In 2007 Gallery 37 ran five projects under the theme ‘What Does Birmingham Sound Like?’ The programme was based at the Five Ways Shopping Centre in Birmingham, with artists and young people taking over a number of empty shop units during August and turning the space into a ‘creative village’.
2007 Projects:
Filmmaking
Lead Artist: Patricia Hoskins
Shadow Artist: Nahshon McPherson
Partner organisation: BBC
Apprentices on the Filmmaking project worked with a BBC filmmaker learning about the whole filmmaking process from storyboarding and basic camera moves to lighting, exposure, approaches to interview filming and the final editing techniques. Each participant got the opportunity to make a film of their own, some documenting other Gallery 37 projects and others sharing their view of life in Birmingham.
Click here to view example oneClick here to view example two
Storytelling & Poetry
Lead Artists: Helen Blackmore; Simon Clarke
Shadow Artists: LCB (Leon Carl Burke); Marlene McKenzie
Partner organisation: Birmingham Rep
Apprentice Artists on the Storytelling & Poetry project responded to the theme of ‘What Does Birmingham Sound Like?’ by devising and creating stories, plays, songs and poems based upon their own experiences of living in Birmingham.
Participants made use of sources of inspiration which included everything from their own families and friends to local landmarks and historical figures. They learned about the tradition of story telling and making, improvisation and character creation, leading to a final live performance.
Sound & Visual Art
Lead Artists: Simon Blackmore; Penelope McConnell
Shadow Artist: Helen Brown
Partner organisation: IKON Gallery
The Sound & Visual Art project opened up a whole world of computer based arts to its participants. They were introduced to a variety of animation techniques, exciting 3D graphics software and many other aspects of electronic interactive arts. Each apprentice was equipped with the skills to produce a unique DVD representing their experience of Gallery 37 with a combination of audio and visual effects.
Radio
Lead Artists: Shelley Stevenson Henley & Nikki Stevenson (Radio Training Initiative)
Shadow Artists: KC (Karyl Cooper)
Partner organisation: BBC
The Radio project gave Apprentices the opportunity to learn about radio production and broadcasting technology, interviewing and editing techniques and provided lots of hands-on experience. Some participants met and interviewed leading figures in the field, as well as their fellow Apprentices, and others made their own 15 minute radio shows for subsequent broadcast.
Music
Lead Artists: Joel Bell; Ian Chapman
Shadow Artist: Craig Watson
Partner organisation: Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
Young people taking part in this project had the chance to be part of Birmingham’s formidable music scene and explored the links between contemporary classical music and contemporary popular music through composition and performance. Participants learned instrumental skills, worked with music software and had the added support of a professional musician from Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.
Click here for example one
Click here for example two
Click here for example three