Objects on display from Art.Quarter

Jordan Patel: founder of Art.Quarter

Throughout my life, I’ve seen too many young people from my community caught in the crossfire, lives lost, potential wasted. What a waste. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s always left me asking, “What can I do? How can I make this better?” I’ve spent so much time studying the youth in society in the judicial system, looking at the bigger picture, and wondering how I could bring change. Because I just know there has to be a better way. 

Art.Quarter is my answer. It’s not just about reimagining the dull, lifeless shopping experience that’s pushing people online. It’s about creating a space of real opportunity. A space where people from my community can thrive, especially the young ones. I want to show them there’s more out there; creativity, art, innovation and business. They don’t have to be boxed into the stereotypes society hands them or the negative situations they’re too often thrown into. There’s a better path and so begins the story of Art Quarter!

Items found on display at Centrala Space in Minerva Works

Alicja Kaczmarek: founder of Centrala

I came to Birmingham in ‘the first wave’ after EU enlargement, in 2004, and at that time people in the UK didn't even know where Poland was. Our culture went unrecognised, there were no films in cinemas which would come from the region we came from, there was no exhibition, not a single artist presented anywhere. There was a peak of very negative media portrayals of Eastern Europeans, saying we have nothing to offer but cheap labour. We weren’t included in the 2001 census so we couldn’t access resources, and still aren’t included in diversity policies here because we are white and from Europe.

Centrala was set up in 2009 to share Polish culture with Birmingham’s Polish expats, but we opened to include Central and Eastern Europeans who found themselves in the same boat as us. Seeing your own culture represented is very important. It gives you a sense of belonging and acknowledgement and tells you that you are an important part of ‘diversity’ (różnorodność) too.

Assorted items from the Friction Arts production archives

Sandra Hall: co-founder of Friction Arts

I got on a plane from Mombasa to Chingford at 11 and that was a culture shock. Not only is Chingford a really horrible part of London, it was very predatory, very white, and very National Front. From the age of 12, 13, I was climbing out my bedroom window and going to various punk and political events. Somebody took me to a punk gig and that was it. It kind of transformed what I was. I became what’s called ‘a ligger’ and felt like I’d found my tribe.

Being punk has instilled in me, and in Friction, a DIY culture. If you don’t see it happening… ask “why not?” and make it happen. I hope that we have created for others a tribe they can belong to, here in Birmingham. 

Darren Henley, the head of the Arts Council once said to us “you’ve really stuck to who you are, haven’t you?” and, I believe through everything we have ever done: yes, yes we have!

Backpack and objects connected to feature documentary: My Everest

Carl Woods: founder of Zedmill

Zedmill is a company I set up in 2019. The ‘mill’ links to Birmingham’s industrial past, because filmmaking is a craft. And the ‘Zed’ is the future, it is progression, it’s pushing it forward… you know what I mean?

I hope the progression Zedmill leads is for people to have an increased empathy. That probably came from myself to be honest, because as a child I struggled with communication for a long time, I had a speech impediment. So, I know what it's like to not be able to communicate well and to not feel empowered or to feel misrepresented, misheard, unheard, and to be really frustrated by that. 

But, when you can't talk very well, what do you do? You listen. …Yeah. I've always been good at empathising with people, and understanding, and just listening.I’m also from Birmingham, so I know how bad it is to be prejudged.