This coming Saturday 13th June we will kick off with our first ‘Handmade’ Saturday Market at the Creative Open Workshops.

Our workshop space will be given over to local creative people to show, share and sell their artistic endeveours.
It is promissing to be a fantastic day with products ranging from screenprinted accessories, handmade cards, jewellery and illustration.

Unit 11 - 11am to 4pm

Now all we need is the sunshine!

Hope to see you all there!

 The Creative Open Workshop (COW) is an unfunded, artist-run project based at the heart of  The Custard Factory. We deliver arts workshops from our colourful venue as well as going out into the community to work our creative magic.

We are looking to put on a series of Saturday Markets in June to create an exciting opportunity for local & regional artists/designer-makers. The Market will run alongside our established Saturday Flea Market, Urban Village and our General Stores.

If you would like to be consider for a space to sell your handmade products, please submit your proposal before 5pm on the 7th June 2009 to creativeopenworkshops@gmail.com

For more information click here

Sandwell College photography HND and HNC students join together and showcase their finest of images.

Join them at The Vaad Gallery for their End of Year show, the start of their journey as they Emerge into their Photographic careers.

“Open your eyes and your mind to the visually stimulating ideas and concepts”

Private View on Friday 5th June (invite only)

 6th to 13th June 10am to 7pm

Sunday 11am - 4pm

Free Admission

For more information and inquiries, please email us at emergence@live.co.uk

Good Samaritan or Dirty Vicar?

Following their sell-out tour and award winning Edinburgh run, Penny Dreadful in association with Scamp Theatre bring you another famously forgotten character – The Rector of Stiffkey. Disgraced by the establishment but called a saint by his parishioners, how did the tap dancing vicar end up as a carnival sideshow? And what about the woman who put him there, the 17 year old Barbara Harris?

Sink your gnashers into the true story of the Prostitutes’ Padre, retold as a Music Hall show, with MC Mr Matt Devereaux hosting the proceedings. Come feast your eyes and glut your souls on this salty feast of daring live acts, uplifting comedies, saucy songs, and eccentric dancing.

Check out their review by The Stage

Tickets @ The Ticket Sellers

                    Wolverhampton University end of 3rd Year Photography Degree Show.

                 24th - 29th May 10am to 5pm @ Vaad Gallery

                 Private Viewing: Saturday 23rd May 5pm - 8pm

                   www.thefutureexposed.webs.com

Another fantastic Sample Sale by Agent One & JWA!

Thursday 21st -11am to 7pm

Friday 22nd - 11am to 6pm

Cash ONLY

Get your cash ready, visit our Main Reception and see what you could find!

Jibbering Art are curating a beast of an art exhibition in an old 10,000 sq ft warehouse, smack bang in the middle of Birmingham’s creative hub, Digbeth.

With pioneers of UK graffiti, exhibiting alongside the new wave of street artists, this is a show not to be missed!

These artists may step over lines of public order but their art works can be seen in contemporary galleries as well as on streets; across the globe. Line Steppers brings together a diverse mix of styles and a broad range of mediums from oil paintings to sculpture, screen prints to large installation pieces.  

With an area of the exhibition dedicated to artwork under £75, “Line Steppers” will appeal to many tastes and many pockets.
 
Artists Confirmed for Line Steppers:

Aida, Best Ever Crew, Blam, China, Chu, Cyclops, Dave Gaskarth, Dora, Dscreet, Inkie, Jay Bo, Jinpow, Juice 126, Kem, Kid Acne, Log, LX.ONE, Mac 1, Mef, Motorboy, Newso, Part2ism, Peter Dixon, Plimsoul, Pure Evil, Remi/Rough, Rowdy, Semor & Co, Sickboy, Sweet Toof, Timid, The Krah, Them Lot, Vermin, Zoot.

The Wild Building, 104 - 108 Floodgate Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5SJ.

 22nd – 31st May 2009.

Open every day: 12 - 6.30pm.

Preview night:  Thursday 21 May from 6pm.

Admission: Free

RoguePlay, the new Theatre Company in Residence at Birmingham ’s The Custard Factory are performing at The Factory Theatre their new piece, ‘Finders/Keepers.

When is something (or someone) truly yours?

Do we ever grow out of our childish need just to want for the sake of it?

Inspired by the play ‘Owners’ by Caryl Churchill, 3 people play dirty just to see how far they can go.

Join them for an evening of mind games and witness who will be bought, who will be sold, who will come out on top and who will be left with nothing.

After all, two’s company, three’s a battleground.

May 22nd-24th 8pm. Tickets £7
Available at: www.theticketsellers.co.uk, 0844 700 0000
www.rogueplay.co.uk

We are pleased to introduce Alfred, Gibb Street’s new Town Crier, who will bring important news to the Custard Factory Community. If there is anything that you’d like him to shout, get in touch with Marisela.

So, let’s get started with our April’s Tenant of the Month:

Frankie Johns!

Frankie has brought Urban Village back with a bang, in one fell swoop improving the wardrobes of vintage clothes lovers throughout Birmingham. His opening of the General Stores with some cool independent stalls has proved to be a great success. Come and visit them, Wed/Thur/Fri 11am to 6pm & Sat 11am to 5pm.

For some cool pictures of the General Stores click here

We also would like to say Congratulations to:

Maverick Television  for their BAFTA triumph for Embarrassing Bodies Online at the 2009 British Academy Television Awards.

Rhonda Wilson, Creative Director of Rhubarb Rhubarb as she won the rights to hold the World Premier of the Obama Portraits by Nadav Kander at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery…. read more

Designer Adam Duffy has been awarded the Make Your Mark Young Brits Entrepreneur Creative Awards for his company “Looks Can Kill”.. Read more

Tak! – independent digital agency - for his nomination as one of the 50 Trend-Setting Design Studios and Agencies.. full article 

Steve Gerrard has been honoured the first UK photographer to join the Modern Photographers list, voted by true professionals in the industry. We like Steve’s picture of our most loved visitors… the Custard Factory ducks!

Richard Battye recently ran a competition to find a name for his “in progress” dance photography exhibition, Katie Parry won with “Still:Dancing”. If you are a dancer and would like to get involved click here…. full article

(Alfred customised by Robert Haynes)

Tenants Future Events

June - Punch Records presents: Bass Festival (British Art and Street Sounds) now in its fourth year, is the UK’s only month Celebration of Black art, culture and music. The Theme for 2009 is inspired by “Africa and Africans” visit their website for more information.

July - Bright Space invites you to participate in Shine Week, a national festival celebrating all the talents in all young people, for more information click here