Ladywood Launch
The Lord Mayor joined members of the community to help launch a new arts facility in Ladywood which has been funded by money raised at Brindleyplace.
The new arts room at Ladywood Community centre has been refurbished by members of the Brindleyplace team and supplied with much needed materials such as a kiln, potters wheels, easels and painting equipment with £10,000 raised by the 2005 Brindleyplace Dragonboat Festival.
The project, which has been organised through the Birmingham Foundation, is the latest in a series of initiatives by Brindleyplace with community projects in Ladywood. These have included transplanting trees from the Estate to St John’s C of E School and providing computers and strategic and planning advice for the area’s Credit Union.
Olivia Harris, Head of Marketing and Communications at Brindleyplace, said: “For the past decade Brindleyplace has been committed to putting something back into the local community and this new arts facility is the culmination of a good deal of hard work and generosity by Brindleyplace employees and those who work and visit the Estate.
“We have forged a strong relationship with Ladywood Community Centre and the enthusiasm with which the new arts room has been received has been a real inspiration. We hope that we will be able continue this support for them in the years to come.”
Janice Mayers, senior youth and community worker at the centre, said: “We are extremely big on the arts here as they are a fantastic way of tackling health and inequality issues and that is why we are so grateful for the support of Brindleyplace in helping us create this fantastic new facility.
“This area has a wealth of untapped artistic talent and this new arts room will allow those with the desire, no matter who they are, to come and express themselves. The room has equipment like table-top easels for the visitors who can’t stand for very long and we have already had members of the community of all ages coming to the centre and producing some really outstanding work.”
Coun Randal Brew OBE, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, said: “Nothing pleases me more than when I see different elements of the city coming together for the good of the wider community. This new art room is a great facility which I’m sure will provide a focal point for the local community for years to come.”
Derek Inman, chief executive of the Birmingham Foundation added: “The aim of the Birmingham Foundation is to make a difference and create opportunities for the more disadvantaged people living in our community. Brindleyplace has been determined to help us achieve our goals in the Ladywood district and our successful partnership has directly benefited hundreds of people and indirectly benefited many more. The arts centre is set to achieve the same and we look forward to working with Brindleyplace in the future.
Pictured left: Councillor Randel Brew, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, with Olivia Harris from Brindleyplace and (L-R) Shante Quailey and Jrai Parsons.