The WIG has been a supportive part of Birmingham's arts environment for six years. A small gallery & studios based 10 minutes from Ikon Gallery we have hosted local, national and international artists an worked with organisations including Fierce Festival and Home for Waifs and Strays.
Daniel Salisbury – The Wig was my first studio space and my first gallery build. Considering its size its impact is big and remains a great independent artist run gallery/studio.
Supporting artists and arts organisations has always been important to us - Established in 2011 the aim was to provide a fluid space for experimental practice. Over the years the original founders have progressed on to other things but this has remained vital to us. We're entirely self funded which allows us to take more risks, gifting time and space to emerging artists and organisations on the proviso of: Try it!
Helen Grundy - As part of Strange Ways Arts Collective we did a residency called Ready Steady Make which inspired us to do a residency at New Art Gallery Walsall. It was a wonderful time and really gave us the freedom to experiment and grow.
Now we're building on this - New name / New internal structure / New ways of supporting artists and most importantly New mission. Continuing to give Brums artists and organisations a place to experiment and develop, to do this we have to invest in the space. The current set up was constructed back in 2013 and is no longer fit for purpose.
With your help we'll raise the funds to restructure the studio spaces. We have the man power now we need the materials. We'll rebuild in January 2018 building in a new studio space available for supporting arts organisations, creating a fresh flexible project space with built in work area and mobile walls. Making a physical space which can be adapted to most needs.
Kate Spence - The Wig was brave enough to host some of my riskiest performances, putting faith in me and allowing me to experiment and try out new ideas. As an artist who can't afford, due to finance and responsibilities, to just up and leave for a residency, having somewhere like The Wig local to me is just a lifesaver.
More exciting is what happens with any money we raise beyond our initial target - It will all be channeled directly into funding a program of artist residencies - Paying artists / Mentoring / Equipment for specific pieces / Bursaries for research trips etc.
With your help we'll create a testing ground for artists to experiment without the pressure of a finished product. THANK YOU!
Hear much more about our plans at our relaunch, Febuary 2018!
Ed Wakefield – The Wig was the perfect place for me to expand my collage vision through my residency KOLINN. Erol!
Alice Alena - I was surprised and excited when The Wig accept me as a group member! We did some projects together and had art space to work. We did performance with Strange Ways... a bet... it was my only performance ever! Really pushed me outside of my comfort zone! Amazing experiment!
P.S....
Come celebrate/commiserate at our FINAL EVER WIG EVENT at the close of this Kickstarter...
https://www.facebook.com/thewigbirmingham/
Risks and challenges
GETTING IT DONE!
The only real risk is that, when the funds are raised, the build won't happen.
We have at least two people who will be building this, with many offers of help already.
If you fund it, we will build!
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Funding period
- (28 days)