.19

Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre’s Sculpture Production Award 2019

Supported by New Art West Midlands, the Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre inaugural Sculpture Production Award 2019 is open to emerging artists working in 3D, based within the UK but outside of London. The Award will provide six sculptors with skills mentoring and a £1,000 production grant towards the realisation of a new work. One of the six artists will also be invited to exhibit at the Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art 2019.

Media

11.03.19

A Q&A with… Richard Billingham, photographer and director of Ray & Liz

Fisun Güner speaks to Richard Billingham about Ray & Liz, his new feature film about his early family life in the Black Country – via a-n news

Media

10.03.19

Hew Locke review – exquisite objects raise the ghosts of colonialism

Hew Locke’s solo exhibition Here’s the Thing, on show at Ikon Gallery, is reviewed by Hannah Clugston – via The Guardian

Media

08.03.19

A Q&A with… Lauren Gault, artist taking risks with form and understanding

Our project co-ordinator Anneka French interviews Glasgow-based artist Lauren Gault about her current solo show ‘drye eyes’ at Grand Union – via a-n news

Media

07.03.19

Between Skeletons and Sunsets: Interview with Matthew Krishanu

Matthew Krishanu, whose solo exhibition at MAC Birmingham closes on 10 March, is interviewed by Cleo Roberts – via ArtAsiaPacific

News

07.03.19

Jerwood Arts Artist Advisers announced

Antonio Roberts (who is also on our Advisory Group) and Flatpack Film Festival’s Sam Groves amongst those named as Artist Advisors for Jerwood Arts.

Media

03.03.19

Taking a selfie, 1970s style, in Handsworth – in pictures

Derek Bishton, Brian Homer and John Reardon’s photography is featured in The Guardian ahead of their upcoming exhibition Mac Birmingham from 23 March – 2 June – via The Guardian

Media

01.03.19

Do galleries ever ask us what we want to see?

Grand Union’s Collaborative Programme Curator, Jo Capper, is featured in The White Pube’s latest text Do galleries ever ask us what we want to see? – via The White Pube

News

28.02.19

BCU Researcher appointed Venice Biennale curator

Birmingham City University Postgraduate Researcher Nat Muller has been appointed curator of the Danish Pavilion at this year’s Venice Biennale.

News

14.02.19

English arts bodies slow to become more diverse, report shows

Arts organisations in England are ‘treading water’ when it comes to improving the diversity of their leaders and workers, with progress particularly slow for disabled people. An annual statistical report, published by Arts Council England, showed slow progress. – via The Guardian.

News

12.02.19

BBC and Arts Council England partner for new talent development scheme

Five hundred artists will be commissioned to make fresh and innovative short films, audio and interactive works in a new talent development scheme launched by BBC Arts and Arts Council England.

08.02.19

Birmingham City Council scales back arts cuts

Birmingham City Council has scaled down proposed cuts to arts funding following a public consultation of its budget. It was announced in October last year that cultural organisations could face the effects of a 33% cut to Birmingham City Council’s total arts budget – via The Stage.

News

28.01.19

Residence & Research

During the Summer of 2018, five artists undertook research residencies with National Trust places across the Midlands, developing new ideas and perspectives in response to the sites. On Wednesday 20 February at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, New Art West Midlands and The National Trust warmly invite you to reflect on these residences and explore the value of artist-led research in the context of the heritage site, and the development of future projects.

News

25.01.19

Arts Council England publish an EU exit guide

Arts Council England have published an EU exit guide signposting to relevant government information to help art and cultural organisations prepare in the event of a ‘no deal Brexit’.

Feature

21.01.19

National Trust Residency: Theo Ellison

As part of New Art West Midlands 2018, five artists and alumni of the exhibition were awarded coveted residencies with the National Trust. Theo Ellison was awarded a residency at Coughton Court, an imposing Tudor house in Warwickshire closely associated with the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. We spoke to him about his experience.

Media

21.01.19

Hardeep Pandhal: the rapping artist who works with his mum

His cartoon creations unravelling identity and empire have made him a rising star. Now he’s going global. Tom Emery speaks to the artist, who is originally from Birmingham, about his practice and rising profile – via The Guardian

News

18.01.19

Worcester among five areas to receive millions of pounds of funding to invest in culture

Five locations across England to receive a share of £20 million to invest in local culture, heritage and creative industries and help drive economic growth, Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright announced today.

News

03.01.19

ITV launches new on-screen identity project

From 1 January 2019, ITV’s idents will change every week. For each week of the year, a different artist will create a piece of work, which is their expression of the ITV logo. The project has started with an ident by artist, photographer and filmmaker Ravi Deepres.

News

02.01.19

Vacancy: Coordinator, New Art West Midands

We are currently recruiting a Coordinator. This part-time, fixed term position will support the Director in coordinating the New Art West Midlands contemporary visual arts network. Deadline: Wednesday 23 January 2019.

News

02.01.19

New Year’s Honours list 2019: artists including Barbara Walker and Sonia Boyce receive honours

Birmingham-based Barbara Walker receives an MBE for services to British art while Sonia Boyce is made an OBE. Plus honours for artists Tacita Dean, Yinka Shonibare, Gillian Wearing and Alison Wilding, and Kettle’s Yard gallery director Andrew Nairne – via a-n.

News

20.12.18

New Art West Midlands secure ACE funding

We are delighted to announce that we have been successful in our application to Arts Council England, securing a Project Grant and enabling New Art West Midlands to deliver an 18-month programme of activity.

Media

04.12.18

A Q&A with… Barbara Walker, artist making black histories visible

Anneka French interviews Birmingham-based artist Barbara Walker on her exhibition at Jerwood Gallery, Hasting – via a-n news

Media

01.12.18

Artists, curating and disability

Artists, curating and disability: “We need to shift the notion of the curator as an author to somebody that listens”. Anneka French reports from the event at MAC Birmingham – via a-n news

Media

30.11.18

Helen Marshall: The Face of Suffrage

Miranda Gavin reflects on Helen Marshall: The Face of Suffrage, produced by Grain Projects, taking place at Birmingham New Street Station – via Photomonitor

News

22.10.18

Birmingham arts organisations braced for further 30% cut

Birmingham City Council’s advice to organisations to prepare for the potential cut comes less than a year after promising to hold funding steady until 2020 – via Arts Professional.

News

15.10.18

The Art of Coventry II

Supported by New Art West Midlands, Coventry Artspace has been running the Art of Coventry programme throughout 2018 to develop and support artists and curators across the West Midlands. The last events of the season are taking place over the next few weeks and have been designed specifically to respond to the interests and preoccupations described by participants at Artspace’s regular networking and drop-in sessions.

News

12.10.18

Yinka Shonibare to create new work for Hereford Cathedral

Meadow Arts is working in partnership with Hereford Cathedral to commission a new artwork by Yinka Shonibare MBE (RA), inspired by the Mappa Mundi. Creatures of the Mappa Mundi is one of four projects to win funding from Hidden Gems, part of the Herefordshire’s a Great Place scheme.

News

03.10.18

Wolverhampton to host British Art Show 9

Wolverhampton has been selected as one of four cities to be part of the biggest touring exhibition of contemporary art in the UK. British Art Show 9 will exhibit at Wolverhampton Art Gallery and University of Wolverhampton School of Art between February and May 2021.

Engine Travel

01.10.18

Selina Oakes reports from Manifesta 12 in Palermo: Can You Cultivate a Cultural Coexistence?

Earlier in the year Selina Oakes visited Manifesta 12 in Palermo, Sicily with an Engine Micro Bursary. She reports on her trip and the effects of the roving Biennial on the city.

News

26.09.18

British photography pays tribute to Pete James

British photography pays tribute to curator and researcher Pete James who passed away earlier this year. The inaugural Pete James lecture will form the opening event of the National Photography Symposium in November.

News

25.09.18

Picture of Birmingham front room to adorn UK embassies

Details were announced on Monday of a £500,000 scheme commissioning 10 artists over 10 years to create limited edition prints for diplomatic buildings. The first commission is the Birmingham-born painter Hurvin Anderson – via The Guardian.

News

24.09.18

Turner prize 2018 review – no painting or sculpture, but the best lineup for years

Adrian Searle reviews the 2018 Turner Prize – via The Guardian.

News

24.09.18

The Face of Suffrage

From November to December a new large scale art installation to celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage will be in Birmingham New Street Station. People from across the West Midlands and beyond are invited to submit photographs of the women in their lives to become part of the piece.

20.09.18

ESP & Axisweb: Lunch and Pitch

What would you do with £200, do you have a great idea that you want to share with other people? Have you got an artwork that needs a boost, an idea that needs to be realised? Deadline: Wednesday 26 September 2018.

Interview

20.09.18

National Trust Residency: Larissa E. Shaw

As part of New Art West Midlands 2018, five artists and alumni of the exhibition were awarded coveted residencies with the National Trust. Larissa E Shaw was awarded a residency at The Firs, the birthplace of Sir Edward Elgar. Set in sight of the beautiful rolling Malvern Hills, he took great inspiration from the area. We spoke to Larissa about her experience.

News

20.09.18

Help shape the Arts Council’s new strategy for 2020-30

During October and November there will be series of consultation workshops in Birmingham and Nottingham to debate and discuss Arts Council England’s next ten year strategy.

