Gallery 37 launch

By geoffc • July 31st, 2009

Aspiring young artists from across Birmingham will transform two vacant city centre shops into vibrant creative studios next month for the 2009 Gallery 37 project.

The award winning Birmingham City Council backed arts training programme will see 40 young people, aged 16-24, working alongside professional artists in collaboration with four of the city’s leading cultural organisations: The Rep, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and SAMPAD.

This year Gallery 37 is sponsored by Pavilions Birmingham and the apprentice artists will occupy two units from August 3-21, turning them into working studio spaces, buzzing with creative activity.

The young people 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.

Cllr Martin Mullaney, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport & Culture, said: “Gallery 37 is an exciting and innovative initiative that gives children and young people the chance to reach their full creative potential.

“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.”

Sharon Lea, Strategic Director of Environment and Culture, added: “Since it was launched in 1998, Gallery 37 has proved to be a tremendous success and this year, the partnership with Pavilions Birmingham means city-centre shoppers will have the chance to share in and engage with the work as youngsters develop their creative talents.”

Marketing Manager at Pavilions, Sarah Jenkinson said: “Pavilions Birmingham is proud to be sponsoring and hosting the Gallery 37 project 2009. This is just the start of our long-term commitment to supporting the arts and enhancing our visitors’ shopping experience by putting available retail space to creative use.”

Cllr Mullaney will deliver a speech at the Pavilions Birmingham Gallery 37 launch event on Wednesday August 5 (12.25)

The project will then be officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Michael Wilkes.

ENDS

Notes to editors

This year’s Gallery 37 will be officially launched on Wednesday August 5 (11.45am onwards) at Floor 1, Pavilions Shopping Centre, Moor Street Level High Street, Birmingham B4 7SL.

Images from last year’s Gallery 37 are available for download on flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/birminghamnewsroom/sets/72157621767007741/

Hay Mills youngster Daniel Newell was an apprentice artist with Gallery 37 last year, focusing on filmmaking and photography. He has progressed to senior apprentice artist for 2009 and is available for interview.

Gallery 37, celebrated 10 years of delivery in Birmingham last year. 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.

A nationwide programme, Gallery 37 Plus, is being delivered in Bristol, Leeds, London, Newark & Sherwood and Oldham. Established in 2006, the national programme has been built on the expertise and model developed in Birmingham, through collaboration with Youth Music, and is supported by the Big Lottery Fund (BLF).

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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