three - coming soon

The team that brought you Thrift Radiates Happiness is proud to announce a new 9 month long programme of contemporary art exhibitions in association withBPN Architects, entitled three.

three‘s programme reflects the  most current and exciting art talent found in the West Midlands right now.  We want to present to audiences a cross section of art practices and artists, offering recent graduates their first solo show exhibitions as well as adding a couple of more established artists into the mix.

three launches in October 2013 with a solo show by Edward Wakefield and will be held at at 3 Mary Street, Birmingham.

Images from Thrift Radiates Happiness

Nicole Wilson

Charlie in the Safety Deposite Vault - re-filling for Investment Project.

The queue for Investment Project

Investment Project 

The queue to get in!

Ellie Harrison

Elly Clarke

Tom Crawford

Caitlin Griffiths

all images courtesy of Elly Clarke.

Arts and Business, Cultural Champion of Champions

We at Aedas Presents are so proud of Director, Kate Eagle.  She recently won an Arts and Business Cultural Champion Award, 2013, but as she was the first person in their history to be nominated for TWO different projects, they gave her a brand new award too - the Champion of Champion's Award.

Well done, Kate!!

Join us for Thrift

Thrift Radiates Happiness

Launch Thursday 14th March 2013 5-8pm
Open Friday 15th – Sunday 17th March 12-6pm

Municipal Bank Building, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2JS

www.thriftradiateshappiness.com
@TRH_Bham

Artists: Spartacus Chetwynd, Elly Clarke, Tom Crawford, Caitlin Griffiths, Ellie Harrison, Mecanoo, Sparrow+Castice, Julie Tsang, Nicole Wilson and Mary Yacoob.

Curated by Charlie Levine.



Thrift Radiates Happiness is the first contemporary arts exhibition to be held at the Municipal Bank in central Birmingham, UK.

One of Birmingham’s most historic landmark buildings is set to open its doors to the public for the first time in ten years when it plays host to a captivating four day contemporary arts exposition.

From 14-17 March 2013 the former Grade II listed Municipal Bank on Broad Street will showcase a creative programme of drawings, images, sound and light, video and music from local, national and international artists.

The title of the exhibition is Thrift Radiates Happiness. The line has been taken from an inscription found carved across a main beam within the building. All the art projects featured will appropriately focus on finance and investment.

The main foyer space will host a specifically commissioned sound piece by Elly Clarke, the offices off this central entrance will house pieces of work by Tom Crawford, Caitlin Griffiths, Ellie Harrison and Nicole Wilson, all of whom work with and present works based on commerce, current economical issues, up-cycling objects and investment.

For the second part of this exhibition audience members will be invited to 'invest' £2 for which they will be given a number to a safety deposit box, within which will be a limited edition print by one of the contributing artists. Their £2 investment immediately rising and resulting in an original piece of artwork made for the exhibition by artists and architects Spartacus Chetwynd, Mecanoo, Sparrow+Castice, Julie Tsang, Mary Yacoob and a piece from the Library of Birmingham archives.

The showcase event is the result of an arts and business collaboration between Birmingham based gallery TROVE, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Birmingham Architectural Association (BAA), Birmingham City Council and global architect practice Aedas.

Entrance to the exhibition is free thanks to funding awarded by The Arts Council, RIBA and Aedas.

For further information visit www.thriftradiateshappiness.com 

Thrift Radiates Happiness 2nd Press Release

You can own a Turner Prize Nominee, Spartacus Chetwynd, print for just £2.00!
and
Announcement of Library of Birmingham / Grain partnership.

Thrift Radiates Happiness
Arts Exposition
14-17 March 2013
Municipal Bank Building, Broad Street, Birmingham
www.thriftradiateshappiness.com

The Thrift Radiates Happiness team is delighted to announce two new artists to the event. 

Firstly we are thrilled to announce that British artist Spartacus Chetwynd, a 2012 Turner prize nominee, will be one of our artists at the Thrift arts exposition opening next month (March), in Birmingham UK.

Chetwynd studied painting at the Royal College of Art 2004 and celebrates occasions in cultural history that exemplify extremist behaviour and belief.  

For the Birmingham exposition, Chetwynd has produced a limited edition print that, as part of the Investment Project, you can potentially own for only £2.00 investment.  

