May 2013
Family fun at galleries across the West Midlands

Be part of the art this summer

Explore world class art at 23 leading West Midlands attractions

Tell us which piece of art you love most #artinmyheart
Families are being invited to become part of the art this summer and choose the
piece of art they love the most in a region wide celebration of amazing exhibitions
and great days out in the West Midlands.
For the first time, galleries across the West Midlands are coming together to highlight
the wealth of world-class art on our doorstep, much of it free entry.
Art in the Heart is a partnership of 23 art galleries and venues in the West
Midlands who collectively recorded over 6 million visitors during 2011-12. Art in
the Heart is led by Birmingham Museums Trust and is supported by Arts Council
England.
Visitors to each venue are invited to tweet using #artinmyheart stating which piece
of art they love at that venue and why along with uploading a picture. Maybe it is the
building itself you love, a permanent piece of artwork, or an exhibition or artwork not
normally seen in the region.
Budding artists and arts enthusiasts can expect to see, and be inspired by, some of
the best national and international artists and exhibitions across the West Midlands,
from Botticelli, Rembrandt and Constable to Monet and Picasso and Damien
Hirst.
Visitors can see, hear, smell, touch and taste themselves around the visual art at
The Public in West Bromwich whilst at the Thinktank Planetarium young visitors
can be transformed from giants to insects in a film exploring how big and small we
are. In Coventry for larger than life illustrations take a look at Quentin Blake’s
designs for public spaces on display at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.
The new Library of Birmingham is a must for families, with its Discovery Season
bringing the new building to life with events, exhibitions and activities for all. Plus
most of the 23 Art in the Heart Galleries offer family trails and free workshops for
children and adults.
Families can join in the fun as writer Philip Monks travels the region to create new
poems inspired by Art in the Heart. He’ll be leading workshops at venues across
the region, where people can write their own poetry inspired by the artwork they see.
The finished poems will be compiled into a book, launched on 8 October 2013 at
Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery.
Simon Cane, Interim Director, Birmingham Museums Trust, said: ‘The West
Midlands has a wealth of great art and culture and we are delighted to be leading this
project to showcase those treasures to the rest of the nation and beyond. There are
23 venues involved in the Art in the Heart and we all want to encourage people to
come and explore what’s on offer – there is truly something for everyone’.
To find out how you can join in the celebration of great art in the West Midlands visit
www.artintheheart.org.uk or follow Art in the Heart @AITH_
ENDS
For further information on Art in the Heart contact:
Helen Annetts, PR on behalf of Birmingham Museums Trust, on
T: 07779026720 E: HelenLAnnetts@hotmail.co.uk
Helen Stallard, PR on behalf of Birmingham Museums Trust, on
T: 07740339604 E: Helen@helenstallard.co.uk
Notes to editors:
1. Led by Birmingham Museums Trust and including 23 venues, Art in the
Heart is an audience development and curatorial programme aimed at
increasing audiences, engagement, cultural tourism and travel within the
West Midlands. Funded by Arts Council England, Art in the Heart will
celebrate the strengths of the region’s world class collections and exhibitions.
2. Venue Partners:
 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

AirSpace Gallery, Stoke

Aston Hall, Birmingham

Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham

Compton Verney, Warwickshire

Eastside Projects, Birmingham

Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry

Ikon Gallery, Birmingham

Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust

Library of Birmingham

MAC, Birmingham

Mead Gallery, University of Warwick

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham

New Art Gallery, Walsall

Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke

RBSA, Birmingham

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford

Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford

Soho House, Birmingham

Thinktank, Birmingham

Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
3. Birmingham Museums Trust has been established to govern and manage the
museum sites and collections owned by Birmingham City Council and
Thinktank, Birmingham’s Science Museum. The new independent
organisation is focused on sustaining and developing key partnerships within
the city and beyond, in order to deliver high quality, audience focussed
museum services, and meet the needs of Birmingham communities as well
as its wider audiences.
4. Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural
experiences that enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across
the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance,
music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us,
brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us.
In short, it makes life better. Between 2011 and 2015, we will invest £1.4
billion of public money from government and an estimated £1 billion from the
National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as
possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk