The first successful rehearsals for the PARTY PIECE performance by artist Lucienne Cole (on Sat 10 April, 3pm – 5pm) took place today at the gallery with dancers from the Birmingham Metropolitan College. For a quick preview have a look below:

For more information on the performance and event go to:

http://www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk/whats-on/event/lucienne-cole-party-piece

Caldmore is a multicultural area on the edge of Walsall town Centre. For many years it has been the natural home of Walsall’s artists and artisans from many cultures around the world, but it is also one of the most economically deprived neighbourhoods in Walsall.

The concept of the Caldmore Village Festival has been developed through to the creation of the Caldmore Village Festival Group. In this, its first year the festival committee has involved a wide number of community groups in planning for the festival and already local groups are pledging to organise a range of community cultural events leading up to the festival weekend and during the weekend itself.
Watch out for more details!

The Festival will incorporate a main stage which will have music and performances on all of the days from 12-8pm on the playing fields of Caldmore Community Primary School.There will be Music from many cultures along with Community performances from Caldmore Shines‚ lead by Darryll Prew and a Bollywood Spectacular lead by local Choreographer Jaimal Mistry providing a dance extravaganza.

Apart from the main stage events there will be many other festival activities. Lots of local organisations will be hosting events along with sports events including a 6-a-side football competition and Kabbadi and Stonelifting.

There is still plenty of time to get involved.
• If you are a local artist, performer or musician why not get in contact and tell us what you have to offer.
• If you are part of an organisation or a group that have a venue or something you would like to showcase we would like to hear from you.
• If you are just interested in coming to lend a hand there will be plenty to do on the days of the festival, from stewarding to giving out programmes and talking to people, so why not get in touch and tell us how you would like to help out.

Market stalls will be available to rent from us, if you as an artist or organisation want to produce something for sale or hand out information during the festival. These cost £30 a day or £75 for the weekend

Contact:
Alan Cheeseman, Caldmore Village Festival Co-ordinator – 01922 646724 or 07966281969, alancheesemanltd@aol.com

Join our facebook! Search – Caldmorevillagefestival

Our blog http://caldmorevillagefestival.wordpress.com

Seeing as it’s Friday, let’s relive a few songs from the Party! opening courtesy of The Ken Ardley Playboys. I think you will agree that I won The Epstein Quiz (the very loud voice next to camera).

On Friday 26 February at 2pm join David Shrigley for an introduction to his work. David was commissioned to create a series of drawings especially for the PARTY exhibition. His typically surreal cartoon-like drawings capture both the escapism of partying and in contrast, remind us of the reality of birthdays.

As we anticipate a high interest, the talk will take place at the new and stunning building of Walsall College (Wisemore Campus, Littleton Street West, Walsall, WS2 8ES, www.walsallcollege.ac.uk), only a 5minute walk from The New Art Gallery Walsall.

To reserve your free place please call 01922 654400.

See you all there.

One of your favourite galleries!!

http://www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk/whats-on/exhibition/party

The New Art Gallery celebrated its 10th Birthday last night, and there was over 1000 visitors! The Party exhibition is on and is looking (and in the case of Martin Creed’s room filled with balloons) feeling great… so I really recommend a visit.

The Unwanted Gift Shop was open for business and record numbers visited the shop since its opening, and visitors were given free edible art (black and white jelly) and left smiling with art in their bellies. Some even came with more Unwanted Gifts, which have now been added to the shop display.

There is still time for more Unwanted Items… bring them along and register them at reception. You never know… your work might be worth £££ in years to come! :)

Thank you very much for joining us last night for the PARTY preview and the 10th birthday celebrations. It was a beautiful night with a great energy and atmosphere. The best way to celebrate our birthday.

Unfortunately, that special day a ‘journalist’ from London decided to try to spoil it for us by publishing at the Independent an ill informed, lazy piece of journalism, which we strongly believe does not reflect what The New Art Gallery Walsall stands for the visual arts world in Walsall, the Midlands, in the country and internationally, our contribution to the cultural life, our work with artists, our programme of exhibitions, the significance of our collections and the ways we engage with our visitors through education and audience development.

Please click below to read the article and if you do not agree with its arguments we would be more than grateful if you could leave a comment that truly reflects your own experiences of visiting, participating and working with The New Art Gallery Walsall and its staff.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/why-have-costly-arts-projects-that-were-supposed-to-transform-the-countrys-cultural-landscape-flopped-1895567.html

Many thanks and best wishes

The New Art Gallery Walsall