News

12.09.18

ArtsPay Survey

Employees, freelance workers, artists and business owner-managers are being encouraged to contribute to ArtsPay, the first annual survey of earnings from Arts Professional.

News

10.09.18

New Art West Midlands alumna awarded solo exhibition at prestigious Birmingham gallery

As part of New Art West Midlands 2018, Birmingham City University graduate Olivia Peake has been awarded an exhibition at the prestigious RBSA Gallery in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter next year.

News

10.09.18

Coventry Biennial crowdfunding to support local artists at next year’s festival

Last week Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art launched its new identity, website and announced the dates for its next edition. The busy event at The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum also saw the launch of a Kickstarter that will fund a series of commissions for artists from Coventry and Warwickshire as a part of the 2019 Biennial.

04.09.18

Open Call: East Meets West Masterclasses 2018/19

East Meets West is a collaborative project devised by FORMAT International Photography Festival/QUAD and GRAIN Projects that will provide twenty emerging artists and photographers with a professional development opportunity as well as the chance to exhibit their work at FORMAT19 as a digital showcase.

News

03.09.18

West Midlands galleries at The Manchester Contemporary

AirSpace Gallery, Meter Room and Recent Activity to exhibit at The Manchester Contemporary, the UK’s only invitation art fair for critically engaged contemporary art outside of London.

28.08.18

Go and See Bursaries

Herefordshire’s a Great Place are offering bursaries of £300-£500 to help people from Herefordshire go on research trips to pioneering arts and heritage initiatives across the UK. Designed to foster connections and support the exchange of skills and knowledge, those receiving bursaries will be asked to share the findings of their research, playing a part in strengthening the county’s cultural and creative scene.

News

24.08.18

Stoke to unveil new cultural strategy

Stoke is preparing to unveil its first culture strategy since 2008 to build on the momentum generated by its bid to become UK City of Culture 2021. The strategy due to be put out for public consultation in October will focus on strengthening the funding base for the city’s arts sector and developing links between arts organisations and the healthcare sector – via Arts Professional

News

22.08.18

A boarded-up pub is being given a new lease of life as a community hub

Artists have revealed their vision to transform a rundown city centre pub into a vibrant community hub – complete with a dedicated space for producing pottery. The Portland Inn, in Hanley, is to be given a new lease of life as a social space and ceramics workshop with an area for artists and designers – via The Stoke Sentinel.

News

22.08.18

UK arts festival directors demand change to ‘lengthy, opaque and costly’ visa process

The directors of more than 20 UK arts festivals, including the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Womad and Manchester International Festival, are calling on the government to reform its visa system for visiting artists and ensure that the country remains culturally open and international – via a-n.

20.08.18

The Art of Coventry II

The Art of Coventry is a programme of events organised by Coventry Artspace designed to support and develop West Midlands-based artists. The second season runs from August to October.

News

16.08.18

What Do Artists Do All Day?

Watch artist and New Art West Midlands Advisory Group member Mahtab Hussain in this BBC Four programme following him on one of his latest photographic projects. Mahtab’s work can currently be seen at The New Art Gallery Walsall.

16.08.18

Artist’s Copyright

Navigating copyright laws can be confusing, so it’s important to know your rights and how to protect your work. On Tuesday 18 September Vivid Projects’ Black Hole Club are holding a workshop with not-for-profit visual artists’ rights management organisation DACS. The session will demystify rules and regulations, enabling you to make copyright work for you and your career.

News

10.08.18

In:Site Festival

This September Craftspace are taking over the centre of Birmingham once again for In:Site Festival. The free week-long event will see the green space outside Birmingham Cathedral turn into an outdoor art gallery as it gradually fills up with new artworks, created outside by recent graduates, in collaboration with passers-by.

News

01.08.18

#CVANFuture National Strategy

CVAN publishes its new national strategy to 2021.

News

01.08.18

Birmingham land earmarked for new world-class cultural centre

A site in Yardley, East Birmingham has been agreed as the potential location for a new collection and cultural centre, led by Birmingham Museums Trust

Feature

30.07.18

National Trust Residency: Grace A Williams

Grace A Williams, awarded a residency at Mr Straw’s House, a National Trust property as part of New Art West Midlands 2018 shares her experience.

News

30.07.18

Brexit: arts will suffer without freedom of movement, say Lords

The UK’s thriving cultural industries may suffer by struggling to attract skilled talent from abroad if freedom of movement is restricted after Brexit, a House of Lords committee has warned – via The Guardian.

News

27.07.18

#SaveLightHouse Appeal

Wolverhampton’s Light House Cinema & Cafe Bar is currently under threat of closure. The Black Country’s only independent cinema and community venue, the space supports local artists and has also launched many careers in the arts.

News

26.07.18

Doreen Foster announced as Director of Warwick Arts Centre

Doreen Foster has been announced as the next Director of Warwick Arts Centre. She is currently Deputy Director of the Black Cultural Archives and, before that, Chief Executive of the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham.

News

23.07.18

Cultural sector to ACE: we need support, not measurement

The priorities that the cultural sector want Arts Council England to address over the next ten years have been laid out in a new report, Arts Council England: The Conversation, following a consultation by the funder. It reveals a desire for ACE to advocate more strongly for culture, while finding low levels of support for quality measurement. – via Arts Professional

Media

20.07.18

Can the Return of Birmingham’s Eastside Projects Survive the Gentrification of the City’s Art Scene?

Tom Emery considers the re-opening of Eastside Projects in relation to the gentrification of Birmingham – via Frieze

Review

11.07.18

Review – Three Models for Change

Laura O’Leary reviews Three Models for Change which took place at Stryx, Birmingham from 9-16 June 2018, a collaboration between the University of Birmingham and Grand Union.

10.07.18

EBacc impact: arts teacher numbers in England plummet by almost a quarter

9,000 secondary school arts teachers have left their jobs in England since 2011. Arts Professional’s Jonathan Knott reports – via a-n.

News

09.07.18

Yasmin Boyle: The Space Between Gender

This is the last week to catch ‘The Space Between Gender’, Yasmin Boyle’s solo exhibition at the RBSA. Yasmin won the opportunity to exhibit at the prestigious gallery as part of New Art West Midlands 2017.

04.07.18

Walking Over Coals

Friction Arts’ CPPPD (continuing personal, practice and professional development) programme for emerging, post-emerging and submerging artists of all disciplines, ages and backgrounds. Over the course of a year a diverse group of arts practitioners will work together to make new, risk-taking work and create a group show from the ground up – including fundraising, developing and managing the project, while working with each other and a wide range of professionals from across the artistic spectrum.

02.07.18

Hidden Gems, new grant scheme to highlight Herefordshire

A new grant scheme to identify hidden gems of local heritage and work with communities to produce arts programming or innovative interpretation that tells the gem’s story, making Herefordshire a better place to live, work, and visit. Nine grants of up to £12,000 will be available between 2018 and 2020, with four grants awarded in 2018.

02.07.18

RBSA Next Wave 2018

Deadline approaching for the RBSA’s Next Wave biennial exhibition opportunity for emerging and early-career artists.

Feature

26.06.18

Disabled artists cultivated by DASH mentoring scheme

DASH has just brought Cultivate to a close, a three year mentoring programme for Disabled visual artists based in the West Midlands. Over three years 45 artists took part, and 155 mentoring sessions were held by 12 highly skilled mentors. As a result of the programme’s success, DASH is now planning a Midlands-wide mentoring starting in 2019.

22.06.18

Assembly Birmingham: from precarity of modern living to the power of righteous fury

Birmingham-based artist Pete Ashton reports on a-n’s Assembly event at Eastside Projects.

20.06.18

Andrew Jackson: From a Small Island reviewed

Camilla Brown reviews Birmingham-based Andrew Jackson’s solo exhibition at MAC Birmingham – via Photomonitor

Engine News

19.06.18

Curatorial Research Group: Can the museum be a site of change? – Thursday 21 June 2018

This Thursday’s Curatorial Research Group, reflects on institutional resistance and the possibility of transformation with the co-curators of ‘The Past Is Now: Birmingham and the British Empire,’ currently on at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

Interview

15.06.18

Three Models for Change: In Conversation

A collaboration between Grand Union and the University of Birmingham, Three Models for Change is a group exhibition taking place at Stryx in Birmingham until 16 June. Laura Onions interviews the curators.

Engine Travel

14.06.18

Laurie Ramsell reports on his trip to Edinburgh, developing a greater knowledge of bioart communities working within the UK

Exploring what it means to be human, Laurie Ramsell’s cross-disciplinary practice investigates themes of the perceived natural and unnatural experience through the use of biological material, often using his own body. In our latest round of opportunities Ramsell was awarded an Engine Micro Bursary to visit ASCUS Art & Science in Edinburgh to develop a greater knowledge of bioart communities working within the UK. He reports back on his trip.

Review

11.06.18

Review – Sam Belinfante: Accordion

Helen Kilby-Nelson reviews Sam Belinfante’s, Accordion, (2014) at the CET Building in Coventry. The pop-up space closes its doors for a final time on Saturday 16 June.

Engine Travel

08.06.18

Jane Thakoordin reports from Glasgow: Project Ability + Glasgow International Festival

In April, artist Jane Thakoordin visited Glasgow with an Engine Micro Bursary. As well as Glasgow International Festival, she visited former colleagues at Project Ability, a visual arts organisation that creates opportunities for people with disabilities and those with lived experience of mental ill-health.

Review

06.06.18

Review – Andrew Jackson: From a Small Island

Caroline Molloy, Senior Lecturer in Photography at Coventry University, reviews Andrew Jackson: From A Small Island at Midland Arts Centre (MAC)

04.06.18

CPD opportunities from Worcestershire Arts Partnership

Worcestershire Arts Partnership are offering CPD opportunities for artists and those in the arts sector at The Guildhall in Worcester over the next 8 months.

Interview

01.06.18

Eastside Projects reopening: “A lot of positives have come out of what at first seemed a very bad situation”

Last June, Birmingham-based Eastside Projects unexpectedly closed its gallery space, with rumours circulating as to the reasons why. In this piece for a-n, Director Gavin Wade speaks to Jack Hutchinson about the real reasons for the closure, how it highlighted the support for Eastside Projects from Birmingham’s art scene and the organisation’s plans for the future.

Review

30.05.18

Review: David Bethell: Inverted Landscapes by Selina Oakes

Selina Oakes reviews David Bethell: Inverted Landscapes at the National Trust’s Ilam Park in Staffordshire.

29.05.18

Gallery 37

Applications are open for Gallery 37, a creative programme investing in Birmingham-based artists who are pursuing a career in the creative industries (aged 16 – 25 years).

News

21.05.18

The Manchester Contemporary Appoints Nathaniel Pitt as Curator

Nathaniel Pitt, Director and founder of Worcestershire and London based gallery Division of Labour, has been appointed as Curator for The Manchester Contemporary.

Review

21.05.18

Review – Vanley Burke: Photographing Birmingham (1968 – 2011)

Caroline Molloy, Senior Lecturer in Photography at Coventry University, reviews Vanley Burke: Photographing Birmingham (1968 – 2011) at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Engine

16.05.18

Engine Micro Bursaries: Recipients announced

We are delighted to announce the latest recipients of Engine Micro Bursaries. Bursaries of up to £250 were up for grabs for artistic and professional development. A record 67 applications were received in this round, with only 16 bursaries awarded.

14.05.18

The Art of COVENTRY

The Art of Coventry is a programme of events organised by Coventry Artspace designed to support and develop West Midlands-based artists. The first season runs from May to July 2018 and includes talks, workshops and visiting art works.

News

14.05.18

Help shape fair exhibition payment for artists

CVAN is part of the Paying Artist Working Group which, with a-n The Artists Information Company, has launched the Exhibition Payment Survey 2018 – a new sector-wide survey to collect essential data and produce a benchmark for Exhibition Payment in the UK. Whether you are an artist or work for an arts organisation, we urge you to complete the survey to ensure both artists and organisations experiences are taken into consideration.

Feature

11.05.18

out in the cold

Director of Coventry Biennial of Contempoary Art Ryan Hughes talks to Ollie Noble, who in March exhibited works in the central piazza of University of Warwick; the first exhibition he has ever curated.

Media

11.05.18

Artists condemn exclusion of arts subjects from English baccalaureate

More than 100 leading artists say policy will seriously damage many young people’s futures.

Feature

13.04.18

Birmingham Art Lab: the city’s artistic heritage

Chris Ansell, Assistant Manager, Events and Exhibitions at Birmingham City University, reflects on Birmingham Art Lab: the city’s artistic heritage as part of Flatpack Film Festival.

Media

12.04.18

a-n announce Assembly event in Birmingham

a-n’s Assembly programme of workshops, talks and networking returns with a new series of one-day events taking place in four cities around the UK, with events in Salford and Birmingham already confirmed.

Review

11.04.18

Review: Coming Out at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Leanne O’Connor reviews Coming Out: Sexuality, Gender and Identity at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, on display until 15 April.

Media

09.04.18

Arts organisations among best employers for women

Arts Professional report on the gender pay gap within the arts sector. Report from Frances Richens and Christy Romer.

Interview

09.04.18

Selina Oakes interviews Bob Langridge, New Art West Midlands exhibitor

Hereford College of Arts graduate and New Art West Midlands exhibitor Bob Langridge speaks to Selina Oakes.

Media

06.04.18

Sahej Rahal: The Dekkan Trap at mac birmingham, review by Art Review

Fi Churchman reviews Sahej Rahal’s solo show currently on at mac birmingham for Art Review.

Media

05.04.18

Consulting the CVAN regions – update

CVAN update on their consultation of the English regions to determine their focus for their national strategy work over the coming three years.

Engine

05.04.18

Sarah Taylor Silverwood’s Engine Micro Residency at University of Wolverhampton

Sarah Taylor Silverwood reports back from the Engine Micro Residency she undertook at the University of Wolverhampton earlier this year.

Interview

04.04.18

Selina Oakes interviews Jessica Eburne, New Art West Midlands exhibitor

Jessica Eburne is showing as part of New Art West Midlands 2018 at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Selina Oakes caught up with her to find out more about her influences and ideas.

Media

04.04.18

Blogger Q&A: Jenna Naylor, alien hybrid maker

a-n interview Jenna Naylor, New Art West Midlands 2017 alumni and artist based at AirSpace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent.

Media

03.04.18

Paying Artists Working Group: developing Exhibition Payment as a tool for resilience and diversity

The recently established Paying Artists Working Group met last month to decide on the steps needed to implement and develop a-n’s Exhibition Payment Guide over the next four years. a-n outline its plans and priorities.

Media

30.03.18

Arts side-lined in Sector Deal for the creative industries

The £150m Creative Industries Sector Deal supports the development of creative clusters and the roll out of a creative careers programme but prioritises digital businesses over culture. Report from Arts Professional’s Liz Hill.

Interview

29.03.18

Selina Oakes interviews Sarah Walden, New Art West Midlands exhibitor

In the third of her series of interviews with New Art West Midlands exhibitors, Selina Oakes catches up with artist Sarah Walden.

Media

29.03.18

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Our colleagues at CVAN have prepared some information and resources on changes to UK data protection law which will be enforced on 25 May 2018. Read more to find out how you may be affected by the new GDPR.

Interview

28.03.18

Selina Oakes interviews Jodie Wingham, New Art West Midlands exhibitor

Selina Oakes speaks to Jodie Wingham, currently exhibiting at AirSpace Gallery as part of New Art West Midlands 2018.

Media

28.03.18

Black Country Lungs: a moving exploration of COPD in a post-industrial community

Medical journal The Lancet, feature Multistory’s recent project Black Country Lungs with Dutch photographer Corinne Noordenbos, which formed part of the Arts and Science Festival at University of Birmingham.

Media

28.03.18

On Milk: a Story of Regulation and Control

Tom Emery profiles artist Melanie Jackson for Frieze magazine. Jackson’s exhibition, Deeper into the Pyramid, is showing at Grand Union until 21 April.

Media

27.03.18

Turner prize winner’s paintings among works acquired for Rugby exhibition

Works by prominent figures in Britain’s Black Arts Movement, including paintings by Turner Prize winner Lubaina Himid, have been acquired by Rugby Borough Council’s collection of 20th and 21st century British contemporary art. Report from the Rugby Observer.

Interview

23.03.18

Selina Oakes interviews Lily Wales, New Art West Midlands exhibitor

New Art West Midlands exhibitor Lily Wales speaks to Selina Oakes about her experiences of re-making her sculpture Radioactive Rhonda at AirSpace Gallery and the context for its production.

Media

23.03.18

Mike Nelson’s exhibition at The New Art Gallery Walsall reviewed by Apollo Magazine

Will Martin reviews Mike Nelson’s Lionheart exhibition at The New Art Gallery Walsall for Apollo Magazine.

Media

20.03.18

ASTONish Evalution Reports

This evaluation report was commissioned by Lara Ratnaraja and Helga Henry as part of the ASTONish programme. ASTONish focused on transforming cultural leadership by selecting creative entrepreneurs and artists both living in Aston and Newtown and those in the wider city who wish to engage with the area culturally.

News

16.03.18

Developing your Creative Practice fund from Arts Council England

Developing your Creative Practice is a new development fund from Arts Council England designed to support independent creative practitioners to ensure excellence is thriving in the arts and culture sector.

Interview

16.03.18

Interview with Meenakshi Thirukode

We speak to curator Meenakshi Thirukode about her platform Instituting Otherwise and her views on unlearning, institutional critique and decolonisation ahead of her participation in Reimagine India: Here, There & Everywhere Summit, at mac birmingham on Friday 23 March.

News

16.03.18

Artists and Collaborators pay tributes to Pete James

We have been extraordinarily saddened by the death this week of Pete James, a curator and researcher of enormous talent and influence within the field of photography within the West Midlands and far beyond. Some of the artists and collaborators he worked with pay tribute.

Engine

15.03.18

Call for participants and Bursary Applications: Curatorial Curriculum at Grand Union

Grand Union’s Curatorial Curriculum is an alternative learning programme for emerging curators, consisting of intensive workshops led by internationally-renowned practitioners. The workshops

Media

15.03.18

New moves to halt decline of arts activities in primary schools

Arts education professionals and politicians have met as a first step to tackling the structural problems causing the arts to be neglected in many schools. Arts Professional’s Liz Hill reports for a-n.

