Creative youngsters from across Birmingham have just over a week to apply for places at an award winning City Council backed arts training programme.
The 2010 Gallery 37 project will see 40 young people (Apprentice Artists), aged 16-24, working alongside professional artists in collaboration with leading cultural organisations including the newly refurbished mac, sampad and The REP.
The Apprentice Artists will learn a wide range of new creative skills before the three-week programme culminates in a spectacular showcase of the work produced, with performances, exhibitions and screenings.
And, with Birmingham still waiting to discover if it will become the UK City of Culture, Chairman of the Birmingham Cultural Partnership Cllr Martin Mullaney believes the project perfectly illustrates the wealth of creative collaboration in the city.
He said: “Since it was launched in 1998, Gallery 37 has proved to be a tremendous success, with a number of participants going on to forge careers in the arts.
“This year’s participants will learn a variety of new skills and many of the previous participants have gone onto work in the arts sector.
“This exciting and innovative initiative gives young people the chance to reach their full creative potential and this year’s participants will learn a variety of new skills, make new friends and hopefully have a lot of fun.”
Successful applicants, who will receive a training allowance of £40 per week plus travel expenses, will take part in projects between July 26 and May 13, including:
- A multimedia visual arts project based at mac – inspired by Plug In, mac’s inaugural exhibition that celebrates Birmingham as a global city encountering change.
- A Digital Dance project at sampad that explores storytelling and oral traditions and links with The Sampad Story: a 20 year retrospective exhibition.
- A performing arts project in association with The REP.
The closing date to apply for this year’s Gallery 37 project is Friday July 9.
To request an application form email: julie.a.sutton@birmingham.gov.uk or visit the Application Forms page on the Gallery 37 website: www.gallery37.org.uk/application_forms.aspx
ENDS
Notes to editors
Gallery 37 images are available for download via the following flickr link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/birminghamnewsroom/sets/72157621767007741/
Follow Gallery 37 on twitter http://twitter.com/Gallery37brum or join the Facebook group Gallery 37 Birmingham – 2010
The programme was developed from a model of Creative Arts training for young people, pioneered in Birmingham’s sister city Chicago.
Over 90% of youngsters involved have entered employment or training following completion of the programme.
Gallery 37 employs professional artists and practitioners from Birmingham to deliver the programme and is a key provider of training and shadowing opportunities for those wishing to develop workshop delivery skills in the region.
Since 1998 the programme has received support from a range of partners including the European Social Fund and Arts Council England.
Having partnered with most of the city’s leading arts organisations year on year, Gallery 37 is now positioned through the national programme to build on both new and well established links and its strong reputation, locally, nationally and internationally.
For further information contact Geoff Coleman on 0121 303 3501
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