Art in the Heart 2013
A celebration of great art
Explore world class art at 23 leading West Midlands attractions
Information for Media
www.artintheheart.org.uk
@AITH_
#artinmyheart
A Birmingham Museums Trust Project
Did you know?
• That the West Midlands is host to hundreds of world-class pieces of art ranging from Titian and Monet to the most exciting contemporary talent?
• That there are over 23 art galleries and attractions across the region, many of which are free entry?
• That there are great days out to be had for all the family, right here in the West Midlands?
Art in the Heart 2013 is a celebration of the wealth of art in the West Midlands.
23 of the region’s best galleries and attractions have come together to show the best of what’s on offer, from Old Masters to world-class contemporary art.
From May to December you can see work by amazing artists from Botticelli and Rembrandt to Damien Hirst and Quentin Blake in a variety of venues, from Jacobean and Georgian mansions to contemporary art galleries and even a Planetarium!
Running alongside this calendar of exhibitions is an especially commissioned poetry programme, led by Poet in Residence Philip Monks.
Get involved and tell us about your best loved piece of art at #artinmyheart.
Art in the Heart 2013 is led by Birmingham Museums Trust, funded by Arts Council England and made possible through the collaboration of all the contributing venues.
The Best Talent
Arts enthusiasts can expect to see, and be inspired by, world-class artists and exhibitions across the West Midlands.
Portraits by Rembrandt and Goya are on display at the Barber Institute of Fine Art in their exhibiton About Face: European Old Master Portraits from National Collections, alongside the gallery’s stunning collection which includes works by Monet, Manet, Rubens, Turner, Degas and Van Gogh.
Staying in the city, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is one of the most important centres for art and history in the UK, where paintings by Botticelli and Bellini rub shoulders with the world’s largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art.
In Warwickshire oil sketches by Turner and Constable are exhibited at Compton Verney, plus there is the rare opportunity until June 2013 to see some of the finest Italian paintings in the UK from the likes of Titian.
The Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry exposes 500 Years of the Body in Art, including extraordinary work by Lucian Freud.
Key pieces from Damien Hirst will be on show at The New Art Gallery Walsall, whilst in Stoke-on-Trent work by leading contemporary artist Richard Long is displayed at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.
The Public in West Bromwich presents a stellar exhibition of contemporary art including pieces by Tracey Emin and Turner Prize nominee David Shrigley.
Masterpieces of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Family Days Out
Families can become part of the art this summer with a fantastic array of days out.
Much-loved artist Quentin Blake shows off his new illustrations at The Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry.
Birmingham’s Thinktank Planetarium uses fulldome 360° technology to put you right in the centre of the action. Their filmThe Search Engine transforms young visitors from giants to insects in a film exploring how big and small we are.
An informative, inspiring and fun day is ensured at the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire. With a recreated Victorian town and giant interactive displays there is something for everyone. Find out about the personal stories of coalminers with new contemporary photography in their exhibition Pit Profiles, Re-Profiled.
The new Library of Birmingham is a must for families, with its Discovery Season bringing the new building to life with events, exhibitions and activities for all. mac Birmingham will light up the River Rea with a spectacular night time adventure Sounding the River, taking light and sound throughout the moonlit Cannon Hill Park.
Plus most of the 23 Art in the Heart Galleries offer family trails and free workshops for children and adults.
Family fun at Ikon Gallery
Art in my Heart
We want to hear about your most loved piece of art.
The Staffordshire Hoard, on show at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery is always a favourite, thrilling visitors from all over the world. The largest collection of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found, it was discovered right here in the Heart of England.
Maybe you prefer a sculpture, like Compton Verney’s Heavenly Horse. Created in China between 206BC and AD 220, this large horse was intended to pull the owner into the afterlife. It is made entirely of bronze and stands at over a metre high.
Over at the Potteries Museum in Stoke, audiences enjoy meeting Ozzie, an owl slipware jug around 350 years old who charmed Henry Sandon on BBC television’s Antiques Roadshow.
Perhaps you prefer to be part of the art, like at Ikon Gallery’s famous singing lift. Dreamt up by Turner Prizewinner Martin Creed, the gallery sings to its visitors – impossible to resist.
At Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum, a luscious landscape painting by Benjamin Williams Leader of the River Severn, gazing out to the Malvern Hills, takes pride of place over the grand staircase.
Tell us your most loved piece of art, or best day out at a gallery, at #artinmyheart.
Eastside Projects, Digbeth
Art in the Heart Poetry Programme
Join in the fun as Poet in Residence Philip Monks travels the region to create new poems inspired by Art in the Heart.
Philip is running a number of exciting poetry workshops at Art in the Heart venues, writing his own poems in response to artworks on display and inspiring members of the public to have a go themselves.
Art in the Heart has also asked a number of other leading poets to write new poems inspired by their own personal favourite artworks from the programme.
Selected poems will be compiled into a book - Art in the Heart Book of Poems - launched on 8 October 2013 at Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery.
Find out more at www.artintheheart.org.uk
In association with Writing West Mdlands.
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The Arts: Great for Tourism
The arts form a significant part of the West Midlands’ visitor economy.