Media

15.03.18

Obituary: Pete James, Curator of Photography Collections at the Library of Birmingham, 1958-2018

A tribute by Diane Smyth in the British Journal of Photography to the enormously important work and to the generous nature of Pete James who sadly passed away this week.

Review

14.03.18

Diaspora Pavilion/Venice to Wolverhampton reviewed by Caroline Molloy

Caroline Molloy, Senior Lecturer in Photography, Coventry University, reflects on her experiences of and the wider impact of Diaspora Pavilion/Venice to Wolverhampton.

Review

09.03.18

The Apna Heritage Archive reviewed by Caroline Molloy

The Apna Heritage Archive exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery is reviewed by Caroline Molloy.

Media

08.03.18

BAE quits as Great Exhibition of the North sponsor

Defence giant BAE Systems has withdrawn its sponsorship of this summer’s Great Exhibition of the North following protests by several acts. BBC report.

Media

07.03.18

Might This Be ‘The Winter of Discontent #2’ for WASPI Artists?

Carolyn Black, Artist Producer and writer based in Gloucestershire, considers the effects on women artists of the changes to the State Pension Age for our colleagues at Visual Arts South West.

Media

05.03.18

Clare Woods at Mead Gallery reviewed in Frieze

Hettie Judah reviews Reality Dimmed at Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, for Frieze.

News

02.03.18

Curatorial Research Group: Personal Slippages: Curating, Curanderismo, Caring

The next Curatorial Research Group session, Personal Slippages: Curating, Curanderismo, Caring: Teresa Cisneros with Adelaide Bannerman, takes place on Friday 9 March.

Engine

02.03.18

Engine Micro Bursaries Re-open

We are once again offering artists, curators and art writers living in the West Midlands the opportunity to apply for Engine Micro Bursaries towards artistic and professional development. Application deadline: Thursday 12 April at 12noon.

Engine

01.03.18

Suzie Hunt’s Engine Micro Residency at University of Worcester

Artist Suzie Hunt recently undertook a two-week Engine Micro Residency based at the Garage Studios at the University of Worcester. Here she reflects on her experiences.

Media

01.03.18

Will the Change Makers make a difference?

As one of Arts Council England’s cohort of Change Makers, a group of diverse leaders, Andrew Miller reflects on why he accepted the opportunity and what might change as a result. Article for Arts Professional.

Media

28.02.18

Museum & Gallery Exhibition Tax Credit Briefings

Information about Arts Council’s series of briefing events across England in March to support museums and galleries to understand and benefit from the Museum and Gallery Exhibitions Tax Relief.

Media

22.02.18

A win-win competition

The UK City of Culture competition brings great benefits – to the losers as well as the winners – but as more cities, towns and even villages express interest, Andrew Dixon asks if changes are needed. Report via Arts Professional.

Media

22.02.18

Awards and prizes as graduate showcase New Art West Midlands opens

a-n report on New Art West Midlands 2018 and the prizes and awards announced in partnership with Trust New Art and Cass Art.

Engine

16.02.18

Accelerator Artist Talks Programme

Read more about our next series of Accelerator talks taking place in March and April at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum and Staffordshire University.

News

16.02.18

New Art West Midlands 2018 – Prize Winners Announced

Five artists and alumni of the New Art West Midlands exhibition have been awarded coveted residencies with the National Trust, alongside three prizes from Cass Art.

News

14.02.18

A Statement from Photo Archive Miners on the sad death of Masterji

Photo Archive Miners pay tribute to the late Coventry-based photographer Masterji, who has sadly passed away at the age of 96.

Media

09.02.18

Edmund Clark and Thomas Bock exhibitions at Ikon reviewed by a-n Writer Development Programme

a-n’s Writer Development Programme participants review Ikon’s Edmund Clark and Thomas Bock exhibitions as part of the scheme.

Media

09.02.18

Warwick Arts Centre awarded major capital funding for 20:20 Project

Warwick Arts Centre has been awarded £4.2m in National Lottery funding from Arts Council England towards its 20:20 capital project.

Review

09.02.18

What ingredients make for a successful artist? A response to SLOW COOKER PT IV

Gavin Rogers responds to SLOW COOKER PT IV, an artist residency programme delivered by Stryx Gallery Birmingham from May to Dec 2017.

Media

08.02.18

DCMS Inquiry: Societal Impact of Participation in Culture and Sport

The DCMS Select Committee is currently inquiring into the societal impact of participation in culture and sport. CVAN are urgently calling for case studies to submit to this.

Engine

08.02.18

Curatorial Bursary Report: Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art by Jonathon Harris

Engine Curatorial Bursary recipient Jonathon Harris reflects upon his experiences of working with last year’s Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art.

Media

05.02.18

Worcester Arts Workshop gets council grant to help it raise £1m

Aled Thomas reports for Worcester News on closure-threatened Worcester Arts Workshop’s vital council grant.

Review

01.02.18

Jonny Bark: Inhabiting Edgelands

Caroline Molloy reviews Jonny Bark’s exhibition Inhabiting Edgelands at the CET Building, Coventry.

Media

31.01.18

Join Birmingham’s cultural revolution!

Eastside Projects report on the 16 new job opportunities created as a result of Arts Council’s NPO funding for Birmingham.

News

26.01.18

Navi Kaur: Things That Remind Me of Home

Read more about Things That Remind Me of Home, a project by artist Navi Kaur.

Media

26.01.18

Westminster may be brain-dead but some parts of Britain are buzzing with ideas: A visit to the Midlands shows how growth can be made inclusive

The Economist on the opportunities for Coventry and the West Midlands as part of the Midlands Engine.

Interview

25.01.18

Double Act: Smoke and Mirrors, Amy-Lou Matthews, AirSpace Graduate Residency Interview

Selina Oakes speaks to Staffordshire University alumna Amy-Lou Matthews about her time in residence at AirSpace Gallery as part of their Graduate Residency Scheme.

Media

25.01.18

The university of the future will be interdisciplinary

‘Traditional departmental structures are preventing research and education from evolving. It’s time for something new.’ Report by Zahir Irani for The Guardian.

Engine News

25.01.18

Micro Residency Artists Announced for University of Worcester and University of Wolverhampton

We are pleased to announce the artists selected for our two Engine Micro Residencies taking place this year.

Media

24.01.18

How art and design can transform the daily commute

Vincent Dowd reports for the BBC on Crossrail’s new series of visual art commissions for train stations.

Media

19.01.18

A Q&A with… Clare Woods, painter with a sculptural approach

Anneka French interviews Herefordshire-based Clare Woods on her solo exhibition at the Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, for a-n news.

Media

18.01.18

Can commercial galleries thrive outside major market centres?

Henry Little reports from Apollo on the move toward regional, non-London outposts for a number of major galleries.

Media

17.01.18

Creativity can be taught to anyone. So why are we leaving it to private schools?

Rufus Norris reports for The Guardian on prioritising the creative industries within education.

Media

17.01.18

Mayor turns up the heat in bid to lure Channel 4 to the West Midlands

Black Country Radio report on the campaign to bring Channel 4 to the West Midlands (to Solihull, Birmingham, Coventry or Brierley Hill) via #WMGeneration.

News

12.01.18

New Art West Midlands: Five Years On – Alumni Exhibition

We are delighted to announce a very special exhibition launching next month: New Art West Midlands: Five Years On, 15 February – 6 May.

Engine News

11.01.18

Studio Visit Artists Announced

The successful artists are announced for the most recent phase of our Engine studio visits.

Media

10.01.18

Scene Report: Coventry – seizing new opportunities for the visual arts

Ryan Hughes reports for a-n news on visual arts activity in Coventry, the 2021 UK City of Culture.

Media

10.01.18

Made in Stoke-on-Trent

A series of short documentary films from The Guardian focusing on Stoke-on-Trent including, among others, artist Anna Francis, Community Maker and the Portland Inn Project.

Media

29.12.17

2017 – How was it for you? #6: Grand Union, Birmingham

Grand Union programme director Kim McAleese and associate curator Seán Elder speak to a-n news about their 2017.

Engine Travel

22.12.17

Andrew Gillespie Reports from Glasgow

Andrew Gillespie reports from his research trip to Glasgow last summer, made possible via an Engine Micro Bursary.

Media

15.12.17

Opening the Floodgates Artist Announced

The Ring announces the selected artist for its open call. Lucy McLauchlan will make new work for the waterways of Worcestershire.

Engine Travel

14.12.17

#neverbeentovenice – Reflections on the Biennale by Kate Self

Kate Self reflects on the Engine visit to the Venice Biennale back in September.

Media

12.12.17

Artists Announced for Multistory’s Blast! Call Out

Multistory announce the artists working with them on Blast Festival 2019.

News

12.12.17

Proposed Cuts to Towner Gallery, Eastbourne

Towner Art Gallery in Eastbourne have launched a petition objecting to significant cuts proposed by Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC).

Media

07.12.17

Coventry named UK city of culture 2021

Coventry has been named the UK’s city of culture for 2021, giving it a one-off opportunity to boost the economy, tourism, civic pride and access to the arts – but also, its backers hope, a chance to be in the limelight and have some fun. Mark Brown reports for The Guardian.

News

30.11.17

New CVAN Director Announced

The Contemporary Visual Arts Network is delighted to announce the appointment of Paula Graham-Gazzard as its new Director.

