Area Guide Winter 2018

Get the insider guide on Arts & Culture and Food & Drink in the West Midlands in the latest edition of Area Guide.

The current issue features:
Once Upon a Time in Birmingham
Verity Milligan
The Pound Project
The Anomie Review of Contemporary British Painting
ScreenBrum
Unselfish Lover
Brumpic
Dave Hill
Whisky Club
Brum Beer Babs
Birmingham Cocktail Guide
Super Stirchley
Gift Guides and more…

Cover by Verity Milligan

Read the online issue here or pick it up from the best bars, shops, galleries and coffee shops in the West Midlands.

15 February Culture events to keep you busy

Until 22 February
NICKLIN REVISITED
Reuben Colley Fine Art
During the 1950s & ‘60s University of Birmingham Geography tutor Phyllis Nicklin captured Birmingham at a time of massive change. Not only was the urban environment being significantly  transformed but new communities were changing the city’s demographic profile too.
In collaboration with Brumpic Reuben Colley Fine Art have invited a number of artists to produce work inspired by Nicklin’s photographs. The exhibition will feature paintings & drawings by Reuben Colley, Mark Godwin, Danny Howes (pictured above), Rick Garland, Horace Panter, Mark Lippett, Stephen Earl Rogers, Annette Pugh and Kevin Line.

5 February – 10 April
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2015
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
This world-renowned exhibition showcases 100 awe-inspiring images, featuring fascinating animal behaviour and breath-taking wild landscapes. Dive deep into the oceans, fly amongst the tree tops and journey across sand dunes discovering the variety of life this world has to offer.

7 February, 6 March, 11am – 5pm (and first Sunday of the month onwards)
MAC CRAFT MARKET
mac birmingham
An exclusive selection of products from local designer makers offering ceramics, jewellery, paintings and much more – it’s a great place to pick up original home and gift items.

9 & 10 February
MOTIONHOUSE: BROKEN
mac birmingham
Broken erupts onto the stage in an adrenaline-filled spectacle. Athletic contact work, spectacular acrobatics and a gripping narrative combine with a revolutionary set design and digital imagery that melds with the performers as they move. Tickets £22.

12 February, 11 March, 15 April, 7.30pm – 10.30pm
COVENTRY LATES
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
One night a month the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry opens their doors for an exciting evening of art, music, drinks, talks, performance and history inspired fun.

13 February, 12 March, 9 April, Saturdays 10.30am – 3.30pm
SKETCH COVENTRY
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
Join local urban sketchers in the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry Café for a day of sketching around Coventry city centre at this informal and supportive event.

14 February
VALENTINE MATINEE: BRIEF ENCOUNTER
The Lighthouse
Tickets £6.70 / £6.20 concessions £4.50 under 25s/students

15-20 February
CREATIVE WEEK IN THE MEAD GALLERY
Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre
In response to Gerard Byrne’s new exhibition, Coventry artist Jo Gane will curate the activities area in the Mead Gallery.

16 & 17 February
20 STORIES HIGH: THE BROKE N BEAT COLLECTIVE
mac birmingham
20 Stories High and Theatre-Rites join forces to create a unique mash up of hip-hop, theatre and puppetry bringing together 4 amazing artists: beat-boxer Hobbit, b-boy  LoGisTics, puppeteer Mohsen and, from the Midlands, singer/rapper Elektric, to form The Broke ‘N’ Beat Collective. Tickets £12.

16 February, 12–5pm
CAMERA OBSCURA FAMILY DROP-IN
Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre
FREE drop in event
Birmingham Obscura will be installed at Warwick Arts Centre, allowing participants a chance to explore a mechanical camera obscura with artists Pete Ashton and Jenny Duffin.

17 February, 1-3.30pm
PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY FAMILY WORKSHOP
Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre
Use recycled materials to construct a working pinhole camera in this workshop led by Jo Gane. £3, book in advance.

19 February
CHRIS MARTIN: THIS SHOW HAS A SOUNDTRACK
mac birmingham
Movies always have a soundtrack… so why can’t a stand up show? Join ‘one of the UK’s best observationalists’ (The Guardian) for a brand new stand-up show accompanied by its own original soundtrack. Tickets £10.

25 February
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: AS YOU LIKE IT
The Lighthouse & mac birmingham

25 February
DENADA DANCE: HAM & PASSION
mac birmingham
A gender-bending evening of seductive and provocative dance. Three short narrative works form this kitschy and filmic bill of contemporary dance with a very Spanish flavour – a true feast of meaty dance soaked in a salsa of passion.
Tickets £11 (£9).

26 February
AUSTENTATIOUS: AN IMPROVISED JANE AUSTEN NOVEL
mac birmingham
Undoubtedly one of the most talked-about shows on the UK comedy scene, Austentatious: is a comedy play spun in the inimitable style of Jane Austen – and based entirely on audience suggestions.
Tickets £15 (£13).

AREA GUIDE – Food and Drink issue

For the second year running we’ve teamed up with the fab Birmingham Independent Food Fair to showcase the event and the great foodie scene in the region…

The issue is packed with info on great places to eat and drink, foodie tips and much more alongside a run down of cultural happenings for the Autumn. Enjoy!

See the online issue here or pick it up for free at venues throughout the region (cafes / bars / restaurants – see the distribution page for further info) and at the Indie Food Fair in September.

Check out our September Area Guide

Here’s our latest issue which we have produced with Birmingham Independent Food Fair. Get your bellies grumbling with our pick of great foodie places to eat…

Digbeth First Friday – 4th July

Digbeth First Friday is back next weekend for a night of film, art and BBQ. Take a look below for what they have planned for the third event…

CBD Food Festival returns for fourth year, 18-19 July

The annual CBD Food Festival is proving to be a very popular hit with culinary crowds and it is no wonder given Colmore Business District has some of the best eateries in the city on its doorstep. To show them off once more the Festival is back in July to showcase the superb food and drink offering in Birmingham’s business quarter. 

COLMORE Area Guide – Out now

Here’s our latest special edition guide produced on behalf of Colmore BID – go and take a look at the great businesses and venues they have around the district. There are also some great events coming up including the annual CBD Food Festival, Jazz Festival, Moseley Arts Market and ‘Crossing the Bridge’ Sculpture Trail.

You can read it online here or pick up your copy around the District now.

FRANKFURT CHRISTMAS MARKET has arrived

14 November – 22 December, 10am-9pm
Victoria Square, New Street, Centenary Square & Chamberlain Square

It’s that time of year already. Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas market is back and ready to get everyone into the Christmas spirit enabling you to escape to a traditional and unique world of homemade toys and gifts, cheery Christmas carols and beautiful decoration and lights.

Area Guide November

The latest edition of Area Guide is here and packed with events for November. This month’s beautiful cover is by Ben Javens who is taking part in the Bicycle Basket Bazaar at Eye Candy which is happening on the 2nd November. Read it online here.

Area Student Guide 2013

If you are a new student, existing student or not even a student at all but would like to / want to know more about what is going on in Birmingham then you need to check out our latest special edition of Area. PACKED with info on where you should be going, what you should be seeing, clothes shopping, eating and loads more we’ve compiled, with our ace team of contributors, the best little pocket-sized friend you will need this year (and probably next). If you can’t find your printed copy (they go VERY fast) then you can read it online here.