Business News
Mac Birmingham is the most visited
Top arts complex mac Birmingham was the most visited free attraction in the West Midlands for 2016, with 1.1 million visits. It signals a 10 per cent increase
in visitors for the venue, which is situated by Cannon Hill Park. In addition, mac has moved up
the national rankings into 11th place - a three point improvement on its ranking of 14th in 2015. The new national ranking places
the arts venue behind the British Museum (first), the Science Museum (7th) and the British Library (10th), and ahead of Tate Britain (13th) and the Imperial War Museum (14th), illustrating a local community that continues to support and engage with its varied offer for all ages and communities. Regionally, mac is joined by
several arts organisations, including Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (second), New Art Gallery Walsall (sixth) and Borough Museum and Art Gallery, Staffordshire (11th). Deborah Kermode, chief
executive and artistic director of mac Birmingham, said: “Our popularity is a true testament of the hard work and vision of mac’s staff and board in addition to the fantastic loyalty from our visitors.”
New Conservatoire brings music to the region’s ears
Birmingham’s state-of-the-art Conservatoire has opened with its principal Professor Julian Lloyd Webber claiming it will be the last of its kind to be built the UK. Part of Birmingham City
University, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, in Jennens Road on the east side of the city centre, has five new public performance spaces, including a 500-seat concert hall, a 150-seat recital hall and a 100-seat organ studio.
‘Our role in training the world’s next great musicians and actors is more vital than ever’
There is also The Lab, a cutting
edge studio, plus the 80-seat Eastside Jazz Club. It is the first purpose-built music
college to be built in the UK since 1987and has been designed to specifically cater for the digital age. Professor Lloyd Webber said:
“The new Birmingham Conservatoire emerged during a difficult time for
In harmony: Professor Julian Lloyd Webber (centre) and Paul Faulkner sample the perfect acoustics in the recital hall
arts funding and music education, meaning our role in training the world’s next great musicians and actors is more vital than ever. Personally, I don’t think there will be another built in the UK. “The Conservatoire has been
funded entirely by the university, unlike similar facilities, especially in London, which have been supported by public funding and grants. “Of course, a building is only as
effective as the people inside it and my team and I will continue our
work to ensure that the future arts industry is not dominated by the wealthy elite. Our impressive programme of
learning and widening public participation benefits thousands of children, young people and their families and our new home will become the central hub of all of these crucial activities.” The Conservatoire’s inaugural
season begins on 11 March 2018, with a performance by the Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra.
16 CHAMBERLINK September 2017
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