News

24.11.17

Opportunities at BOM: Indonesia Residency, Fellows and BOM+

BOM announce three new opportunities: Indonesia Residency, BOM Fellows and BOM+. All deadlines are in December.

Media

23.11.17

Creative Industries Federation Responds to The Budget

Yesterday the Chancellor presented his Budget to Parliament. Commitments on innovation, tech, and digital infrastructure were promised, however there is concern that there was no acknowledgement of the importance of the creative industries in growing the country’s economy – despite recent reports.

Media

23.11.17

Brexit: EU cancels Britain’s hosting of European capital of culture

A report from The Independent detailing the EU’s decision to prevent Britain’s participation in European Capital of Culture after Brexit.

Media

22.11.17

Education networks unite to extend cross-cultural collaboration

Arts Professional’s Christy Romer reports on a new manifesto is billed as the first-ever international commitment to arts management and cultural policy education.

Engine Travel

16.11.17

Pete Ashton on Ars Electronica, Linz

In September, artist Pete Ashton visited Ars Electronica, a media arts festival in the Austrian city of Linz with an Engine Micro Bursary. Here he reflects on his experiences in the context of international festivals and the impact these might have upon artists within their locale.

Media

16.11.17

STEAM Briefing published with Nesta

A new briefing published jointly by the Cultural Learning Alliance and Nesta sets out the need to shift the policy focus on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) by adding the A of arts – turning STEM into STEAM.

Engine Travel

15.11.17

Vicky Roden Shares her Experiences of the Venice Biennale

Artist Vicky Roden shares her experiences of visiting the Venice Biennale. Her trip was supported by an Engine Bursary.

Media

14.11.17

History in the making: children use clay in class to rejuvenate the Potteries

Josh Halliday reports for the Guardian on the benefits of making and a creative education in the context of the British Ceramics Biennial and Stoke-on-Trent’s Capital of Culture bid.

Interview

10.11.17

Interview with artist Karina Marusińska

Bettina Fischer speaks to artist Karina Marusińska about her residency and workshops in West Bromwich and recent exhibition at Centrala.

News

10.11.17

Live Screen @ The Herbert – Open Call: A new opportunity from Home for Waifs and Strays

Home for Waifs and Strays have just announced a new open call in partnership with disability led arts organisation DASH and The Herbert Museum & Art Gallery in Coventry.

Engine

10.11.17

Traverse artists announced: Joanne Masding and Mette Boel

We announce the artists selected for Traverse: Connecting International Art Communities – Joanne Masding (UK) and Mette Boel (DK).

Engine Travel

08.11.17

Rohanie Campbell-Thakoordin reports on the Diaspora Pavilion in Venice

Rohanie Campbell-Thakoordin reports from the 57th Venice International Art Biennale, with a focus on the Diaspora Pavilion curated by David A Bailey MBE. Her visit was funded by an Engine bursary.

News

06.11.17

ASTONish Presents Masterclass With David A Bailey MBE

ASTONish presents the next Masterclass with David A Bailey MBE on Thursday 16 November at Birmingham Hippodrome in partnership with New Art West Midlands and CREATE.

Engine

31.10.17

Micro-residency opportunities at University of Wolverhampton and University of Worcester

Engine, in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton and University of Worcester are offering micro residency opportunities in January and February 2018.

Interview

31.10.17

Interview with artist Faisal Hussain

Birmingham-based artist Faisal Hussain recently presented his first solo exhibition Suspect Objects Suspect Subjects at Centrala. Bettina Fischer talked to him about motivators behind his work and the need to face hatred with humour.

Interview Travel

27.10.17

Ann Lislegaard Interviewed by Aly Grimes

Birmingham-based independent curator Aly Grimes interviews artist Ann Lislegaard about her work for the Lofoten International Arts Festival, north Norway.

Media

27.10.17

Collaborations between arts and academia benefit all

A national assessment of UK research has found partnering with academics can inspire arts organisations and practitioners to create innovative news projects. Article by Christy Romer from Arts Professional.

Engine Travel

26.10.17

Venice O My! Reflections on Venice Biennale by Alex Billingham

Our second report from the New Art West Midlands / Engine visit to Venice. Artist and curator Alex Billingham reflects on the trip.

Engine Travel

26.10.17

Video, Film, Digital: Moving Image at the 57th Venice International Art Biennale by Thomas Kilby

In the first of a series of reports from 57th Venice International Art Biennale, artist Tom Kilby reports on his highlights. Tom was one of the artists selected for an Engine bursary to attend the Biennale along with the New Art West Midlands and Engine teams.

News

26.10.17

ASTONish presents Masterclass with Zoe Whitley

ASTONish presents a masterclass with Zoe Whitley, Co-curator of ‘Soul Of A Nation’, Tate Modern. In partnership with New Art West Midlands and CREATE.

Media

25.10.17

Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art reviewed by this is tomorrow

Kit Webb reviews Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art for this is tomorrow.

Media

25.10.17

Iain Cartwright, Executive Director of the British Ceramics Biennial speaks about the project for The Biennial Effect

Iain Cartwright, Executive Director of the British Ceramics Biennial speaks about his work with the city of Stoke-on-Trent and Higher Education. This presentation forms part of The Biennial Effect, a symposium organised for Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art.

Feature

25.10.17

Lara Ratnaraja and Helga Henry on diversity in the cultural sector

Lara Ratnaraja and Helga Henry give their opinions on the narrative surrounding diversity in the cultural sector.

Engine

23.10.17

Sophie Huckfield: Decelerating at Summer Lodge

Artist Sophie Huckfield reflects on the Summer Lodge she attended this summer at Nottingham Trent University. Her participation was funded by an Engine Micro Bursary.

News

18.10.17

Trust New Art Midlands group with New Art West Midlands: Creative Intelligence and the new residency model with artist Matt Parker

This session will be an opportunity to learn more about a new short residency model with National Trust, with an opportunity for 5 Trust New Art Midlands properties to host micro residencies with New Art West Midlands artists past and present.

Engine News

18.10.17

Curatorial Research Group Autumn 2017

The autumn season of Curatorial Research Network events led by Lucy Lopez and Eastside Projects with New Art West Midlands is now live.

News

13.10.17

The Biennial Effect: The impact of the art biennial on place-making

As the inaugural Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art draws to a close, this symposium examines the impact of the art biennial on place-making. It asks, what makes a new biennial distinctive within the global cult of biennials? And is it enough for a biennial to be responsive, embedded and tailored to its locality?

Media

12.10.17

Susie Green: Pleasure is a Weapon

Amy Jones reviews Susie Green: Pleasure is a Weapon at Grand Union for this is tomorrow.

Media

12.10.17

Coventry Biennial 2017 review: a springboard for new responses

Selina Oakes reviews the Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art for a-n news.

Media

22.09.17

British Ceramics Biennial 2017 in Stoke-on-Trent

Sara Jaspan, Exhibitions Editor at Creative Tourist, previews the upcoming British Ceramics Biennial in Stoke-on-Trent.

Media

22.09.17

The Future: Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art

Axisweb preview the inaugural Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art.

Engine Travel

21.09.17

Pak Keung Wan on the 3rd Global Print 2017

Pak Keung Wan on the international printmaking exhibition 3rd Global Print located in the Douro region of Portugal 2017.

Engine

21.09.17

Katie Hodson attends intensive casting course at London Sculpture Workshop

Artist Katie Hodson used the Engine Micro Bursary she was awarded this summer to attend a casting workshop at London Sculpture Workshop. She reflects on her production experiences and learning processes below.

Media

21.09.17

CVAN Joins Paying Artists Working Group

CVAN have joined the Paying Artists Working Group, set up by a-n/AIR to inform the development of their Exhibition Payment Guide and support its implementation over the next five years.

Engine Travel

21.09.17

documenta visit reflections by Laura Onions

Artist and educator Laura Onions was the recipient of an Engine Micro Bursary earlier this year. Below she reflects on her experiences of documenta 14, Kassel.

Media

21.09.17

Scene Report: Stoke-on-Trent – a malleable city with creative potential

Selina Oakes profiles the artistic scene in Stoke-on-Trent for a-n.

Interview

20.09.17

Introducing: Katie Boyce, Senior Visual Arts Officer at Rugby Art Gallery

We chat to Katie Boyce, recently appointed Senior Visual Arts Officer at Rugby Art Gallery to find out about her interests and upcoming plans.

Media

20.09.17

Seurat To Riley: The Art Of Perception Reviewed

Robert Richardson reviews Seurat To Riley: The Art Of Perception at Compton Verney for our friends at CVAN East Midlands.

Media

20.09.17

The People’s Walk of Fame with Anna Francis and Rebecca Davies

The Stoke Sentinnel features this new artist-led project taking place in Stoke-on-Trent.

Interview

15.09.17

Interview with Artist Nick Briz

We speak to Chicago-based artist Nick Briz, one of 10 artists showing in No Copyright Infringement Intended at Vivid Projects.

Media

15.09.17

How can universities help solve the creative arts crisis?

The creative arts have come under fire for poor graduate outcomes. But universities need to defend the important skills they provide. Jennifer Tuckett writes for the Guardian.

Engine

14.09.17

Engine: Opportunities for Studio Visits

We are again offering artists and curators living in the West Midlands region the opportunity to receive a studio visit from an arts professional. Application deadline: 12noon, Friday 3 November.

