Saathi House launches £100K worth of community art commissions across North Birmingham

Saathi House has launched Gallery37 North, calling on artists to join us and create £100,000 worth of interactive art projects to engage and empower North Birmingham residents.

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Gallery37 North – an initiative working on creative projects in and around Aston, Birchfield, Perry Barr, Erdington, Lozells and Handsworth Wood – is looking to recruit visual artists for seven new commissions being developed from December 2020 to be showcased in Birmingham from spring next year.

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Among them is the opportunity to design several illuminated art installations with Birchfield Big Local for a specially planned community Light Night and procession to be ready for March 2021 around ‘Church Vale Triangle’ in Birchfield.

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The Light Night commission has a budget of £20,000, and requires interactive engagement with local residents.

Another commission focuses on the creation of a large mural outside Saathi House in Bevington Road in Aston, next door to Aston Villa Football Club.

This project has a budget of £5,000, is ideal for a street artist and also revolves around key community engagement and local pride.

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sed in Birmingham in spring next year.

Powered by Saathi House in collaboration with Punch Records, with funding from Arts Council England, the projects are being coordinated with partner organisations across north-east areas of the city.

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Additional commissions spotlight making canals safer for female users, communities rediscovering their collective public spaces using skateboards, scooters and bikes, utilising community spaces for dance projects, creating a tribute sculpture in Erdington, and using chalk art to bring residents together in Lozells and Newtown.

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The commissions range in budget from between £5,000 to £20,000 for each project, and are open to individuals, organisations and companies from across the West Midlands and further afield, so long as the project delivery primarily engages and involves North Birmingham residents.

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Charlene Carter-James, Project Manager at Saathi House and Gallery37 Producer, said, “The purpose of these commissions is to inspire local residents, young people and artists from North Birmingham to use a multitude of creative mediums to promote their neighbourhoods and areas.

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“We hope these commissions will be a great opportunity for people from all backgrounds and ages to come together in North Birmingham and build on local pride while providing creative spaces for residents to enjoy across the city.”

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The Saathi House initiatives have been launched in collaboration Punch Records and in partnership with Big Local Birmingham, The Active Wellbeing Society, Birmingham International Dance Festival, Canal & River Trust, DanceXchange, Active Communities, Erdington Business Improvement District, Help Musicians, PRS Foundation, Youth Music and Erdington Arts Forum.

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THE G37n COMMISSIONS:

Wander Water

LOCATION: CANAL BETWEEN PERRY PARK AND COLLEGE ROAD
TOTAL COMMISSION: 20K

This is an opportunity for female artists or female-led arts organisations to respond to the female experience of walking local canals, providing the opportunity to change perceptions and increase footfall along Birmingham’s canals, promoting health and wellbeing.

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Roaming Ride
LOCATION: IN AND AROUND LOZELLS AND NEWTOWN
TOTAL COMMISSION: 12K

The Roaming Ride is an opportunity for the community to collectively rediscover and enjoy their local public open spaces. On, in or with their bikes, skateboards, trikes, scooters, wheelchairs and baby buggies, local people will ride the area safely and in style.

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Roaming Dance
LOCATION: NORTH BIRMINGHAM
TOTAL COMMISSION: 20K

Dance artists working within Hip Hop styles are invited to submit an innovative concept for this new commission that will feature as part of the Gallery 37 North and Birmingham International Dance Festival 2021 programme.

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Birchfield Light Night
LOCATION: BIRCHFIELD LOCAL AREA AND B20
TOTAL COMMISSION: 20K

Artists are invited to apply to create three/four light-based, highly visual, LED, neon or projection installations celebrating the heritage and cultural diversity of the Birchfield local area in North Birmingham.

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Saathi House Mural, Aston
LOCATION: SAATHI HOUSE, ASTON
TOTAL COMMISSION: 5K

Artists are invited to apply to design and paint a mural at Saathi House in Aston. This should be done in consultation with the client group at the venue. The mural should feature themes and subjects proposed collectively; either at one or more open days, or through a number workshop sessions held on site.

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Remastering Mothers
LOCATION: ERDINGTON TOWN CENTRE
TOTAL COMMISSION: 20K

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Experienced artists are invited to apply to create a sculpture celebrating the music and legacy of Erdington’s iconic ‘Mothers’ music venue during the 1960s-1970s.

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Chalk the Walk
LOCATION: IN AND AROUND LOZELLS AND NEWTOWN
TOTAL COMMISSION: 8K

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Using chalks, chalk paints and other temporary markings, bring families and residents together to creatively map out their own community routes; exercise tracks, social distancing reminders, games and activities, mark favourite places, memories and ideas.

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To find out more or to apply for these Gallery37 North commissions,
visit: www.wearepunch.co.uk/gallery37.

Applications deadlines are 2 November 2020.

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For more information on Gallery37 North,
please contact charlene@punch-records.co.uk