Over 6 million visits were recorded in 2011-2012 by the 23 Art in the Heart galleries and attractions.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Ikon Gallery and the new Library of Birmingham are a must-see for any visitor to the region.
The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Soho House and Aston Hall in Birmingham and Ironbridge Gorge Museums provide a fascinating insight in the region’s heritage, and are a great day out for all the family.
Whilst places such as Airspace Gallery, Eastside Projects, Mead Gallery, RBSA Gallery and Wolverhampton Art Gallery provide great events and exhibitions right on our doorstep.
With free entry to many exhibitions, myriad opportunities for shopping in independent gift and craft shops plus dining in cafes and restaurants, what are you waiting for?
Library of Birmingham, opening September 2013
Art in the Heart: The Galleries and Attractions
Full exhibition details can be found at www.artintheheart.org.uk
AirSpace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent AirSpace Gallery is a collaborative, artist led project in Stoke-on-Trent, providing professional development opportunities, studio and exhibiting space and support for artists.
Through a dynamic and evolving programme of exhibitions, events and activities AirSpace Gallery brings critical, high quality contemporary art to the region and provides opportunities for a broad range of artists. www.airspacegallery.org
Aston Hall, Birmingham Aston Hall is a magnificent Grade I listed Jacobean mansion sitting in a Grade II listed Park. Constructed between 1618 and 1635 by Sir Thomas Holte, the Hall was one of the last great Jacobean houses to be built in Britain - and remains substantially unchanged since this time. The Hall’s fine paintings, textiles, furniture and metalwork reflect the history of the house and the lives of the people who have lived here.
Aston Hall boasts sumptuous interiors from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, including its magnificent Long Gallery. View exquisite portraits by Peter Lely, Cornelius Johnson and others within this stunning historic context, which form part of the important stories surrounding the rich history of Aston Hall. www.birminghammuseums.org.uk
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham Monet, Manet and Magritte; Renoir, Rubens, Rossetti and Rodin; Degas, Delacroix and Van Dyck - not to mention Botticelli, Poussin, Turner, Gauguin, Gainsborough, Van Gogh, Picasso, Hodgkin…
You can see key works by all these - and many more - great artists in the galleries at the Barber Institute. There is also a stunning coin gallery and an exciting programme of exhibitions, concerts, lectures, gallery talks, workshops and family activities. www.barber.org.uk
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is one of the most important centres for art and history in the UK. It’s outstanding collections span seven centuries. The Museum’s unique breadth brings together Saxon gold, Egyptian mummies, Arts & Crafts masterpieces, Birmingham industry and contemporary installation.
Paintings by Botticelli and Bellini rub shoulders with the world’s largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art. Expanding contemporary and modern collections include works by Fiona Rae and Sean Scully; while award-winning displays in new galleries celebrate Birmingham’s cultural and artistic identity. www.birminghammuseums.org.uk
Compton Verney, Warwickshire Explore art in the unique setting of a Georgian mansion surrounded by 120 acres of “Capability” Brown parkland.
Discover a collection of internationally significant art displayed alongside a changing programme of exhibitions and events.
Visitors can also enjoy free tours, children’s trails and activities and the waitress service café. www.comptonverney.org.uk
Eastside Projects, Birmingham As a free public gallery that is being imagined and organised by artists, Eastside Projects is an exhibition space with many differences.
They opened their doors in 2008 and since then have developed a reputation for producing innovative and ambitious contemporary art exhibitions, events and performances, showing international artists alongside the best emerging talent from the West Midlands. www.eastsideprojects.org
The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry Located in the heart of Coventry,this award-winning art gallery and museum has nine interactive galleries and an extensive visual art collection of approximately 5,200 items including works by Lowry, George Shaw, Barbara Hepworth and John Piper.
The Herbert has a broad programme of temporary exhibitions delivered in collaboration with national galleries including the V&A, British Museum and Natural History Museum. www.theherbert.org
Ikon Gallery, Birmingham Ikon is an internationally acclaimed contemporary art gallery located in central Birmingham. Housed in the neo-gothic Oozells Street School, it shows work by artists from around the world using a range of media including sound, film, photography, painting, sculpture and installation.
Visitors can also enjoy events such as talks, tours and workshops and a browse in Ikon’s independent bookshop. www.ikon-gallery.co.uk
Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Shropshire An informative, inspiring and fun day is ensured at the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire.
Whether you are interested in fine china, decorative tiles, giant interactives or a Victorian recreated town, it’s all to be found in this stunning World Heritage Site.
A highlight to any visit is the Museum’s temporary exhibition programme housed in the Coalbrookdale Gallery, adjacent to the Museum of Iron. www.ironbridge.org.uk
Library of Birmingham The new Library of Birmingham will open in Centenary Square on 3 September 2013, providing a showcase for the city’s internationally important collections of archives, photography and rare books. It will also be home to a state-of-the-art gallery space, a BFI Mediatheque, a new flexible studio theatre, an outdoor amphitheatre and a range of exhibition and performance spaces. www.libraryofbirmingham.com
mac birmingham Celebrating its 50th year mac birmingham is a contemporary arts centre which provides arts for all, every age and background. With over 850,000 visitors per year art is in the fabric of the building. mac birmingham offers free exhibitions year round and a wide range of workshops and courses for artists with all levels of experience. www.macarts.co.uk
Mead Gallery, Coventry The Mead Gallery is one of the largest, most beautiful purpose-built art galleries in the UK, presenting an ambitious programme of international contemporary art.
