The evaluation has been written (summary below, full evaluation available on request) and the archive is almost complete.  This will be the final blog post for Inhabit.

At the close of the programme we will have engaged with over 2000 people, served countless cups of tea, hosted arTea rooms in 4 shops and a gallery/ exhibition space in another and produced more than 20 new commissions/ exhibitions/ performances.  Phew!

The photo albums that have been produced along the way are available to download from this website – see link to the files below.  There are also photographs of the various Inhabit arTea rooms.

http://www.refold.eu/_Inhabit-Bromford.pdf

http://www.refold.eu/_Inhabit-Ladywood.pdf

http://www.refold.eu/_Inhabit-Handsworth.pdf

http://www.refold.eu/_Inhabit-Stirchley.pdf

Along the way we’ve generated considerable press coverage here’s just a few of the articles and comments about Inhabit:

The Guardian:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jan/04/pop-up-arts-tea-rooms-birmingham. Birmingham Post and Mail: http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/latest-features/2011/01/10/shopping-free-teas-plan-to-revive-high-street-97319-27959756/

BBC Asian Network: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/desi

Radio5 Live: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00817x5

BBC national news: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12250229

Woman’s Hour, Radio 4: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00yj185

BBCWM: http://bbc.in/fMooP1

Arts Industry: www.artsindustry.co.uk/features/teatime-topup/97

We would like to thank everyone who visited all of our tearooms.  We hope that you enjoyed having us, and found the tearoom something to remark upon – something remarkable.  We are particularly grateful to our funders DCLG and ACE and to our landlords/ ladies without whom …

SO, INHABIT has now closed.  We have packed up tables and chairs, driven them across the city to new homes, teacups, saucers, matching and unmatched have found new homes.  The programme evaluation is almost complete, invoices being paid, material archived.  

As the work completes, we'll be pulling together an archive that will be available on line.  There are photo's by Jane Baker/ Greensnapper Photography which will soon be available, and the work of photographer Anand Chhabra will be coming on line.

So, whilst the real artTea rooms have closed their doors, the virtual space will remain open for a little while longer.   

We have finally reached the Inhabit finale!  It's been a roller coaster ride, we've travelled across Birmingham, visiting Ladywood, Handsworth, Pavilions, Stirchley and Bromford.  Which is where our final event takes place.  

So, come join us on Monday 11th April, between 5 and 7pm for the final event.  Parrabbola will be releasing Dreams for Bromford a skywards procession of lanterns.  It's free, they'll be tea (we've made circa 1500 cups to date) and cake of course! 

Inhabit free programme

'To Be Home' by Geoff Broadway, Inhabit: Pavilions  

It's time for our final exhibition in the Inhabit: Pavilions space. We're delighted to invite you to the private view of 'to be home' which takes place from 5 till 7pm, Thursday 24th March at Inhabit: Pavilions, Unit 13, Level 2. 

'To Be Home' is an audio-visual installation by Geoff Broadway that reflects the thoughts and experiences of people living in the Handsworth and Stirchley areas of Birmingham. Set against a backdrop of powerful imagery and shifting sounds, people talk about what community means to them, reflect upon being connected to our world and share some of their hopes for the future. 

'To Be Home' is produced in response to Inhabit's interdisciplinary commission and has been developed alongside the pop-up arTea rooms located in Handsworth and Stirchley. Using the tearooms as both a base and a starting point, Geoff moved outwards to spend considerable time within the communities of Handsworth and Stirchley and engaged in conversations with a range of local people to make a series of visual reflections. Out of this process two portraits of Birmingham's rapidly changing communities emerged.  

Geoff is a multi-disciplinary artist who works with film, light, sound and interactivity. Much of his installation work focuses on oral testimony to explore and reflect upon particular themes of everyday life. 

As this is the last Inhabit exhibition, we are inviting those who attend to take away a teacup and saucer, and enjoy an arTea experience of your own.  

