Ride for Hope 21st Sept

The procession down Kings Heath High Street for Hope Fennell was bigger this year, with around 400 cyclists and pedestrians taking to the street.

We were there with all our children, who all understood why.  For Jago it reminded him of when he was hit by a bus (minor injuries only), and said he felt people were doing it for all children.  Arthur couldn't understand why nothing had changed.  Freya is just coming to terms with what 'dead' means.

Nazan Fennell, mother of Hope, led the procession.  When we stopped for a few minutes at the crossing Hope died at, she managed to negotiate with the Police officer attempting to clear the road, even after he described it as a 'publicity stunt'.  Hope's friends from school gathered by the ghost bike, while we all waited a short while.  My children were getting a bit impatient, but no one was prepared to move until Nazan said so.  I'm not sure how long we were there for, obstructing the traffic.  As we stood there, I think the police expected the crowds to slowly melt away, but there was a sense of solidarity holding us together, mixed with frustration.

Find out more about Hope Fennell and the Livein Hope campaign or contact khresforum@gmail.com - also see http://hallgreenarts.blogspot.co.uk/p/car-culture.html

Other useful links:

• http://www.ctc.org.uk/blog/rhiaweston/road-safety-procession-to-be-held-on-sat-21st-in-birmingham-in-hope-fennells-name#.UjoFSpKtYBY.facebook
• http://www.b14news.co.uk/protest-march-for-teen/
• http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/mum-hope-fennell-stops-kings-6076170
• http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/hope-fennell-tragedy-mp-urges-6028675
• http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/hope-fennells-killer-driver-jailed-5849881
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-21380645
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-15663711
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2415859/Hope-Fennell-death-Lorry-driver-crushed-13-year-old-girl-truck-texted-girlfriend-released-just-THREE-months.html

Moseley Folk 2013

Another fantastic line-up this year as folk festival seems to ever grow.  The fields were re-jigged  a bit to compensate for the ever growing numbers - a nice touch to have live music in the beer tent, with the occasional dance routine breaking out across the queues.  Extras like children's activities and other stuff has always been good at #mofo, and this year saw the Morris hay-down get a bit wild right though to the evening, as the hay kept flying.  All the bands say this is their favourite festival - maybe they would wouldn't they?  But I think it'd be hard to top the lovely laidback family atmosphere Moseley Folk does so well.

Here's a few of my photos from the day.  Only managed to photo Kate Rusby from the stage - see links below for more and better photos






Useful links:

• http://www.moseleyfolk.co.uk/
• http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/music/review-moseley-folk-festival-5829389

Street play spreading across Birmingham

Yesterday was National Playday, and in Kings Heath we celebrated with a day of street closures to bring communities together and encourage people to play on the streets.  Goldsmith Road, Woodville Road and Albert Road all closed to cars for the day, and a range of activities were coordinated by the residents of the streets.

It was supported by Hall Green Arts Forum through music activities (provided by Musicshaker Fiona Howe), and also by our pioneering 'Kings Heath Space Explorer' project.  Parks4Play (part of Dens of Equality) provided a range of creative activities, the Library service with street stories and Birmingham City Council were instrumental in providing support to close the roads.

We sent out our young reporters to talk to some of the revellers at Goldsmith Road and Woodville Road:


An estimated 600 people in total took part - mainly residents of the streets themselves - all three streets were visited by Sarah Falkland from Midlands today and was reported live at 1:30 and 3 min clip available on Midlands at 6:30 too:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b037xkkk/Midlands_Today_07_08_2013/?t=21m33s

Laura Watts from Parks for Play was also interviewed on WM Radio and ITV central.

Also some great photos of the day:


Street coordinators will meet in September with City Councillors and other partner organisations (like Hall Green Arts Forum) as the newly formed 'Kings Heath and Moseley Playing out group' and will build on success for to discuss which streets and when streets will open again for play in Birmingham.  See below a short film made for playday:

• http://birminghamlives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/playday-2013.html
• http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2013-08-07/streets-closed-for-national-play-day-initiative/

Also see fabulous film:

I Have A Dream Spoken Word Project

Spoken Word Workshop and Performance

We are inviting young people 13-19 years of age from Hall Green, Sparkhill, Balsall Heath, Kings Heath, Moseley, Sparkbrook and Springfield to take part in a series of spoken word workshops leading up to performances at community libraries across the Hall Green district, during Black History Month in October 2013.

"I Have a Dream" is a public speech delivered by African - American civil rights activist The Rev Martin Luther King, Jr. on August 28, 1963, in which he called for an end to racism in the United States. Delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the speech was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement.

Fifty years later King’s speech is pertinent as ever, his words have a global resonance in countries and nations where citizen’s human and civil rights are violated or denied.

Birmingham’s Black History Month theme commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of what has been regarded, as the most iconic American speech of the 20th century.

The workshops will be led by experienced spoken word artists and performers. They will support young people to develop their own interpretation of “I Have a Dream” speech, making it relevant to them, other young people and society today.

