Meet the businesses shaping minds in the Quarter
EDUCATION IN THE JQ
Isabella and Magnus Stokoe
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Magnus and Bella offer experience days not just for couples who want to make their own wedding rings, but also pairs or small groups, and you can rest assured that creativity isn’t a prerequisite for jewellery-making!
here is no shortage of wedding rings in the Jewellery Quarter, but for the die-hard romantics, there’s somewhere you can go to make your own. Magnus and Bella, run by husband and wife Magnus and Isabella Stokoe, first began making bespoke jewellery in 2009, operating from a market stall across the Birmingham craft circuit before eventually opening a workshop on Vyse Street in 2013.
Silver is included in the booking prices, but if you’d like to use more expensive metal, Magnus and Bella can provide these for you at an extra cost. With most pieces only taking a day to complete, you’ll be able to take your finished piece of jewellery home with you on the day.
Tradition is at the heart of the business, which is why Magnus and Bella only teach jewellery making by hand. Magnus still has his wheelwright grandfather’s hammer – once used to build cart wheels – proudly hanging on the workshop wall, which he now uses to shape bespoke jewellery pieces.
Courses start at £175 for individual day sessions, with discounts for group bookings. A one-day course in wedding ring making is £250 per couple and includes a home-cooked lunch and bottle of Prosecco – the perfect end to a day’s graft and craft!
To enquire about jewellery-making courses with Magnus and Bella, please call 07901 978 060. Magnus and Bella are currently designing a collection of wedding rings for the International Jewellery London show at Olympia London on September 4-6.
EDUCATION JQ
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QUARTER LIFE
Adrienne Frances and Kirsty Hillyer
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e Are Frilly CIC is a company with so many strings to its bow you wonder how big the bow actually is. Established by Adrienne Frances and Kirsty Hillyer, who between them have worked in the creative industries for more than 20 years, the pair work from a studio on Spencer Street filled with materials, designs and their most prized possession, Bertha, the laser cutter. The organisation has two arms: the first looks at the creative evaluation of cultural projects which can be anything from how audiences have engaged with projects right through to the process of how it all came together. The second is all about community arts and follows the ethos that everybody is creative, no matter what their age. The duo are constantly challenging themselves. Their work explores issues that affect communities and the outcomes are often very unexpected, but always worthwhile. Over the years, their work has led them to create transformative learning environments in schools featuring spaceships and jungles, self-portraits depicted solely on glass, puppets and even collaged community zines. They work across the country, earning them national recognition for what they create. wearefrilly.com
EDUCATION JQ
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QUARTER LIFE
Garry Foxon-Hale
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f you’re into upcycling but haven’t yet cottoned on to this crafty little workshop, you’re in for a treat. In just 12 months, Andupholster has become a staple part of the Jewellery Quarter’s creative learning scene, offering its students the chance to breathe new life into old furniture. Garry Foxon-Hale, an upholsterer by trade for the past 40 years, restored his first piece of furniture when he was 12 years old. Coming from a family of craftsmen and artisans, Garry has worked with some of Europe’s most prized upholstery and frame-making companies and is qualified to issue certification for his courses – something he says in the West Midlands is in short supply. The workshop, located just off Vyse Street, is spread across two floors and packed to the rafters with antique gems, all ready to have their stories unwoven. The courses, which begin at £45, attract a diverse fan club – from twentysomethings looking to restore historic family heirlooms, to ex-Londoners looking to meet new people and discover a rewarding hobby. With so many of us now thinking twice before we throw anything away, upcycling is becoming increasingly popular. Andupholster gives its students the chance to put their own personal stamp in their home, and learn a new skill that could eventually save them a few bob! To find out more about Andupholster, visit www.andupholster.co.uk.
EDUCATION JQ
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QUARTER LIFE
Gary Walmsley and Steve Smith
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ave you ever dreamt of becoming a rock star? The answer may well be right here in the Jewellery Quarter. Tucked away on a quiet street, Progress Academy first opened its doors in 2009 when industry heavyweights Gary Walmsley and Steve Smith spotted a gap in the market for a new style of music tuition. It is now the only Trinity College London Rock and Pop examination centre in the West Midlands and is supported by the worldrenowned amplification giant Marshall. Teaching an array of disciplines to a variety of people, Progress Academy offers half-hour to one-hour one-toone lessons in guitar, drums, bass guitar, piano and vocals across its 10 fully kitted studios.