It's been a long few days preparing the space for the Inhabit: Pavilions exhibition. It does look fantastic though. Enormous thanks are owed to Carl for making it all work, and to Karen for the cranes (making, hanging, arranging) and to James for the concept and the making, hanging, arranging and to Mel for the making, hanging arranging (ok, ok, there's been quite a bit of the making, hanging, arranging).  

We launch tomorrow (Thurs 10th March), so do come and visit us.  Mel will be running a workshop from 12 till 4pm, so join in and leave your mark in some way, take away a crane as a souvenir :) just not one of the one's that hanging - Karen would not be happy if you did that.  Nor would James come to that!

Our next big landmark dates are this Friday (11th), Saturday (12th) and Sunday (13th), when we've Parrabbola's theatre promenade performances of 'Secret Stirchley' ... really looking forward to these.  Whilst it's free, we do encourage you to book places as the walks are for small numbers only. Come to the Inhabit: Stirchley tearoom for one final arTea experience before we close the tearoom and move to our final space in Bromford (Bromford programme above).      

'Normal Tea'

For a change, I thought I'd share something I read in Saturday's Independent this weekend, written by Charles Nevin, 'Minor British Institutions: Builders' Tea': 

"Tea is the only drink in Britain enjoyed by all classes, although wine is percolating.  It would be a mistake, however, to imagine that tea is classless, as its wide popularity has prompted all manner of distinction designed to protect the uneasy upper classes and torment the uneasy upward approachers.  Putting milk in first, second or not at all has been as important in these circles as what you eat with it and when.  The modern popularity of 'speciality' teas has led to a new label of distinction: builders', signifying the standard cuppa typically enjoyed by those eternally thirsty artists of drill and brick (its been estimated that the average British house takes 9,500 teas to build). Interestingly, the snobby origin of builders' has been subverted by people who wish to advertise their unstuffiness, the ones who breezily use it in the same knowing way their parents used 'char'. Builders, meanwhile, are increasingly turning to coffee."

I liked this because in the tearoom, I'll ask people if they want fruit tea, herbal, orange pekoe or 'normal' tea ... ! 

What Inhabit busy-ness! 

It's madly busy in the Inhabit tearooms.  We've some new additions to our Stirchley programme but we've also now found our Hodge Hill tearoom.  We are partnering with Worth Unlimited (big thanks to them :)) and will be occupying 146 Bromford Drive starting next week.  The programme is below, alongside the Stirchley programme.  

We've also programmed the Pavilions - workshops will run from the 2nd till the 19th March, so we're having a festival type approach over two weeks.  During this time we'll be running workshops on most days (but not Monday or Tuesday) - the programme for exhibitions and workshops is attached here too!  See, I told you it was all busy-ness here at Hybrid HQ.   

Inhabit: Stirchley - running at full speed!

Inhabit: Stirchley is all go!  The full programme is further down this page, so do come and join us.  A huge thank you to Councillor Huxtable, Matt Powell and off course our wonderful landlady ‘Grace’ for making it all possible.  We will be at 1474 Pershore Road until our grand send off weekend (11^th – 13^th March), with a theatre promenade/ Guided Walks delivered by Parrabbola.  

There are some fantastic artists working in the space with a real mix of activities and conversations.  I’m fascinated by how often people are reluctant to talk about the people that they love but then once they start, it’s all systems go with Wanjiku in Dove Hearts (our origami and creative writing workshop).  I’m enjoying the stories that Secret Stirchley is drawing out, the detail and histories that reside in one small area - what has remained constant and what has changed. 

We’re mixing it up further with some artists who, if you are a regular, you won’t yet have met.  Prinith will be teaching us all how to crochet this weekend (Feb 5^th, Saturday, 10.30 till 1.30pm), Mark will be starting work on making a light box (Tuesday, 8^th, 2 till 6pm) and is looking for ideas and suggestions on what it should be – I don’t envy him, can’t think of how you’d sum up our Stirchley high street in one word/ image!  Then there’s Future Makers (11 till 3pm, Saturday 19^th Feb) who are bringing illustration, graphic design and ‘comic strip’ stories to the tearoom.  There’s lots more in the programme, so please come in, or check out the programme here and enjoy tea and cake with us. 