Feature

08.09.17

Tony McClure and Suzie Hunt: Whitworth Wallis Artists in Residence

Artists Tony McClure and Suzie Hunt recently completed Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s annual Whitworth Wallis Residency for graduates from Birmingham School of Art.

Engine

07.09.17

Engine Away Day: AirSpace and ACAVA, Stoke-on-Trent, Saturday 14 October 2017

Our third Engine Away Day visit is to the gallery and studios at AirSpace Gallery and nearby artist studio complex ACAVA.

News

06.09.17

THE OUTER LIMITS: Defining a Visual Arts Strategy for the West Midlands

Led by New Art West Midlands, The Outer Limits programme for artists explores the extremities of artistic practice – seeking out the far and distant places that make visual art in the midlands distinct and encouraging peer interaction through 6 events across the region.

Engine

06.09.17

Engine Away Day: Grand Union, Birmingham, Wednesday 11 October 2017

Our Away Day visit on 11 October is to the gallery and purpose-built artist-led studios Grand Union in the Minerva Works complex in Digbeth, Birmingham.

Media

04.09.17

Venice Biennale: Britain’s New Voices

This BBC documentary follows three artists as they prepared to show their work in the Diaspora Pavilion in Venice earlier this year. The programme includes our very own Birmingham-based Barbara Walker, as well as a fitting and moving tribute to Khadija Saye.

Engine

01.09.17

Engine Open Call: Traverse – Connecting International Art Communities

Aarhus Billedkunstcenter (Denmark) and New Art West Midlands present the second edition of Traverse – Connecting International Art Communities. Read more about our artist open call exploring the impact of peripheral geographies on artists’ working lives.

Feature Interview

31.08.17

Sex Education in Flux: Bedfellows Residency, AirSpace Gallery

Selina Oakes speaks with the three artists of Bedfellows, Chloe Cooper, Phoebe Davies and Jenny Moore, recently on residence at AirSpace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent.

Interview

31.08.17

Interview with artist Emilie Gervais

Emilie Gervais, based in Marseille, is one of 10 artists showing in No Copyright Infringement Intended, curated by Antonio Roberts at Vivid Projects. We find out more.

Media

30.08.17

Cass Art interview Barbara Walker

Our friends at Cass Art interview Birmingham-based artist Barbara Walker about her Drawing Room Bursary Award.

Review

30.08.17

Sheela Gowda at Ikon: Review by Selina Oakes

Selina Oakes reviews Ikon gallery’s current exhibition of work by Indian artist Sheela Gowda.

Media

25.08.17

GCSES Further Decline in Uptake of Arts Subjects

CVAN National report on the declining uptake of GCSE arts subjects.

Engine

23.08.17

Engine Away Day: The Royal Standard, Liverpool, Tuesday 12 September 2017

Engine is programming a series of Away Day visits both within the region and beyond. The purpose of these is to explore artist-led activity, to profile the work of artists based outside the capital and to create networking opportunities.

Interview

22.08.17

Q&A with artist Barbara Mihályi

Bettina Fischer speaks to Barbara Mihályi about her residency and exhibition at Centrala exploring Birmingham’s canals.

Interview

18.08.17

Introducing: Amelia Beavis-Harrison, ESP & Public Programmer, Eastside Projects

We catch up with Amelia Beavis-Harrison, newly appointed ESP & Public Programmer at Eastside Projects.

Media

17.08.17

Ikon’s Sheela Gowda exhibition reviewed in Frieze

Emilia Terracciano reviews Ikon’s Sheela Gowda solo exhibition in Frieze magazine.

Engine

16.08.17

Jodie Wingham Reports from Textile Screenprinting Summer School at Leicester Print Workshop

Jodie Wingham reports from Leicester Print Workshop’s Screenprinting Summer School.

Media

16.08.17

Mahtab Hussain: You Get Me? review on Photomonitor

Helen Trompeteler reviews Mahtab Hussain’s solo exhibition You Get Me? at Autograph ABP for Photomonitor.

Interview

16.08.17

Q&A with Tom Verity and James Lomax: Glasshouse 2

Since 4 July, artists Tom Verity and James Lomax have been undertaking the second part of the Glasshouse residency programme in The New Art Gallery Walsall’s Artists’ Studio. Anneka French found out more.

Media

16.08.17

Quarter of arts PhDs ‘neglect career development’

Many UK doctoral students view professional development as a ‘distraction’ or a ‘waste of time’, says study. Article from Times Higher Education.

Media

10.08.17

Connecting Stories of British Heritage

Harpreet Kaur writes about the Library of Birmingham exhibition Connecting Stories: Our British Asian Heritage for the Huffington Post.

Interview

10.08.17

Q&A with Seán Elder, Associate Curator at Grand Union

We catch up with Seán Elder, Grand Union’s new Associate Curator, to find out more about his background, research and future plans.

Media

07.08.17

New Kickstarter Launched for Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art

a-n report on a new Kickstarter for the biennial. The 17-day festival will feature over 70 exhibitions and events from UK and international artists. Jack Hutchinson finds out more from artist and biennial director Ryan Hughes.

Engine Travel

04.08.17

Kaye Winwood Reports from Food Art Week (Berlin)

Last month Kaye Winwood attended Food Art Week (Berlin), this research opportunity was supported by an Engine Micro Bursary, from New Art West Midlands and The New Art Gallery Walsall. She reports back on her experiences.

Engine Feature

02.08.17

Grace A. Williams on the Psychical Research Archive, Cambridge

Grace A Williams visited the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) Archive at Cambridge University Library, the largest UK repository of material relating to unexplained phenomena. Watch her video report.

News

28.07.17

Barbara Walker Selected for Jerwood Drawing Prize 2017

Barbara Walker has been selected as one of the exhibitors in the Jerwood Drawing Prize, opening at Jerwood Space on 13 September 2017.

Interview

27.07.17

Q&A with Artist Pamela Schilderman

Annabel Clarke speaks to artist Pamela Schilderman about her work in Leamington Spa Museum & Art Gallery’s Spotlight display.

Engine Travel

26.07.17

Artists and Producers Selected for Venice Biennale Bursaries

Four artists and visual arts producers based in Birmingham and the Black Country have been awarded our 57th Venice Biennale bursaries following an open call.

Interview

26.07.17

Introducing Recent Activity: Q&A with Andrew Gillespie and Andrew Lacon

Recent Activity is a curatorial collaborative project by Birmingham-based artists Andrew Gillespie and Andrew Lacon. They have recently opened a space on Floodgate Street in Digbeth. We found out what they have planned for the space.

News

20.07.17

Hereford College of Arts Success at Free Range, London

Graduates of Hereford College of Arts Photography programme have enjoyed recent success at the annual Free Range graduate show in London.

News

20.07.17

New Art West Midlands 2018 exhibition – selected artists announced

28 artists have been selected for the exhibition, New Art West Midlands 2018 which will take place at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry and Airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent in February to May 2018.

News

20.07.17

Mark Essen selected for 3-Phase

Mark Essen is one of three artists selected for 3-Phase, a development programme and exhibition series delivered in partnership with Jerwood Charitable Foundation, Workplace Gallery and Eastside Projects.

Media

18.07.17

Creative Freelancers Report

Nearly half (47%) of the creative workers in the creative industries are freelance. Creative Freelancers, is a new report published by the Creative Industries Federation aiming to transform the working lives of those who are self-employed in the industry.

Engine News

17.07.17

Lily Wales receives GRAIN and Engine Bursary

Engine and GRAIN are delighted to announce that Lily Wales has been awarded our £1000 bursary. The bursary was for an artist living and working in the West Midlands region who uses photography as an integral element of their practice.

News

17.07.17

Coventry & Stoke shortlisted for City of Culture 2021

On Friday evening the shortlist for 2021 UK City of Culture was announced. Five out of the original list of eleven bidding cities were selected. In exciting news for the region, two West Midlands cities, Coventry and Stoke-on-Trent made the shortlist.

Media

14.07.17

ISM and a-n launch #FreeMoveCreate

The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM – the UK’s professional body for musicians) and a-n have announced their collaborative campaign #FreeMoveCreate to protect freedom of movement for all who work in the creative industries.

Engine News

14.07.17

Engine: Curatorial Development Opportunities – Recipients announced

Congratulations to Jonathon Harris, Grace Williams and Kaye Winwood who are successful recipients of our recent curatorial opportunities.

Media

13.07.17

a-n Valuing Artists Strategy

a-n have launched a five-year strategy to tackle the growing challenges artists face in sustaining their careers. Valuing Artists aims to ensure policy makers and commissioners value the artist as well as the art.

Interview

13.07.17

Q&A with Pete James on Thresholds, part of Developed in Birmingham

Developed in Birmingham is a season of hands-on workshops, talks, walks and events which reveal, explore and celebrate the city’s significant role in the early history of photography. In our second interview about the season, curator and photographic historian Pete James, talks about Mat Collishaw’s new artwork Thresholds, currently on show at the Waterhall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

Engine Review

11.07.17

Halina Dominska on the Aesthetica Future Now Symposium

Earlier in the year recent graduate and New Art West Midlands 2017 alumna Halina Dominska was awarded an Engine Micro Bursary to attend Aesthetica’s Future Now Symposium which took place from 25-26 May 2017. She reports back on her experience.

