Birmingham Conservatoire

During ArtsFest 3 spaces within Birmingham Conservatoire will be utilised: The Adrian Boult Hall, The Recital Hall and The Arena Foyer.

Venue Specific Information

Birmingham Conservatoire
(Paradise Place, B3 3HG)

The Adrian Boult Hall:

The prestigious Adrian Boult Hall is the larger of Birmingham Conservatoire’s concert venues and with 500 seats is one of the largest capacity indoor venues that will host activity during ArtsFest 2012.

Recognised as acoustically outstanding, the venue presents a year-round busy schedule of musical performances ranging from opera and orchestral to jazz, folk and gospel.

Within Birmingham Conservatoire, the concert venues, as well as rehearsal spaces and practice rooms, are equipped with pianos. These facilities, as well as the main meeting space and the Board Room, are available for hire all year round for musical and non-musical activities.

Availability:

Saturday 8th September: 12.00 – 19.00
Sunday 9th September: 12.00 – 19.00

(Please note that these times are provisional at this stage and may be subject to change).

Stage Size:

The Adrian Boult Hall has a raised stage with a wooden floor 5.9 metres deep by 18.6 metres wide. The width of the stage narrows to 11.5 metres and then 5.1 metres due to the curve of the raised tiers at the back of the stage. There are 3 raised tiers in addition to the main body of the stage and a balcony left and right stage above these tiers. Please see the downloadable diagram provided of the hall. Please be aware that access onto the stage for disabled artists is via a ramp from the main auditorium. The raised tiers of the stage are not wheelchair accessible.

Audience Capacity:

498 (Tiered seating)

Equipment / Facilities Available

- Steinway upright and grand pianos (please note the grand piano may be positioned on stage for the duration of the weekend)

- 80 music stands

- Tables and chairs

(Please note that the Adrian Boult Hall does not have any other equipment available and performers need to be self sufficient and able to perform acoustically, or need to be able to provide a small portable PA system or amps, microphones, or playback facilities themselves. Power sockets are positioned around the stage for this).

(Groups requiring a backline that wish to perform at the Adrian Boult Hall must be able to provide their own).

(Groups may need to be prepared to set up equipment before the first performance of the day and break it down / collect it after the last performance of the day, depending on the amount of time required to set up and break down equipment).

Lighting:

- White overhead concert lighting

Staffing:

In addition to a Duty Manager and Front of House stewards, a Birmingham Conservatoire porter will assist in the changeover of the stage in between performances and workshops. An ArtsFest Volunteer Venue Officer will be in charge of the venue on behalf of ArtsFest and will liaise with all artists before the event and on the day.

Additional Notes:

The venue has three small dressing rooms backstage however please be aware that these will be in use by several groups and artists should not assume that they will have sole access. Please note that the dressing rooms are accessible via stairs, there is no lift or ramp access.

A water cooler is located backstage for artists to use. The venue also has a coffee bar where other refreshments can be purchased.

Dance Applicants:

Please only apply to this venue if you wear soft soled dance shoes or bare feet to perform. Hard soled dance shoes are not permitted for use in this venue.

Workshop Applicants:

Workshops will take place upon the stage.

Venue Access:

For artists bringing equipment or instruments with them that they wish to drop off by vehicle, they will be able to do this using the lift into the venue from its loading bay. The loading bay is accessed by turning right as though going to the Copthorne Hotel from Paradise Circus, driving past the hotel entrance, turning right to go down the ramp, bearing right at the bottom of the ramp underneath the buildings and the loading bay is straight ahead to the left. Space at the loading bay is limited and artists will be asked to remove their vehicle as soon as they have unloaded. The main entrance into the venue has full disabled access.

The Recital Hall:

The Recital Hall is the second of Birmingham Conservatoire’s concert venues. With 150 seats, the Recital Hall is a flexible, modern performance space.

Availability:

Saturday 8th September: 12.00 – 19.00
Sunday 9th September: 14.00 – 19.00

(Please note that these times are provisional at this stage and may be subject to change).

Stage Size:

The Recital Hall has a flat performance area with a wooden floor. The hall measures 12 metres by 15 metres, with the performance area being approximately 11 metres wide by 6 metres deep.