We area also dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s (now there’s a funny expression) on our Hodge Hill tearoom, which will be on the Bromford estate.  Watch this space for more information on our get in date, I’ll also upload the full programme once we’ve finalised it.  We’re delighted that we’ll be working alongside Worth Unlimited a community development organisation delivering work in Hodge Hill (and nationally). 

We’re also going to be ‘increasing the tempo’ at the Pavilions.  There will be ten days of workshops – the full programme is being finalised and will be uploaded once confirmed.  The programme will run from the 2^nd through to the 19^th March.  During this period we’ll also be having on display some of the work that’s been produced in the travelling tearooms. 

Before that however, we’ve Silverleaf Photography who are showing work done by participants from SIFA and Fireside.  The exhibition opens on Monday 7^th February and runs till the 13^th February.  So do drop by to see both stills and moving image.   

On the 24^th March, we are having our final exhibition at the Pavilions, delivered by Geoff Broadway.  It will be an installation featuring some of the people that Geoff met working alongside each of our tearooms.  We’re really looking forward to the exhibition and hope that you’ll be able to join us.  It will run until the 5^th April.  

Signing off now, but for really regular Inhabit updates follow us on Twitter/hybridposts 

2011 and Beyond ... 

It’s been a busy time following the New Year and Xmas break – back into work with a bump!  We’ve had exhibitions in the Pavilions, workshops in Handsworth and now we’re pretty much installed in Stirchley.  Of course, there are the usual problems – waiting for the builder to install the sink, working out keys and shutters, what is it about shutters always being so awkward! 

Our Handsworth tearoom will continue for a few more weeks.  We’re particularly excited about one of our final events, ‘In Conversation with Steel Pulse’ which takes place on the 18^th January.  Thirty-five years ago, during a social, economic and political period that shared much with ours, Steel Pulse were formed.  Members of the group will be talking about their experiences, what inspired their creativity, they’ll also be talking about the work that they’d like to do, or see happen, with young people in Handsworth today. 

After that, we’ll be working with The Runnymede Trust to deliver Generation 3.0 which will be an amazing week of events, workshops and facilitated sessions looking at identity, change, ‘race’, difference and culture.  If you’d like to volunteer to support this programme – which takes place from the 24^th till the 28^th January 2011 – then do please get in touch.  Our time with The Runnymede Trust will mark the close of our stay in Handsworth.  Sigh. 

However, on the bright side, our next tearoom, in Stirchley, will already have opened (subject to us finally working out the shutters!).  You can download the tearoom and workshop programme for Stirchley on the website.  Do join us.  We’re thrilled that Parrabbola will be working in Stirchley, drawing in stories and gathering people to take part in a promenade that re-writes how the local high street is seen and experienced.  There are postcards dotted all over the local area, so please pop one into the shop with a story, stay for a cup of tea, and tell us all about it.  We’re at 1474 Pershore Road, courtesy of wonderful landlady and hostess to be ‘Grace’. 

The Pavilions site has also been a hub of activity.  So far, there have already been three exhibitions – b-ART-er, Eastside Studio and Saranjit Birdi.  You’ll shortly – from the 25^th January - be able to enjoy the work of Strange Ways – who did an awesome showing over at Handsworth on Saturday 8^th January (why weren’t you there!).  Which is all part of bringing the work of the travelling tearooms into the city centre.  Following this, Maria Reaney brings together her photographic work with Fireside and SIFA.  Further exhibitions will follow this one - we’ll keep you posted.

