Artefact is closing (for now!)

As you’ll know, Artefact is one of the worker’s co-ops joining the Bike Foundry and Loaf in our new building, currently under construction on the corner of Hunts Road. Their lease is up on their current home and, for various reasons, they’ve decided to vacate.

This Friday is the big closing (for now!) party, starting with Artefact’s Artefacts where you can purchase a piece of Stirchley history.

Then there’s the final programme of events through to the 30th July when the doors will shut.

Artefact isn’t going away though. Over the next year there’ll be regular events popping up in venues across Stirchley while they get themselves ready for the new building. Sign up to their newsletter to stay informed.

Left Feet Forward

Left Feet Forward is an exhibition at Artefact about cooperatives. It brings together archival printed material of the cooperative history of South Birmingham, particularly the Ten Acres and Stirchley Cooperative Society, and places it among Chris Neophytou’s photographs of recent grass-roots cooperatives that have developed in the area, Gugan Gill’s film exploring this history and legacy, and a play by Susan Finlay taking a wry look at cooperative organisation and politics.

There will also be a number of events discussing the role of cooperatives and a chance for local residents to explore their local history.

We had our group photo taken for this last week (in the rain!) and are very excited to see how it comes together. The launch is this Friday at 7:30pm — see you there!

What’s happening at Artefact?

Our fellow co-operative and good friends at Artefact are firmly back after the pandemic closure with a regular programme of meetups and events. Artefact is run by members of the local community on a mostly voluntary basis and provides a free space for activities that might not fit elsewhere. Alongside this it houses Artefact Projects, an artist community and gallery space that is open to all. Artefact is a vital creative and social presence on our high street and deserves your support!

Here are some of the things coming up over the next month, taken from Artefact’s website.

Marx Book Club (Wednesday 9th March, 7-9pm) The Marx Book Club aka BookMarx has been running at Artefact for many years. Each session they consider a paragraph and discuss Marx’s views on politics and economics.

Role Playing Night (Wednesday 9th March, 7-10pm) A night of traditional and modern table-top role playing games.

Is This Tomorrow? (Thursday 10th March, 7-8pm) The monthly dystopian and speculative bookclub returns. This first session will be to meet, chat over drinks and vote on what you would like the first book to be.

Stirchley Singing Group (Friday 11th March 7.30-9pm) Informal community gathering; every level and experience welcome. Each session will introduce an interesting and obscure piece of music and led by Sarah and Irial we will learn the piece together, just for the sheer fun of it.

Dub Reggae Night (Saturday 12th March, 7-11pm) Revolution Sound System and Ruffer ‘N’ Tuffer Present Dub Reggae Night. Free entry but please bring one item for B30 Foodbank.

Cool Boarders, Games Night! (Thursday 17th March 7.30-11pm) Come along and play board games at Artefact. Open to all.

For(e)ward Poetry Open Mic (Thursday 7rd April 7.30-9pm) Poetry poetry poetry poetry poetry poetry poetry poetry poetry poetry poetry poetry poetry.

Finally, there’s an open call for A Field In Stirchley, the regular field-recording and found-audio exhibition and event on Friday 25th March. The theme this time is Pet Sounds where you are invited to submit a recording of your special animal friend to be featured in the gallery alongside other domesticated and farm animal recordings from around the world.

We want your weird Pet Sounds! Does your cat sound like a claxon? Do your bunnies snort? Does your Giant African snail sound great sliding over a microphone?

Details here.