Other artists partaking in the Investment Project include Mecanoo (architects), Sparrow+Castice, Mary Yacoob and an original archive image from the Library of Birmingham.

Charlie Levine, curator at the TROVE gallery said that it was a great accolade to have attracted Chetwynd to perform at the THRIFT exposition. “This is not only an amazing opportunity to have access to an incredible and usual closed building, but also to invest just £2 and walk home with some incredible limited edition (of 100 each) prints from the architects of the new library to Turner Prize nominee, Spartacus Chetwynd.”

The second new artist announcement is emerging Birmingham photographer, Julie Tsang.  Commissioned in partnership by Charlie Levine and Grain, a new project that stems follows an award granted for £62,000 to support Reference Works: The Library of Birmingham Photography Project commission established in the city.

Tsang’s work will be available in the Investment Project as well as online in a digital catalogue of the show.  Tsang has been given a unique opportunity to photograph the building as it is now, empty and pre-exhibition.

The Thrift Radiates Happiness exposition is a showcase a creative programme of drawings, images, sound and light, video and music from local, national and international artists. Other artists involved in the exhibition include Elly Clarke, Tom Crawford, Caitlin Griffiths, Ellie Harrison and Nicole Wilson.

The Thrift Radiates Happiness title has been taken from an inscription found carved across a main beam within the building.  All the art projects featured will appropriately focus on finance and investment

Entry to the three day event, being held at the former Municipal Bank Building on Broad Street, Birmingham, is free. This is the first time that the Grade II listed building has been open to the public in ten years.

The event is the result of an arts and business collaboration between Birmingham based gallery TROVE, theRoyal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Birmingham Architectural Association (BAA), Birmingham City Council and global architect practice Aedas.

It has been funded by The Arts Council, RIBA and Aedas. Alongside the art exhibition there will be an extensive educational programme provided by the BAA and RIBA, including a public debate, heritage tours and a student design competition.  

Visit www.thriftradiateshappiness.com

Ends

For further information visit www.thriftradiateshappiness.com or call:

Jennifer Chatham, Chatham Communications (+44) 7775 912818

Jennifer@chathamcomms.co.uk

Kate Eagle, Aedas

Kate.eagle@aedas.com / 07805 086503

Carina Schneider, RIBA

Carina.Schneider@riba.org / 0121 233 2321

Notes to editors:

TROVE

TROVE is an independent contemporary art gallery based in Birmingham, UK.  Launched in 2009,  it works with local, national and international artists.  Over the past three years, more than 140 artists have created, exhibition and performed as part of TROVE’s programme.

Exhibitions have taken place at TROVE’s home, the Od Science Museum as well as Curzon Street Station, MAC birmingham, Edible Eastside, DownStairs Gallery, FarGo, The Burlington Fine Art Club, Coexist and ARC.

TROVE works with Aedas Presents, Fierce Festival, Hereford Photography Festival, Hedge Enquiry, Minnie Weisz Studio, Museum of Lost Heritage, The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Birmingham Architects Association (BAA), Birmingham City Council, Clarke Gallery, Birmingham City University and Crowd 6.

www.trove.org.uk

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

The Royal Institute of British Architects champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members.

The Royal Institute of British Architects champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. We provide the standards, training, support and recognition that put our members – in the UK and overseas – at the peak of their profession. 

With government, we work to improve the design quality of public buildings, new homes and new communities. 

We also hold one of the largest and most important collections of architectural drawings, photographs and archives| in the world, and stage talks, exhibitions, events| and awards| (including the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize) that help people see their surroundings in a completely new way. 

www.architecture.com

Aedas

Aedas, a leading international design practice, offers services in architecture, interior design, master planning, landscape, urban design and building consultancy within Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.

Aedas is a strong supporter of the arts.  In partnership with The Trove Gallery it launched ‘Aedas Presents’ in 2010. 

It was founded to support and showcase the work of emerging artists, students and graduates from local universities and colleges and to help them get on the first rung on the career ladder.  

This series has enabled the work of more than 30 artists from West Midlands’ universities and colleges to be showcased to over 2000 of Birmingham’s business and arts community at its Colmore Plaza home.

Key supporters include the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design at University College Birmingham, the Birmingham Library and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

www.aedas.com

The Birmingham Architectural Association (BAA) 

The Birmingham Architectural Association (BAA) aims to bring together the local architectural community – practitioners, academics and students, through organising an annual lecture series and other events to generate debate and discussion on current issues and future trends.

Its events are open to the general public.

The BAA seeks to celebrate and promote excellent architecture within Birmingham and the West Midlands region.

The BAA was formed in 1874 and is the Birmingham branch of the RIBA West Midlands regional office.

www.birminghamarchitecture.co.uk

The Library of Birmingham

The Library of Birmingham holds one of the UK's national collections of photography. The collection comprises some 3.5 million items ranging from daguerreotypes made at the dawn of the photographic era to digital works made by leading contemporary photographers. The Library of Birmingham, supported by Arts Council England and working in collaboration with local, national and international partners is creating a hub and network for photography and photographers. This new project, called GRAIN, will include research and development projects and a range of ambitious high quality opportunities all aimed to strengthen and sustain photography in the region. The Library of Birmingham is one of the most exciting new developments Birmingham's cultural landscape and the photography hub will make it a national and international centre for photography.

Thrift Radiates Happiness

One of Birmingham’s most historic landmark buildings is set to open its doors to the public for the first time in ten years when it plays host to a captivating four day contemporary arts exposition.

From 13-17 March 2013 the former Grade II listed Municipal Bank on Broad Street will showcase a creative programme of drawings, images, sound and light, video and music from local, national and international artists.

The Municipal Bank was established in the aftermath of the First World War as a savings bank for the citizens of Birmingham. This grandiose building was opened on November 27 1933 by Prince George. It closed its doors in 2001.

The title of the exhibition is Thrift Radiates Happiness. The line has been taken from an inscription found carved across a main beam within the building.  All the art projects featured will appropriately focus on finance and investment.

The showcase event is the result of an arts and business collaboration between Birmingham based gallery TROVE, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Birmingham Architectural Association (BAA), Birmingham City Council and global architect practice Aedas.

Entrance to the exhibition will be free thanks to funding awarded by The Arts Council, RIBA and Aedas.

Alongside the art exhibition there will be an extensive educational programme provided by the BAA and RIBA, including a public debate, heritage tours and a student design competition.  

Marcus Wilkins, studio director at Aedas, said:  “Birmingham has a vibrant architectural community, a remarkable collection of heritage buildings and a thriving arts scene.  These ingredients have been combined to deliver what promises to be a truly unique exhibition of art.

“The value of business and art working together has long been recognised by those working in both sectors. It strengthens creativity, innovation and collaboration, something that Birmingham is reputed for.  Aedas is delighted to be part of it.”

Plans for the exhibition, that will open during the day and evening are well underway.  National and international artists already signed up include Elly Clarke, Tom Crawford, Caitlin Griffiths, Ellie Harrison and Nicole Wilson.

Charlie Levine, director and curator of the TROVE Gallery, added:  “We are assembling an amazing collection of artists for everybody of all ages to enjoy.  There will be areas where visitors will listen, watch, study and participate as well as enjoy the full gravitas of the building itself.  Visitors will discover how art and architecture make a positive difference to our lives and experience first-hand the art of investment

“A key feature of the exhibition is an auction that will take place in the safety deposit box room.  Visitors will be invited to invest £2 to receive a random number for a safety deposit box that will contain a limited edition art print.”

Gavin Orton, regional chair of RIBA West Midlands, added:  “This rich new cultural collaboration will deliver something truly spectacular for Birmingham.  It is a perfect example of Birmingham organisations working together to create a pioneering cultural partnership that will deliver a new chapter of arts activity for the city.

“We are delighted that the Council has allowed us to use this great building to promote arts and architecture in this way. It is a demonstration on how important local buildings can be creatively re-used and re-imagined. The exhibition theme of investment and finance is also highly fitting in a building that has stood the test of at least four major recessions in the last 100 years.

“We hope that this is the first of many exhibitions that this new partnership will deliver for Birmingham and the West Midlands.”

Visit www.thriftradiateshappiness.com

Ends

Pictured:  An internal shot of the bank’s original safety deposit box room
For further information visit www.thriftradiateshappiness.com or call:

Jennifer Chatham, Chatham Communications 

Jennifer@chathamcomms.co.uk

Kate Eagle, Aedas

Kate.eagle@aedas.com 

Carina Schneider, RIBA

Carina.Schneider@riba.org 

Coming soon...