Hang-over at Dudley Council
Hang-over at Dudley Council
Plus: The National Gallery comes to Brum
Good morning Patchers — welcome to Thursday’s briefing.
It’s Kate here, back from a few days rest and ready to update you on the latest happenings in and around Birmingham. First off, I had the pleasure of chairing a Q and A at a Flatpack Film Festival event on Saturday, following the premiere of a short film about the campaign to save the Ringway Centre (which I wrote about here). Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs fame was in attendance and he was full of encouragement for The Dispatch, you’ll be glad to hear!
Save Smallbrook has applied for permission to lodge a judicial review of the decision to demolish the building and is fundraising for this legal action. You can donate here, if you wish to.
Enough about my weekend, today we have an update on the Electric cinema and the previously-hung Dudley Council, an opportunity for local businesses to give back, a major art exhibition and a couple of events to prepare for. We’ll be back tomorrow with a write up of Withnail and I at The Rep — unless I go on holiday by mistake in the meantime, that is.
Brum in brief
🎞️Electric feel: If you’re wondering what the latest is on the Electric cinema (and the future of Station Street in general) pop into BOM Arts Lab today between 11am and 7pm to check out the updated plans by property developers Glenbrook. This public consultation is part of a feasibility study on the iconic cinema and it’s in the interests of anyone who wants to see it saved to go along. “The public response since the cinema closed its doors has been staggering,” said Flatpack Director Ian Francis.
🤝Hang-over: Dudley Council will continue to be led by the Tories after making a deal with Labour following the local elections that left them with a hung result. With equal numbers of red and blue members, the two sides have thrashed it out in an arrangement that will see Labour chairing most of the scrutiny committees and the mayorality. The Lib Dems avoided doing a deal with either side in what Councillor Ryan Priest called a “grown-up” politics. More from the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
💰Peaky pledgers: The Lord Mayor of Birmingham’s Charity has been relaunched with a sold out event complete with a raffle prizes such as genuine props from Peaky Blinders sets donated by Steven Knight. To continue the fundraising, the charity has set up the ‘50 Club’ initiative and is seeking 50 local businesses to pledge to raise £2,000 each between now and December which will be donated to local food banks. To be a part of it, click this link here.
🖼️Iconic art works: Ikon gallery’s summer exhibitions are under way, including a big partnership with the National Gallery called National Treasures. As part of their bi-centenary celebrations, they have loaned works to venues around the country and Ikon is the only gallery in the West Midlands to be included. Head there now to see Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria by the 17th Century Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi and a contemporary response to the work by Irish artist Jesse Jones.
🪴Potting about: Green-fingered readers will be cheered to hear tickets for Gardners’ World Live are on sale now. Even better — the event is combined with the BBC Good Food show and one ticket gives you access to all the fun. Grow and gorge to your heart’s content on any or all of 13-16th June at the NEC. See you there. Tickets at a click.
🪯Spring forward: Vaisakhi, the Sikh celebration of spring and new beginnings is on Sunday and as is tradition, Birmingham and Sandwell locals will be taking part in the Nagar Kirtan — a procession through the streets while singing holy songs. See the poster below for times the parade will be passing by each Gudwara:
