8 weeks to go!

ArtsFest is only 8 weeks away!! We are all very excited and busy, making sure this will be the most memorable ArtsFest yet. As part of the ArtsFest weekend, we have several highlights to prepare for and we thought we’d give you a taster of what to expect.

Mandala

On the 7th September, South Asia and Britain come together in spectacular style as Mandala arrives in Birmingham. Sampad is pioneering this fantastic new project which will begin, on the Friday night, with a live music band. The event is being jointly organised by the well-established South Asian development agency Sampad and the leading arts and technology company, Seeper and we are delighted to have it as the opening of ArtsFest 2012.

Chamberlain Square will come alive with an exciting explosion of music, dance and breathtaking live interactions. 3D projections will feature heavily in the performance, as Birmingham’s Town Hall will be used to project the colourful and original performances.

The entertainment of the night will be a celebration of British Asian dance and music. There are already a vast amount of artists that have been confirmed for the event including; Zakir Hussain, Talvin Singh, Anoushka Shankar, Devika Rao and Aakash Odedra. With all of this, what could be more fantastic than finding out that the whole event is completely free of charge? As Mandala is free and in the great outdoors, it’s the perfect way to round off a hopefully brilliant British summer and begins ArtsFest 2012.

Community Vibe

Community Vibe is a Birmingham based Theatre and Training Company who will be spending the ArtsFest weekend performing, showcasing, exhibiting and educating the general public on local based issues. The company, which was established in 2006, has gone from strength to strength as they work with many people across the West Midlands borough. The highly creative team delivers a fantastic programme of events, which aims to develop creativity, raise awareness on important issues, train individuals in their desired area of interest and build confidence and self-esteem along the way.

We are thrilled to confirm that Community Vibe will be bringing their unending energy and passion to ArtsFest this September, as they will be hosting ‘Poetry City’ and representing the incredible amount of creative talent Birmingham has to offer. This is a terrific opportunity for you to become exposed to the amazingly diverse poetic originality and imaginative flair our region possesses.

‘Be Active’ @ ArtsFest

This year, ArtsFest are delighted to announce that we will once again be making use of the outdoor space in Centenary Square. The ‘Be Active’ Zone will incorporate the themes of various Council programmes during ArtsFest; so you are still guaranteed an
exciting fusion of dance, music and art. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a summery September so you can enjoy the splendid activities that we have in store. All of the activities in The ‘Be Active’ Zone give you the opportunity to get involved and they’re all great fun, no matter where your interests lie. If you’re a budding dancer or a wannabe musician, there’s plenty for you to discover in this zone. Alternatively, if you just want to have a bit of uninhibited fun then this is also your go-to destination.

We look forward to seeing you all very soon!