City Curator Highlights: Week Eleven
29 July 2024
100 Days of Creativity: City Curator Highlights
City Curator Highlights: Week 11
We’re entering the final month of 100 Days of Creativity now but there is still plenty to enjoy and experience. Many of my highlights from previous weeks are still on so do flick back if you want to find out more about the likes of In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats at BMAG, Hamilton at the Hippodrome or National Treasures at Ikon.
Now, let’s have a look at what else is on from 29 July – 4 August. Here are my highlights:
Live at B:Eats Summer Series
Symphony Hall
31 July and on going
B:Music are putting on a fabulous programme of free lunchtime music over the coming weeks and I am absolutely here for it. What a great excuse to step away from your desk for a bit and get a top up of creative inspiration if you’re working in the city. On 31 July Teveil Walker will be the soundtrack to your lunch break.
The month ahead is all about food as Birmingham Restaurant Festival begins on 1 August, so it felt fitting to showcase a venue that has some foodie claims too – B:Eats serves the best Brummie Bacon Cake I’ve ever tried so grab one of those whilst you’re there too!
No need to book – just drop in.
Apache Indian: 30th Anniversary Gig
Midlands Arts Centre
3 August
Birmingham born and raised Apache Indian is back on tour to celebrate his 30 year career.
His first single release ‘Arranged Marriage’ reach number 16 in UK Charts and following singles ‘Chokthere’ and ‘Don Raja’ both reached the UK number spot in 1991.
Apache Indian then topped worldwide charts with his number 1 smash hit ‘Boomshackalak’ which has since been featured in 7 Hollywood movies and in more than 200 commercials worldwide.
Tickets for this outdoor concert start at just £18.75 but there are only a handful left so move fast. Book now.
Stryx for Kids
Stryx – Jewellery Quarter
3 August (and once a month)
As we’re now in the Summer Holidays I wanted to showcase some of the family friendly activities in the 100 Days of Creativity programme. I’ve been thrilled to see Stryx, an artist led studio, project and exhibition space in the JQ, develop in the JQ. Everytime I look at their Instagram I find an event I fancy – coming up for the grown-ups they have live music in their secret garden on 10 August. But this highlight is about their Stryx for Kids programme -every month they host an art workshop, delivered by a local artist.
On 3 August Vicky Roden is the artist and she will be delivering a workshop titled ‘ Finding the Magic’. Before the workshop, Vicky will hide various objects in the Stryx Secret Garden. The kids will then find an object and develop a story around their object using card, foils and paints. Taking place from 11am – 2pm and completely free.
Beyond Van Gogh
NEC
On for the rest of 100 Days Of Creativity
During the pandemic I went to Van Gogh Alive at the Hippodrome. I have incredibly fond memories of that immersive experience as it was just so wonderful to be back in a theatre and back experiencing art in this way after such a long time at home! Since then I’ve travelled to Amsterdam to visit the Van Gogh museum and enjoy his works in a more traditional way too.
As a result, I’ve got high hopes for Beyond Van Gogh which blends more than 300 of the post-Impressionist icon’s paintings with cutting-edge technology and a specially curated musical soundtrack. I’ve opted to experience this one via one of their yoga classes, I just absolutely love the idea of practising whilst immersed in the artworks.
Find out more here.
Alex Nicholson-Evans
29 July