Media

03.07.17

Threatened New Art Gallery Walsall saved by Arts Council grant

The New Art Gallery Walsall, which has been under threat of deep public funding cuts, has been saved by a four-year £3.5m grant from Arts Council England. The gallery is also considering a partnership with the University of Wolverhampton to secure its long-term future.

Feature Interview

30.06.17

Q&A with Sam Ivin

Following an open call, photographer Sam Ivin has been awarded a new residency commission in Stoke-on-Trent, a collaboration between GRAIN Projects and Appetite. We found out what he has planned over the next few months.

Feature News

28.06.17

National Portfolio Organisations: A Response from Director Craig Ashley

New Art West Midlands’ director Craig Ashley reflects on yesterday’s announcement from Arts Council England about investment to the region’s visual arts organisations through their National Portfolio for 2018-22.

Media

28.06.17

National Portfolio Organisations Announced

Arts Council England Chief Executive, Darren Henley, welcomes 831 organisations to the 2018-22 portfolio. Find out more about the picture in the West Midlands and across the rest of the country.

Feature News

27.06.17

100 Masters

100 Masters, a landmark campaign from Creative Black Country, is looking to profile the best contemporary craftspeople, makers and thinkers from the Black Country. We speak to Creative Producer, Liam Smyth.

Feature News

26.06.17

Kate Spence on Vivid Live at Vivid Projects

Artist and Associate Curator Kate Spence speaks about Vivid Live, a new live art strand she is curating at Vivid Projects later this year.

Interview

23.06.17

Q&A with Alice Gale-Feeny, Joe Fletcher Orr and Bryony Gillard: Glasshouse

Alice Gale-Feeny, Joe Fletcher Orr and Bryony Gillard were selected for Glasshouse, a residency devised by The New Art Gallery Walsall and Eastside Projects, with the aim to strengthen relationships across the country. Anneka French spoke with them.

Engine Travel

21.06.17

Opportunity to visit the Venice Biennale with the Engine team, 26-29 September 2017

We are offering four West Midlands artists or curators the opportunity to visit the 57th Venice Biennale with the Engine/New Art West Midlands team. Deadline 11am, 17 July 2017.

Media

20.06.17

New Irish initiative acknowledges professional status of artists applying for Jobseekers Allowance

The new one-year pilot scheme has been developed in partnership between the department of social protection and the department of arts, heritage, regional, rural and Gaeltacht affairs, in consultation with Visual Artists Ireland and The Irish Writers Centre.

News

16.06.17

West Midlands artists selected for New Contemporaries

Three artists born in the West Midlands have been selected for the 2017 edition of the prestigious New Contemporaries award and exhibition.

Interview News

16.06.17

A Q&A with Hannah Dale, Canwood Gallery, Herefordshire

We caught up with Hannah Dale of the newly opened Canwood Gallery in Herefordshire to find out more about the gallery’s origins and future plans.

Interview

15.06.17

Q&A with Dan Auluk, GRASSLANDS Founder

We spoke with Dan Auluk, artist, curator and GRASSLANDS founder about his upcoming residencies and plans for the future of this unique space in Birmingham.

Interview

09.06.17

Q&A with Anne de Charmant on Synthetic Landscapes

Meadow Arts’ exhibition Synthetic Landscapes explores our relationship to the land and takes place at Weston Park in Shifnal and Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery. Anneka French spoke to Director Anne de Charmant to find out more.

Interview

06.06.17

Q&A with Aimee Millward on her Collaboration with Dudley Archives

Aimee Millward was a New Art West Midlands exhibitor in 2016 and has recently developed an exhibition in collaboration with Dudley Archives and Local History Centre titled Virtual Mirrors (Intersection of the Real and Unreal).

Interview

06.06.17

Q&A with Ming De Nasty

Last month, artist Ming De Nasty showed a new body of photographs at Birmingham’s A3 Project Space. Sufficient formed part of a research project on urban growing within the city. Annabel Clarke spoke with the artist.

Interview

06.06.17

Joanna Colley on Reuben Colley’s Master Graphics Exhibition

Joanna Colley of Birmingham’s Reuben Colley Fine Art speaks to us about their upcoming exhibition Master Graphics, featuring some of the biggest names in the artworld.

Interview

02.06.17

Q&A with Victoria Lucas on Lay of the Land at AirSpace Gallery

Artist Victoria Lucas is currently presenting her solo exhibition Lay of the Land (and other such myths) at Stoke-on-Trent’s AirSpace Gallery. Anneka French caught up with her to about her research, production processes and what it’s been like working with the gallery again after seven years.

Engine Travel

02.06.17

Adam Grüning on Wolfgang Tillmans and Media Networks at Tate Modern

Artist Adam Grüning was awarded a Micro Bursary to carry out research at Tate Modern exhibitions Wolfgang Tillmans and Media Networks. He reflects on his visit and its relevance to his practice.

Feature News

01.06.17

BOM’s Research on Women and Technology in Indonesia

Annabel Clarke met with Louise Latter, Head of Programme at BOM to find out about their ongoing work with the British Council in Indonesia, as well as their future plans for the space.

Media

01.06.17

Six West Midlands organisations included in Artist-Led Hot 100 by Kevin Hunt

Six art organisations from across the West Midlands are included in this years’ Artist-Led Hot 100, an artwork by Kevin Hunt. These include BLOK in Worcester, Portland Inn Project in Stoke-on-Trent, Office for Art, Design and Technology and Classroom in Coventry, and Recent Activity and Modern Clay in Birmingham.

News

01.06.17

A Matter of Life and Death

A week-long arts and culture festival to explore death and dying in interesting, fun and active ways recently took place. Read more about A Matter of Life and Death at mac birmingham.

Travel

31.05.17

Antonio Roberts Reports from The Arts in a Digital World Summit, Montreal

Artist, curator and New Art West Midlands Advisory Group member Antonio Roberts was invited to speak at The Arts in a Digital World Summit in Montreal, Canada in March. Here he reflects on the possibilities and limitations of digital platforms for the arts, particularly in terms of the diversity of our creative communities.

Interview

31.05.17

Room7 Present their first exhibition FLUX

Room7 is a new curatorial collective that has arisen from the MA in Art History and Curating at the University of Birmingham. We speak to Room7 to find out more about their aspirations for their first exhibition FLUX.

Engine

25.05.17

Dawn Harris Attends Magritte’s Umbrella: Drawing Upon the Subconscious at the Royal West Academy

Artist and Director of ArtistsWorkhouse, Dawn Harris, received an Engine Micro Bursary to expand her practice through attendance at the 3 day workshop Magritte’s Umbrella: Drawing Upon the Subconscious at the Royal West Academy, Bristol. She shares her experiences.

Interview

24.05.17

Jo Gane looks ahead to A White House on Paradise Street

In the first of our texts looking ahead to Developed in Birmingham, artist Jo Gane discusses her exhibition A White House on Paradise Street at BOM, which takes inspiration from a lost photograph made by George Shaw.

Engine

22.05.17

Engine: Curatorial Development Opportunities

ENGINE, the professional development programme for artists and curators in the region is currently offering two curatorial opportunities – a Curatorial Development Opportunity with Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art and a Bursary Opportunity for Curatorial Development.

Engine Travel

17.05.17

Kurt Hickson on Painters’ Painters and Robert Rauschenberg

Kurt Hickson was awarded a Micro Bursary to undertake two research trips to London, visiting several exhibitions including Painters’ Painters at Saatchi Gallery and Tate Modern’s Robert Rauschenberg retrospective.

Interview

16.05.17

Liz Hingley: Home Made in Smethwick

An interview with artist and anthropologist Liz Hingley about her photographic series Home Made in Smethwick, now a publication and touring exhibition commissioned by Multistory.

Interview

16.05.17

Evolution Explored: Magnum Photos in Shrewsbury

We speak to Salla Virman, former CEO of The Hive Arts Centre in Shrewsbury, about her motivations for the Magnum Photos public realm exhibition Evolution Explored.

Interview

15.05.17

Interview: Mark Cass, Founder & CEO of Cass Art

We are delighted that Cass Art, the UK’s leading art supplies retailer sponsored the New Art West Midlands exhibitions this year. As well as exhibitions sponsor, they provided prizes to two awards this year. Mark Cass, Founder and CEO of Cass Art, answered our questions.

Media

11.05.17

“I wanted to articulate the complexities of British Asian life”: photographer Mahtab Hussain on his new show, You Get Me?

Artist and New Art West Midlands Advisory Group member Mahtab Hussain talks to It’s Nice That about his current solo exhibition You Get Me at Autograph ABP.

Media

11.05.17

A Q&A with… Alex Hartley and Tom James, artists with a blueprint for the future

Anneka French speaks to artists Tom James and Alex Hartley for a-n about The Clearing, their experimental geodesic dome set in the grounds of Compton Verney.

Engine News

11.05.17

Curatorial Research Group – with Tom Clark, 25 May 2017

In this second meeting, curator, writer and editor Tom Clark will present his research to the Curatorial Research Group and lead a discussion around the role of publishing (or, making public) in relation to practices of instituting.

Feature

10.05.17

Sarah Shalgosky: How to be an artist in the gig economy

The ‘gig economy’ is receiving a lot of coverage in the media at the moment. How can you be an artist in this environment? We reproduce Sarah Shalgosky, Curator at the University of Warwick’s Keynote from The National Association for Fine Art Education annual symposium ‘Artist as Superconnector/Superconductor’ held in March.

