City News

A dramatic freefall from one of Birmingham’s landmark building, The Mailbox.

Architecture Week 2007, the national celebration of contemporary architecture and the built environment, kick starts in the West Midlands on Friday 15 June with The Mail Drop. Artist Miss High Leg Kick will plunge head first into Architecture Week with a spectacular and death-defying entrance officially launching the regions events and activities which take place from 15 June – 24 June.

Architecture Week is an Arts Council England led initiative, coordinated this year in the West Midlands by Fierce Earth in partnership with RIBA, ACE and MADE. Architecture Week promises to demonstrate the role that the arts can play in broadening people’s experiences of architecture through an exciting region-wide programme of events.

Miss High Leg Kick’s entrance will be preceded by opening speeches in a specially created space outside the front entrance of The Mailbox, Birmingham. Speakers included acclaimed architect, Will Alsop, Arts Council West Midlands Executive Director, Sally Luton, and young people who have participated in projects inspired by architecture in the region.

Following the speeches and assisted by classical musician Christopher Gayford and climbing guru Jack Griffiths, Miss High Leg Kick will invite audiences to witness her spectacular descent dressed in full glamorous showgirl attire sweeping elegantly to the ground to land on a red carpet officially launching Architecture Week. The party will continue with electric pop and “Superhero theme tunes” beneath the flyover opposite the Mailbox, with Brighton-based DJ Dolly Deluxe!

Kevin Isaacs, West Midlands Regional Coordinator from Fierce Earth said: “Architecture Week in the West Midlands promises to offer something for everyone from large-scale public art events like Miss High Leg Kick to projections onto buildings in Coventry, short architectural films being shown at a range of venues, and a RIBA hosted debate on regeneration in the Midlands in partnership with BBC Radio WM. Fierce Earth is proud to have co-ordinated a fascinating programme of events in the West Midlands.”

Sally Luton, Regional Executive Director at Arts Council West Midlands adds: "This year's Architecture Week will definitely inspire audiences and participants alike to think creatively about the spaces around them. The exciting array of events on offer celebrate and explore architecture through an intriguing range of artforms and will reach a diverse social mix including many children and young people".

Architecture Week activities in the West Midlands will focus on themes of diversity and children and young people. A full programme of regional activities can be found at www.architectureweek.org.uk.

Related City News article... Architecture Week: A spectacular freefall from a landmark building, micro-compact living, underground tunnels and floating cities.