Situated within Warwick Arts Centre on the University of Warwick campus in Coventry, the Gallery presents exhibitions during term-time only and has close links with the University’s Art Collection, which is on open display across campus. www.meadgallery.co.uk
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is built around a perfectly preserved jewellery workshop offering a unique glimpse of working life in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter.
The museum tells the story of the Jewellery Quarter and Birmingham’s renowned jewellery and metalworking heritage.
Explore this extraordinary industrial time capsule on a lively guided tour, and see demonstrations of traditional jewellery-making skills. www.birminghammuseums.org.uk
The New Art Gallery Walsall The New Art Gallery Walsall presents historic, modern and contemporary art in innovative and challenging ways and runs a full event and education programme supporting this.
The Garman Ryan Collection galleries chart the long, productive and often controversial career of Jacob Epstein, and serve as a memorial to the Epstein’s extraordinary circle of family and friends.
The changing exhibition programme on the 3rd and 4th Floors focuses on the contemporary visual arts. www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery is located in Hanley, one of the six towns which form the city of Stoke-on-Trent.
The museum has outstanding collections of, fine art, ceramics, local and natural history, and the Staffordshire Hoard.
There is also a lively programme of exhibitions and events, ranging from contemporary art shows to children’s activities. www.stoke.gov.uk/museum
The Public, West Bromwich The Public is a world-class building located in the heart of West Bromwich.
A series of dynamic and inspiring open spaces combine with two galleries and a sweeping ramp bringing together permanent interactive work, stunning visual arts from leading national and international names showcased alongside local and emerging talent.
The Public is a place to delight and excite visitors of all ages. www.thepublic.com
RBSA Gallery, Birmingham The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) is an artist-led charity which promotes engagement with the visual arts through exhibitions, workshops and demonstrations.
The RBSA Gallery has a changing programme of exhibitions featuring work by Members and Associates of the Society alongside exhibitors from across the UK.
The RBSA’s Craft Gallery is a leading outlet for innovative contemporary craft. www.rbsa.org.uk
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford Upon Avon Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and stand where genius was born. Explore the family home and glove making business, enjoy live theatre every day with costumed actors performing excerpts from Shakespeare’s plays and view treasures on show for the first time in our Treasures Exhibition.
Complete the Shakespeare story with a visit to all five Shakespeare Houses and Shakespeare’s grave. www.shakespeare.org.uk
Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford The Shire Hall Gallery is housed in the Grade 2* listed building which is situated in the heart of Stafford's town centre. The Gallery is located in the Great Hall and consists of a large, temporary exhibition space, a Crafts Council selected Craft Shop and an historic Courtroom.
The Gallery stages an annual programme of self-generated and bought-in exhibitions featuring the work of local, regional and national artists and makers. www.staffordshire.gov.uk/arts
Soho House, Birmingham Soho House was the elegant home of the industrialist and entrepreneur Matthew Boulton from 1766 to 1809. Beautifully restored, the house reflects the fashions and tastes of the late Georgian period.
Soho House was a favorite meeting place of the Lunar Society, a leading Enlightenment group. Erasmus Darwin, James Watt and Joseph Priestly methere to feast, conduct experiments and discuss philosophical matters of the day. www.birminghammuseums.org.uk
Dome Club, Thinktank, Birmingham 360° science, art, music and experimental film in the West Midland’s only digital planetarium.
Using fulldome 360° technology the UK’s first purpose-built digital planetarium at Thinktank puts you right in the centre of the action. With a vibrant programme of shows and activities the planetarium at Thinktank will take you on an inspiring exploration of science, art, music and experimental film. www.thinktank.ac/planetarium
Wolverhampton Art Gallery This purpose-built gallery, opened in 1884 and extended in 2007, provides interactive displays of Georgian and Victorian art alongside nationally important collections of Pop Art and art about the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
New for 2013, Sensing Sculpture provides an immersive sensory experience enjoyed by our very young visitors and people with visual impairments. Wolverhampton Art Gallery is part of WAVE, the museums, galleries and archives of Wolverhampton. www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk
Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum The Art Gallery & Museum is housed in a beautiful Victorian building in the heart of Worcester. It hosts a changing programme of contemporary art exhibitions, as well as housing an historic picture collection and an intriguing selection of objects from a 19th century chemist’s shop to the wonderful Regimental Museum. The atmospheric Balcony Café and gift shop are accessible to all www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk
For further information on Art in the Heart contact:
Helen Annetts, PR on behalf of Birmingham Museums Trust, on T: 07779026720 E: [email protected]
Helen Stallard, PR on behalf of Birmingham Museums Trust, on T: 07740339604 E: [email protected]