May 2013
See the best art right in the heart of the country

A celebration of great art – renowned art collections and innovative
contemporary projects
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Explore world class art at 23 leading West Midlands attractions
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Tell us which piece of art you love most #artinmyheart
For the first time, galleries across the West Midlands are coming together to highlight
a wealth of art on our doorstep, much of it free entry, to find the most-loved piece of
art in the region.
Art in the Heart is a celebration of great art, amazing exhibitions and great days out
in the West Midlands. It is a partnership with 23 art galleries and venues who
collectively recorded over 6 million visitors during 2011-12. Art in the Heart is led
by Birmingham Museums Trust and supported by Arts Council England.
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 to each venue are invited to tweet using #artinmyheart stating which piece
of art they love at that venue and why. Maybe it is the building itself you love, a
permanent piece of artwork, or an exhibition or artwork not normally seen in the
region.
In Birmingham visitors can see some of biggest name artists with works on loan from
major national collections. Portraits by Rembrandt and Goya are on display at the
Barber Institute of Fine Art in their exhibiton About Face: European Old Master
Portraits from National Collections, whilst in Warwickshire oil sketches by Turner
and Constable are exhibited at Compton Verney.
In Walsall key works from Damien Hirst will be on show at The New Art Gallery
Walsall and in Stoke-on-Trent work by leading contemporary artist Richard Long is
on show at The Potteries Museum and Art Galleries. The Public in West
Bromwich presents a stellar exhibition of contemporary art including pieces by
Tracey Emin and Turner Prize nominee David Shrigley.
Visitors can also expect to see some of the most innovative contemporary projects
across the region by both national and regional artists. In Worcestershire West
Midlands craft makers will exhibit at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum whilst
in Birmingham renowned photographer Vanley Burke will represent the diverse
cultures around Soho House. Artist-led contemporary gallery Eastside Projects will
exhibit the work of two international artists for the first time in the UK.
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
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AirSpace Gallery, Stoke
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Aston Hall, Birmingham
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Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham
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Compton Verney, Warwickshire
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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
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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