EDUCATION JQ
Gary and Steve are no strangers to the rock’ n’ roll lifestyle. Growing up, the pair played in a band together and believe that there’s no better way to learn to play music than to play in a group. That’s why they offer a wide range of flexible learning opportunities and practice space for students who wish to play together. By night, the duo work closely with some of the biggest musicians in the world, providing equipment demonstrations and support at events for drum makers Natal and parent company Marshall. Lessons at Progress Academy start at £16 for half an hour. Get 40% off your first session when quoting QUARTER LIFE. www.progress-academy.co.uk
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QUARTER LIFE
Julia Higginbottom
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ducation comes in many guises. There are some skills that a textbook and exam just can’t teach, which is why creative film agency Rebel Uncut has launched a new programme for those looking to expand their understanding of all things digital through peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. Rebel Makers is changing the way people gain and develop skills, both personally and professionally. Whether you’re 7 or 70, everybody has something to offer and something to gain, a mantra that the founders instil in the minds of those who attend its monthly meet-ups. Raspberry Pis, circuit boards, computers and board games fill Rebel Makers’ HQ on Ludgate Hill as they enable a more hands-on approach to learning. Each month, people of all ages meet to solve problems and learn; from Minecraft to building apps, digital plays a big role in the sessions. Coding isn’t the only thing the group is mentored in though – it’s a place where personal skills such as confidence are developed, something Generation Z is often said to lack following the rise of social media. Traditional education establishments can often force students down a path, which means people often don’t fit in. Rebel Makers aims to make something more tailored to individual needs, allowing those who attend the workshops to learn the skills that they want to. It has only been running for a year yet those attending have felt encouraged, enabled and part of something bigger. With plans to launch additional centres and meet-ups across the country, Rebel Makers is disrupting education for the better. www.rebelmakers.co.uk
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QUARTER LIFE
E D U C AT I O N L I S T I N G S
Abbey College St Paul’s Square
Magnus & Bella Vyse Street
The Blue Orange Theatre Great Hampton Street
Academic Solutions Vyse Street
Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgherhia Education Centre Graham Street
The Challenge Charlotte Street
And Upholster Vyse Street Andreea Design Warstone Lane
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter Vyse Street
Bellis Training Cente Frederick Street
Papyrus Vyse Street
Black Country Atelier Mary Ann Street
Perry Beeches II Newhall Street
Change Birmingham Brief Therapy Vyse Street
Perry Beeches IV Albion Street
College of Food Summer Row Creative Support Water Street Free2Flow Coaching Vittoria Street Guitar Lessons Birmingham Caroline Street Highfield College Legge Lane In Bloom Vyse Street Jewellery & Silversmithing Classes Hylton Street Kinder Day Nursery Livery Street
Prymus Education Frederick Street Remploy Newhall Street Sans Day Nursery Hall Street School of Jewellery Vittoria Street Succeed Ltd Frederick Street Talis Frederick Street The Beauty Academy Lionel Street The Bespoke Jewellery Training Company 07703287640
The Coffin Works Fleet Street The Education and Careers Corporation Northampton Street The Little Beauty School Hall Street The Old Fire Station Nursery Albion Street The Pen Museum (Calligraphy Classes) Frederick Street The Quarterworkshop Fleet Street The Skin Practice Northampton Street The Quarterworkshop Fleet Street University Of Law Great Hampton Street Values Academy Key Hill We are Frilly C.I.C. Spencer Street Your Beautique Training Northwood Street Zest Education Vyse Street
MacIntyre House UCB Holland Street
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QUARTER LIFE
ENGAGEMENT RING SPECIALISTS – OVER 800 DESIGNS IN STOCK D I A M O N D R I N G S I N G O L D A N D P L AT I N U M EXCLUSIVE ETERNITY RINGS W E D D I N G R I N G S AT C O M P E T I T I V E P R I C E S HIGH QUALITY DIAMOND JEWELLERY
Diamond Heaven
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Tel: 0121 2001300 Email : sales@diamond-heaven.co.uk www.diamond-heaven.co.uk
JEWELLERY QUARTER
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115 Vyse Street Jewellery Quarter Birmingham B18 6LP
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