First Word WarwicksWorcs June.qxp_Layout 1 23/05/2022 15:45 Page 1
News from around the region
Award win for £2.4million Coventry creative art hub A £2.4million creative art hub in Coventry has scooped a prestigious award. The Daimler Powerhouse Creation Centre won the West Midlands Community Benefit category at the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Awards. Led by Warwickshire property, development & construction company The Wigley Group which owns the site on Sandy Lane Business Park - the project saw the only remaining part of the Daimler car factory turned into the first purposebuilt art production facility in Coventry. The win means the venue will now battle it out in the grand final in London in October.
Winter light trail set to illuminate the dark nights Tickets are now on sale for Coombe Abbey’s winter light trail (18 November - 2 January). Described as ‘a spectacular, illuminated experience full of wonder and intrigue’, the mile-long trail through the venue’s historic grounds features ‘stunning lighting elements and fabulous light play’. Tickets must be booked online in advance and can be purchased at luminate.live
Poetry at the heart of new Warwickshire festival A new poetry & spoken-word festival is being held at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre next month (15 - 17 July). Titled Skylines, the event features more than 30 poets - including national and local talent, household names and winners of the Costa Book and Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year awards. For more information about the festival, visit skylinescoventry.co.uk
Second exhibition for new digital art gallery Coventry’s recently launched digital art gallery is hosting a second exhibition - and it’s one that’s making a return to the city. As part of the launch programme for new venue The Reel Store, leading art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF) is presenting a five-screen, real-time interactive installation entitled The Tides Within Us. The immersive artwork is part of an ongoing exploration into ‘the world beyond the limits of our senses’ and investigates the flow of oxygen through the cardiovascular system. The Tides Within Us originally formed part
Midlands grassroots live music gets cash support Arts Council England has announced that part of a £1.5million fund has been ringfenced within National Lottery Project Grants to support the Midlands’ grassroots livemusic sector. Commenting on the news, Peter Knott, Midlands area director for Arts Council England, said: “Grassroots live-music venues perform a vital role in the music ecology of the Midlands. As well as inspiring the next generation of talent across a huge range of musical genres, these are the places where many artists first cut their teeth, and they spark a special connection between audiences and professional musicians.”
Popular flower show to return in August Shrewsbury Flower Show makes a welcome return late summer following a two year absence enforced by the pandemic. 04 whatsonlive.co.uk
of MLF’s Observations On Being project, which was exhibited at Charterhouse Heritage Park in Coventry’s London Road Cemetery last summer. Commenting on the installation, MLF’s Ersin Han Ersin said: “In this and other works we have created, we are seeking to repair our broken connection with nature through the experience of art. Placing the audience in the centre of a human inner system, we aim to bring them closer to an understanding of our interconnectivity by simply looking at our own bodies and seeing the rivers and tides through the journey of oxygen.”
One of the world’s longest independent flower shows, the prestigious event takes place in the town’s Quarry Park on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 August. Attractions include stunning floral displays, show gardens, equestrian competitions and arena entertainment. A dedicated food hall, crafts marquee and large trade stands area also feature, as do Fleurs de Villes - delightful floral mannequins that take pride of place in the Dingle Marquee. For further information, and to purchase tickets, visit: shrewsburyflowershow.org.uk