Review

08.05.17

More Awkward Bastards

Writer Poppy Noor visited the second Awkward Bastards symposium in March co-produced by DASH, mac birmingham and the Live Art Development Agency. She reflects on the event, as well as questions of diversity and representation.

Media

08.05.17

The estate agents marketing Stoke-on-Trent to Londoners

Over the last week Londoners were offered the chance to swap one Stoke for another as part of a project to attract more creative professionals to the Potteries. It involved transforming an arts centre in London’s Stoke Newington into an estate agents in order to promote a range of Stoke-on-Trent-based properties. Organisers wanted to show people how they could avoid the high costs of living in the capital city by moving to North Staffordshire instead.

Feature

03.05.17

Hannah Honeywill: Tumbleweed

Birmingham City University graduate Hannah Honeywill exhibited work as part of the 2016 New Art West Midlands exhibitions. As as result, she was selected for a residency at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. We caught up with her to hear about the residency, and her new piece Tumbleweed which is currently on display at the gallery.

News

27.04.17

Interim CVAN National Coordinator to speak at Aesthetica Magazine Future Now Symposium 2017

Gordon Dalton, Interim CVAN National Coordinator and Visual Arts South West Network Manager, will speak during the Commissioning/Funding session at Aesthetica Magazine Future Now Symposium 2017 in York on Thursday 25 May.

Engine Travel

26.04.17

Mark Essen reports on the recently reopened Tate St.Ives

Mark Essen reports on the recently reopened Tate St.Ives. A recipient of an Engine micro-bursary, Mark wished to visit to visit galleries and studios in the Cornwall area for professional development and attend a group show in which he was exhibiting.

News

25.04.17

New Art West Midlands 2018 – Call for artists

Applications are now open for New Art West Midlands 2018. Apply now!

News

20.04.17

In Conversation with Katie Hodson

As part of a Special Opportunity Award from the New Art West Midlands exhibitions, Katie Hodson, a recent graduate of University of Worcester, is currently undertaking a residency offered by Office for Art, Design and Technology. On Monday 24 April, there will be an ‘In Conversation’ event with Katie at mac birmingham.

Media

19.04.17

Birmingham to get £2m singing clock at site of planned HS2 station

Turner Prize-winning artist Susan Philipsz will create work after being named winner of Birmingham Big Art Project contest

Engine News

19.04.17

Curatorial Curriculum – Engine bursary recipients announced

Grand Union’s Curatorial Curriculum is an alternative educational programme for emerging curators, consisting of intensive workshops led by internationally-renowned practitioners. Earlier in the year Engine offered bursaries for the course for West Midlands-based curators. We are delighted to announce the four artists who were awarded bursaries.

Interview

18.04.17

Q&A with Ryan Hughes, Director of Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art

From 6 to 22 October this year Coventry will see its first Biennial of Contemporary Art. Annabel Clarke caught up with Ryan Hughes, Director of the Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art and lead artist at Office for Art, Design and Technology to hear more about his plans for the Biennial, and their current crowdfunding campaign.

Engine News

13.04.17

Curatorial Research Group

Engine, in partnership with Eastside Projects and Grand Union, is looking to set up a Curatorial Research Group. The Group aims to investigate and to further develop contemporary curatorial research, as well as championing its development in the region and bringing together art workers across the West Midlands and beyond.

Media

12.04.17

Green and unpleasant land: UK countryside takes sinister twist in new exhibition

Compton Verney explores how artistic, social and political forces have shaped Britain’s relationship with rural landscape.

Feature

31.03.17

Longbridge Light Festival 2016: Shadow Factory

Watch a new video highlighting the light-based artworks commissioned for Longbridge Light Festival 2016.

Travel

31.03.17

Jonathan Harris: a Letter from Hong Kong

Jonathan Harris, Head of Birmingham School of Art, reflects on the geo-political contexts of Birmingham and Hong Kong

Media

31.03.17

Getting the best deal for culture as we leave the European Union

As Article 50 is triggered, Simon Mellor, Deputy CEO, Arts and Culture, Arts Council England, writes on their continued commitment to developing and supporting arts and culture in England and on an international stage.

News

17.03.17

Drafting a Visual Arts Strategy for the West Midlands

COMPLETE THE SURVEY to help us shape a regional strategy for the visual arts

Media

15.03.17

Making galleries autism friendly: an artist’s view on what needs to be done

Disabled artist Beth Davis-Hofbauer recently produced the self-initiated report, Autism Matters: Making Galleries and Museums ASD/SPD Friendly.

Travel

15.03.17

The Writer’s Bench: Mark Murphy in New York

Artist and designer Mark Murphy reflects on his recent trip to New York and the significance one special site has had on his practice.

Review

15.03.17

Sonia Boyce: Wallpaper/Performance Review

Esther Draycott reviews the recent event Wallpaper/Performance by Sonia Boyce at Eastside Projects and looks ahead to the next.

Media

15.03.17

Diversity is a white word

The superficial scramble for cultural diversity is not addressing the deep causes of exclusion and the power imbalance in the arts.

Media

15.03.17

Artists use work to fund pensions

The Artist Pension Trust (APT) uses work from professional artists as the basis for raising funds they can use to retire.

News

27.02.17

Micro Bursaries: The Awardees so Far

Read more about the 14 Micro Bursaries that Engine has awarded to artists and curators based in the region so far.

Engine Travel

22.02.17

Jenny Duffin Visits Manchester for Make:Shift and Maker Assembly

Creative Producer Jenny Duffin reports back from Make:Shift and Maker Assembly in Manchester. Her research was funded by a Micro Bursary.

Interview

22.02.17

Faye Claridge: Kern Baby Homecoming

View Kern Baby Homecoming, a new film from Warwickshire-based artist Faye Claridge on her Kern Baby project which toured between Compton Verney, Library of Birmingham and Northumberland.

Media

22.02.17

Arguing for Arts Professionals to Lobby West Midlands Mayoral Candidates

Photographer Jas Sansi argues for arts professionals to lobby West Midlands mayoral candidates to insure investment.

Media

22.02.17

So you want to be an artist? Then let the pros show you how it’s done

DBC Pierre wrote in a fever, Frank Turner dabbled in thrash and Nikki Amuka-Bird jumped off a cliff. Artists reveal how they got to the top – and how you can too.

Engine Travel

22.02.17

Duncan Poulton visits Berlin’s Transmediale 2017

Duncan Poulton reflects on his recent research visit to Transmediale festival in Berlin. His visit was part funded by the New Art West Midlands Engine Micro Bursary scheme.

News

17.02.17

New Art West Midlands 2017 Prizewinners Announced

Ten New Art West Midlands 2017 artists have been awarded with cash prizes and unique career development opportunities.

Media

15.02.17

How the art world airbrushed female artists from history

Figures compiled by the Guardian paint a dismal portrait of women artists exhibiting in major galleries, in the UK and abroad. But are things changing?

Feature

15.02.17

In Praise of Awkwardness

Ahead of next month’s Awkward Bastards II symposium at mac birmingham, Craig Ashley shares thoughts in praise of awkwardness and the creative case for diversity for our region and beyond.

Engine

15.02.17

Engine Studio Visits

In December we offered artists and curators living in the West Midlands the opportunity to apply to receive a studio visit from an arts professional. Nine artists from across the region have been selected.

Engine Travel

15.02.17

Leah Carless on her Research Trip to Aarhus

Leah Carless reflects on her recent research trip to Aarhus, Denmark, part funded by the New Art West Midlands Engine Micro Bursary scheme.

Interview

15.02.17

Q&A with Keith Harrison, Winner of Jerwood Open Forest 2016

Joyride is a new work being developed for Staffordshire’s Cannock Chase Forest by West Bromwich-born Keith Harrison. We interview the artist.

Interview

15.02.17

A Q&A with Jonathon Harris, Curator of Diegetic Life at Fringe Arts Bath

Jonathon Harris is preparing to curate his most ambitious exhibition to date at Fringe Arts Bath. Anneka French finds out more.

Interview

15.02.17

Q&A with Hardeep Pandhal



A new body of work by Hardeep Pandhal is the subject of a current solo exhibition at Eastside Projects titled Nightmare on BAME Street. Anneka French finds out more.

Media

14.02.17

Artist to exhibit prints created on original Spode press at old Stoke factory

Artist Nicola Winstanley is to showcase her prints made on an old pottery’s firm original press – at the former factory site undergoing.

Media

14.02.17

Arts Council prepares to fund an additional 216 NPOs from 2018

As many as 900 arts organisations and museums could be admitted into the national portfolio in the next funding round.

Interview

12.02.17

A Q&A with Ampersand Projects and Justin Wiggan



Ampersand Projects’ Co-Directors Matt and Kate Andrews and artist Justin Wiggan discuss the aspirations and impacts of Green Lungs with Anneka French.

Travel

11.02.17

James Lomax on the North East of England

Artist James Lomax, recent recipient of a New Art West Midlands Engine Micro Bursary, visited the North East of England on a research trip last month.

Media

10.02.17

How crafts workers are learning to sell their work

Birmingham artists Theresa Nguyen and Craig and Rebecca Struthers featured in this article about business skills and selling craft.