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Fine art photographers go out onto the streets for a month in Birmingham, from 14 March, in a unique exhibition which is made in the form of ‘For Sale’ boards. Up to 16 boards will be shown by tenants or building owners in Eastside or Hockley, who have chosen an image from the project web site and will have the fine art photograph on show outside their properties. All images can be bought via the internet and delivered direct to buyers.

Initiated by Rhubarb-Rhubarb, the award winning arts company, which links Birmingham with 17 other major international cities through a trial of photographic festivals, the project aims to profile regional, European and American photographers, play on the issues of markets – and create new propositions for showcasing and selling work in a city with no showcasing venues for use by its emerging artists.

The show coincides with NAB – New Art Birmingham, which seeks to develop the profile of around 100 artists in a three day showcase at Curzon Street Station, from 15-18 March.

A plaque on the wall of the building, below the image, will give information about the artists, the photograph and where it can be bought. Tours of the boards will be organised for Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 March.

Mark Storor and Trevor Wornham, of Albion Street, Hockley, have chosen a black and white image by Vance Gellert, based in Minneapolis, are delighted with their new artwork. “There is something impossibly beautiful about this photograph and we just love the fact that we can go outside and look at it on our own building. By doing this, we feel we are joining with others who are displaying a ‘For Sale’ sign, to say that we care about the creative life of the city.

“The project transforms and enriches the cultural life of the district by turning it into a gallery. It offers great potential for future art possibilities outside.”

Rhonda Wilson MBE, Creative Director of Rhubarb-Rhubarb, says, “We always think that owning a piece of art means paying lots of money and installing it forever in one place. These first set of boards are free, supported by Business Link, Digital Central, and Advantage West Midlands. They are temporary, live outside and will hopefully form a short trail of light through districts which are becoming known for their creative energy.

“Obviously some people will be enraged that art of this standard is outside in the street but as there is nowhere else in the city to put them, which we can afford to hire, this seems a rather brilliant opportunity to show them off. The NAB art fair in Curzon Street Station was full, so we took to the streets. And people have just loved this initiative – after all its not everyday you can have a free piece of fine art hung outside your home……”