Audience Capacity:

154 (Tiered seating)

Equipment / Facilities Available

- Steinway grand piano (this will be located in the performance area for the duration of the weekend)

- 30 music stands

- Tables and chairs

(Please note that the Recital Hall does not have any other equipment available and performers need to be self sufficient and able to perform acoustically, or need to be able to provide a small portable PA system or amps, microphones, or playback facilities themselves. Power sockets are positioned around the stage for this).

(Groups requiring a backline that wish to perform at the Recital Hall must be able to provide their own).

(Groups may need to be prepared to set up equipment before the first performance of the day and break it down / collect it after the last performance of the day, depending on the amount of time required to set up and break down equipment).

Lighting:

- White overhead concert lighting

Staffing:

In addition to a Duty Manager and Front of House stewards, a Birmingham Conservatoire porter will assist with changeovers in between performances and workshops. An ArtsFest Volunteer Venue Officer will be in charge of the venue on behalf of ArtsFest and will liaise with all artists before the event and on the day.

Additional Notes:

The venue has one small changing room backstage although artists should be aware that this will be in use by different groups and artists will not have sole access to this.

The venue also has a coffee bar where refreshments can be purchased.

Dance Applicants:

Please only apply to this venue if you wear soft soled dance shoes or bare feet to perform. Hard soled dance shoes are not permitted for use in this venue.

Workshop Applicants:

Workshops will take place within the performance area.

Spoken Word and Comedy Applicants:

Please be aware that you will need to be able to project your voice unamplified into the space.

Venue Access:

For artists bringing equipment or instruments with them that they wish to drop off by vehicle, they will be able to do this using the lift into the venue from its loading bay. The loading bay is accessed by turning right as though going to the Copthorne Hotel from Paradise Circus, driving past the hotel entrance, turning right to go down the ramp, bearing right at the bottom of the ramp underneath the buildings and the loading bay is straight ahead to the left. Space at the loading bay is limited and artists will be asked to remove their vehicle as soon as they have unloaded. The main entrance into the venue has full disabled access.

The Arena Foyer:

An interesting modern area suitable for small-scale intimate performances, the Arena Foyer backs on to the Adrian Boult Hall. With an audience capacity of 80, the Arena Foyer can be used for a variety of events, as its space is flexible. There is a small gallery approached by stairs on each side.

Availability:

Saturday 8th September: 12.00 – 19.00
Sunday 9th September: 12.00 – 19.00

(Please note that these times are provisional at this stage and may be subject to change).

Stage Size:

The Arena Foyer performance space is level with audience seating and has a wooden floor. The room as a whole measures 7.9 metres by 8.5 metres and the performance space is approximately 2.5 metres by 7.9 metres.

Audience Capacity:

80

Equipment / Facilities available:

- CD player

(Please note that the Arena Foyer does not have any other equipment available and performers need to be self sufficient and able to perform acoustically, or need to be able to provide a small portable PA system or amps, microphones, or playback facilities themselves. Power sockets are positioned around the stage for this).

(Groups requiring a backline that wish to perform at the Arena Foyer must be able to provide their own).

(Groups may need to be prepared to set up equipment before the first performance of the day and break it down / collect it after the last performance of the day, depending on the amount of time required to set up and break down equipment).

Lighting

- General venue lighting

Staffing:

In addition to a Duty Manager and FOH stewards, a Birmingham Conservatoire porter will assist in the changeover of the stage in between performances and workshops. An ArtsFest Volunteer Venue Officer will be in charge of the venue on behalf of ArtsFest and will liaise with all artists before the event and on the day.

Additional Notes:

This venue does not have changing facilities.

The venue has a coffee bar where refreshments can be purchased.

Dance Applicants:

Please only apply to this venue if you wear soft soled dance shoes or bare feet to perform. Hard soled dance shoes are not permitted in this venue.

Workshop Applicants:

Workshops will take place within the performance area.

Venue Access:

For artists bringing equipment or instruments with them that they wish to drop off by vehicle, they will be able to do this using the lift into the venue from its loading bay. The loading bay is accessed by turning right as though going to the Copthorne Hotel from Paradise Circus, driving past the hotel entrance, turning right to go down the ramp, bearing right at the bottom of the ramp underneath the buildings and the loading bay is straight ahead to the left. Space at the loading bay is limited and artists will be asked to remove their vehicle as soon as they have unloaded. The main entrance into the venue has full disabled access.