If you are interested in taking part or know of any young people who would be interested in taking part in this exciting historical performance project please contact:

Ian Sergeant Arts Development Outreach Manager, The Drum Arts Centre, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, B6 4UU - email: i.sergeant@the-drum.org.uk Tel: 0121 333 2418

This project is supported by the Arts Champions Scheme, a ground breaking arts initiative that gets Birmingham arts organisations working with residents in their local area.

Place Matters Photography Project

A message from Fairbrum:

Do you have a camera or smartphone?  Can you use social media or email? Do you know what  works well, and what needs changing in your neighbourhood? If so, we want to involve you in shaping Birmingham’s new neighbourhood strategy.

 
On July 23rd we are launching a photography project to capture images of the city’s diverse neighbourhoods from different perspectives.

The aim of the Birmingham neighborhood photography project, “Place Matters”, is to build a collection of images to show what is distinctive about different neighbourhoods across Birmingham and what local people value in their local environment.

Budding photographers are being asked to go out into their local community and take pictures that answer one of the following questions:

 1.What do you like about your area?

 2.What makes your area unique or distinctive?

 3.What would you change about your area?

The project is being run as part of a summer of engagement activities to help shape a new neighbourhood strategy for the city. The images submitted will be made available via an online archive, as an interactive map and in local exhibitions.

To get involved, all you need is a camera or a cameraphone and the ability to upload a photo via Social Media (such as Flickr, Twitter, Facebook) or email.  In short:

 1.Take Photo

 2.Upload it to any social media (or email it to us – fairbrum@birmingham.gov.uk)

 3.Add caption or note where why and when you took the shot

 4.Add the tag or hashtag #fairbrum

 5.Geotag if possible!

http://fairbrum.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/place-matters-neighbourhood-photography-project/

Hall Green Arts Surgery Tonight

Dear all

If you are an artist, crafter, event organiser or a supporter of arts & cultural events in the Hall Green Constituency, you are cordially invited to the next Hall Green Art Surgery.

Venue Details 6.30-8.00 at Highfield, Highfield Rd, Hall Green. B28 0HS

Link to Map: https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zlUWykNpf4kc.kAUqMe4mM-Vs

Agenda: as well as giving people a chance to meet up and share information about their activities and challenges, I would like to discuss how our Forum should spend its £1,000 allocation on art & cultural activities in the constituency. I would like to see if there is any interest and support for a GreenFest, perhaps around Sarehole Mill.

In addition Steve Gove-Humphries (who is kindly providing light refreshments) has an idea for an idea for a symposium in November to consider the way forward for the Forum. Here is his idea: "I explained when we met that I wished to propose the disposal of the "£1000" grant-monies to be used to set up a DAY LONG conference at Highfield Hall with speakers, exhibition tents, performers, workshops etc to enable a proper inter action of the varying groups within Hall Green District to exchange ideas, learn from innovators throughout the City & wider & set up a properly accessible DATA BASE for arts entrepreneurs & producers.

We must engage with each other& have a central source of this info. This of course did not come up at the last meeting. I would suggest we can organise this fairly rapidly & certainly by end of year. I propse by say November 2013.

This would leave a legacy of support & a resource in these challenging times. I propse that along side this we make a community chest BID to all 4 WARDS to support the technical infrastructure of a website/data base/ publicity for it et al. We can film some of it & upload info so that if you need to know how to get a grant, apply for a licence there is a ONE-STOP place that will have an "expert" ( as in the ubiquitous YouTube films on varying things ) to assist people through the arcane & somewhat tortuous pathways. This is about empowering people to do it themselves BUT with the caveat of support from other well-seasoned & confident individuals. Council officers & others would surely be happy to share this information. It would also save costs in the financial climate we have. Many others will , I hope , input & share their wide experience"

RSVP ian.edwards@stpaulstrust.org.uk

Please do pass this invite on to those in Hall Green who may be interested.

Old Print Works 5 Sunday Events...Where Are You?

Please can you circulate and post to your forums the attached leaflet link - advertising our current 5 Sundays Programme- being hosted by The Old Print Works. The time is NOW! We have so many fantastic resources in our building all managed by amazing local artists and makers who are keen to welcome new visitors and share their skills. Please help us to spread the word and encourage more designers and makers and more local people to meet, learn and make as we open our doors and get busy.

 

We are looking for MORE stall holders and MORE people to come and visit us during these events- so they can see what we are all about!

 

Facilities OPEN NOW include- Wood and Metal Workshops for Children, The Community Darkroom, The Crafts Studio, The Growing Garden, Ort Café and Gallery, Zoodio, The Music Room (recording studio and workshops), Mendi Tabla Teaching, The Tea Room, Furniture Making... ALL  this at the 5 Sunday events- plus exclusive weekly activities and stalls. See leaflet for more information.

 

With a big thank you and best wishes to you all (and hope to see you on a Sunday soon!)

Sophie

 

Sophie Handy

07768 431124

http://www.oldprintworks.org/

 

Just 3 Sunday's left, Sunday 21st July (FOOD), Sunday 28th July (GARDEN) and Sunday 4th August (HEALTH and WELLBEING)