We’ve also been enjoying some local and national print media attention.  See us in The Guardian here http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jan/04/pop-up-arts-tea-rooms-birmingham and the Birmingham Mail here http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jan/04/pop-up-arts-tea-rooms-birmingham

End of year, 2010

We’re coming to the close of 2010 but the Inhabit programme is still running on all cylinders.  We’ll be taking a mini break over the holiday period, but only to rise again with three shops up and running! 

Thanks to the Harambee organisation, our site on Grove Lane, Handsworth is fully functioning – there has been the odd boiler crisis (ah the joys of working in empty spaces), but you’ll be pleased to know that the heating is back on (thanks Mike!).  The Strange Ways crew have been working in the space every Weds, getting inspiration from the local high street and folks that pop in.  We were also delighted to host Charis’ installation ‘As we dream’.  Charis worked with a number of groups exploring responses to mental health and reflecting upon the increasing number of people who struggle with mental well being.  Geoff Broadway has also been drawing inspiration from local residents, shop owners and visitors to the tearoom.  He’ll be pulling all of this together to shape what sounds like it’ll be an amazing inter-disciplinary piece of work. 

We’re now fully open in the Pavilions.  This is where we’ll be profiling work produced in our travelling tearooms, as well as showing the work of artists practising in the city.  We’ve already held the well-received b-ART-er exhibition pulled together by the CURATOR5 group.  The exhibition took place at the end of November, including on the 27^th November, otherwise known as ‘buy nothing day’.  

We currently have Eastside Studio artists selling their work.  They’ve made the space look really great, with some impressive pieces up for sale.  If you’ve not done your shopping yet, and want to buy some original pieces, Unit 13, Level 2, the Pavilions is the place to go.  Prices range from a tenner to a fair few hundred! They’re only there till Sunday 19^th December, so check it out while you can.

We’ll be having a range of exhibitions on show in the Pavilions, with three further exhibitions already programmed for January, February and March.  If you know of anyone who would like to use the space, please let us know.  We’re very accommodating. 

We’ve just signed the lease on our next tearoom.  It’s a bit of a building site at the moment, waiting for floors to be laid, at 1474 Pershore Rd.  However, we’re hoping to move in early January 2011, so watch out Stirchley, here we come.  We’re delighted that Parrabbola will be working in Stirchley - stop and chat to them because your stories could become their stories could become all of our stories if they make it into the final promenade scheduled for late Winter/ early Spring. 

So, what's new with Inhabit?  Well, we're up and running with a full on programme of events for our Handsworth location, 27 - 29 Grove Lane, as you happen to ask.  The programme is below, so click on the link and it'll open with the full workshop times.  We're delighted to be working in partnership with Strange Ways as our artists in residence, they'll be keeping you updated on their blog.  We again have the fantastic Melanie Tomlinson, crafts artist extraordinaire working with us and photographer Anand Chhabra.     

We're also delighted that we'll be opening in the Pavilions (big thanks to the Pavilions for allowing us to use one of their empty spaces to profile work from the traveling tearooms).  More information on the first of four exhibitions can be found on the curators website at www.b-art-er.com.  We're currently working on the workshop programme which will focus on delivering sessions on Saturdays during our time there.    

Inhabit is a programme of activity part funded by Arts Council England and DCLG to re-invigorate local high streets and raise community confidence in local spaces. Hybrid has been commissioned to deliver the programme by Birmingham City Council. Our approach is to provide a pleasant place for people to meet, have a cup of tea, enjoy taking part in creative workshops or simply talking and sharing stories about what the local high street used to be like and how it could be in the future. The activities are taking place throughout 2010 and across Birmingham in Erdington, Hodge Hill, Ladywood, Perry Barr and bringing everything together in the Pavilions, Birmingham city centre. Our first tearoom opened on the 20th August at 173 Hagley Road, so do come and visit us.

We are still looking for empty shops in the other wards - so let us know if you know a friendly landlord. 

Attached Files

• EVALUATION SUMMARY.doc