City News

We are delighted to invite you to a preview of the new Birmingham National Express Coach Station public art installations in Digbeth, Birmingham on Wednesday, 2 December 2009, the day before the permanent artwork will be ‘unveiled’ to the City.
 
The Digbeth Public Art Project is the winner of the Jaguar Land Rover Arts & Business Award 2009 for the best partnership that has encouraged specific community engagement with the arts and has made a significant contribution to regeneration and sustainable growth in the region.

The project is a culmination of a public art strategy sponsored by National Express with contributions from the Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council’s Big City Plan Initiatives programme, Glenn Howells Architects, East Birmingham and North Solihull Regeneration Zone, South Birmingham College, Irish Quarter Partnership and Birmingham Irish Community Forum.

As well as enhancing the experience of the 1.5 million passengers that will pass through the new Birmingham National Express coach station, the public art is an integral part of the regeneration of Digbeth, Birmingham.

‘BOUNDARY’ - the iconic 181 linear array of 320 steel haunch sculptures forming the perimeter fence of the new £15 million Birmingham National Express Coach Station
 
IRISH QUARTER VISUAL ART – an artist and architect collaboration with Glenn Howells Architects; 10 metre by 7.5 metre textual installation - the first visual representation of the Irish Quarter, Birmingham
 
SHORT FILM – the first documentary footage on this area to enter the Birmingham archives, and invaluable record of regeneration produced with participation from a group of young people from Aston as part of their Arts Award qualification

The film will play in the coach station waiting room as a permanent digital media installation. The film will increase passenger awareness of the public art and provide an invaluable record of the city’s regeneration as part of the Big City Plan.

The new artworks have been developed through community consultation and recognise the importance of Digbeth as a gateway to the city whilst reflecting its rich cultural heritage through contemporary art. The ‘Boundary’ plays with the viewer’s perception of space and perspective as the Irish Quarter’s visual art embraces them with the promise of a warm welcome.

The Leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor Mike Whitby, said, “I am delighted that visitors to Birmingham, who increase in number year-on-year, will now be able to access our city through such an excellent gateway.”
 
Birmingham has within its grasp the ingredients for a truly integrated transport system, which befits a global destination. The new Birmingham National Express Coach station provides a further essential piece of the jigsaw, offering access to an incredibly popular means of public transport – through an environment which is at last appropriate for our global city.
 
Not only will this exciting development benefit the city and the region’s transport agenda, it will provide a critical boost to the regeneration of Digbeth.

Cllr Neville Summerfield, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at Birmingham City Council, said: “This is an early and brilliant visual project that relates to what the Big City Plan is all about – using cultural, artistic and social initiatives to lead transformational change of all aspects of an area’s image, economy and character.”

“It’s great that we can complement the innovative design of the new coach station and the £1 million environmental enhancement scheme; all of which demonstrate our commitment to promoting the unique character of Digbeth, as one of the real jewels in the crown of this city.”

To confirm that you would like to be amongst the first to appraise the new artworks on Wednesday 2 December 2009, and for further information, please contact Suzy Denbigh on 07789 295963 or digbethpublicartlaunch@googlemail.com