EQUAL - The Last Mile: Birmingham Interaction

The Last Mile: Birmingham Interaction

Logo for The Last Mile: Birmingham Interaction

Description

Background

Birmingham Interaction (Birmingham City Council) was a partner in the iCi DP under Equal Round One. Under iCi, Birmingham Interaction supported the design and development of web sites aimed at growing the creative industries:

BIG Marketplace, Birmingham Industry and Genius Marketplace, providing business opportunities for creative and non-creative industries
the e-creative information portal
Creative Channel Network, offering artists an opportunity to exhibit their work in public spaces
Birminghamusic.com, a distribution channel for all music genres, incorporating digital radio stations, a showcase for local talent and industry knowledge.

Aim

The aim of Birmingham Interaction is to build the infrastructure to support the creative industries, enabling talent to get to jobs, and increasing procurement opportunities through virtual information, support for intermediary organisations and new distribution platforms.

Target groups

Each project has specific target communities, but overall the target groups are all those with creative talent in the diverse communities that comprise the rich variety of populations within the environs of Birmingham, especially those currently underrepresented in the creative and media industries.

Round

Round 1 to Round 2

Birmingham City Council was a key partner in the Round One 'ici' (Inclusion in the Creative Industries) partnership.

Lead partner

Birmingham City Council (Regional European and International Division) >>

Contact

Nicola Saunders
Birmingham City Council (Regional European and International Division)
nicola.saunders@birmingham.gov.uk >>

End-dates

Action 2: 31 March 2008
Action 3: 31 March 2008

Equal theme

Facilitating access

Beneficiaries

BME groups, Other, Unemployed
Total beneficiaries: The Last Mile Birmingham programme has provided support to more than 400 individual artists and creative businesses.

Achievements

The Last Mile: Birmingham Interaction programme has provided support to more than 400 individual artists and creative businesses, with the aim to grow and sustain Birmingham's creative business community. The beneficiaries of Last Mile: Birmingham Interaction gained many things from the programme of professional development and support. Here are some beneficiary testimony statements:

‘The last 12 months has been pretty amazing, everyone on the programme has really helped, you don’t feel as though you are doing it on your own.’

Amanda, Birmingham Libraries, Creative Pathway

‘The best thing about the programme was gaining the intellectual, creative and strategic support of a respected arts organisation like VIVID.’

Ranbir and Colin, VIVID, Interdisciplinary Support Programme

‘At the end of the programme I took part in a showcase of work, and was approached by a company who saw my designs and offered me a job with them.’

Kate, Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre, EQUAL Project

‘I feel as if I am living the dream. The timing was perfect for me – the course changed my life.’

Giovanni (Spoz), Book Communications, New Writer Development Programme

‘I feel confident with the new skills I have developed, and excited about developing a career as a writer.’

Kimberley, Birmingham REP Pen2Paper Programme

Is this information correct?

Report an error >>

Connections

Add a new connection >>

Main outputs

Birmingham - The Creative City >> The film Birmingham: The Creative City zooms in on a very small number of beneficiaries and partners and examines their stories.

The Creative Compass >>The Creative Compass is a web site and DVD celebrating the journeys undertaken by both partners and beneficiaries of the Last Mile: Birmingham Interaction programme.

Activities and products

Arts in Healthcare >> In summer 2006, the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust started building a new 1,200-bed hospital complex. Expand/collapse

Products (2)

Arts Team >> The Arts Division at Birmingham City Council has two projects within Birmingham Interaction - Into the Marketplace and Brilliantly Birmingham.

Birminghamusic.com >> This unique resource is an online portal for the Birmingham music industry, designed to find and promote music talent in all genres, and includes an online radio station broadcasting a wide variety of local music.

Creative Management >> Creative Management aims to help talent achieve self-sufficiency in the industry by giving them confidence and industry-ready skills to prepare them for careers as solo artists, bands, songwriters and producers.

Creative Pathways >> Creative Pathways aims to provide pathways and access for creative and talented people from disadvantaged groups to start a business, find work, earn an income or develop skills in the creative industries.

Digital Birmingham >> Digital Birmingham is identifying how the Birmingham Last Mile e-publishing platforms can align with the digital infrastructure that is being developed to enable Birmingham to become a digital city, and close the ‘digital divide’.

Interdisciplinary Support Programme (ISP) >> The Interdisciplinary Support Programme (ISP) aims to develop a creative support programme, masterclasses and an interdisciplinary network that facilitates skills and knowledge transfer between disciplines and delivers mentoring activities.

MSR Music Ltd >> MSR Music Ltd has been working on three projects within Birmingham Interaction: The Birmingham Gospel Choir, A38 and African Machine.

Optima Community Association >> Optima Community Association provided a mentorship programme for creatives, based within the context of a regeneration project giving individuals the opportunity to benefit from professional mentoring support from professional artists and designers.

Professional Development Programme for Artists >> The Professional Development Programme for Artists supports artists (particularly painters and printmakers) to develop their professional and practical skills to be able to take up commissioning opportunities.

The BIG Market Place >>The BIG Market Place project aims to bring the skills of creative people together with opportunities within the industry, and highlights the needs and capabilities of both.

Writers' Development Programme >>Birmingham Repertory Theatre has been developing three programmes as part of its educational services to young people.

Writing Squads >> The Birmingham Book Festival has been overseeing two writing projects that offer unique opportunities for potential and developing writers.

Equal-Works

Equal themes