The BrainCell Collective is an eclectic group of nearly ninety artists – most of whom live somewhere in the Midlands – who create a range of work, from paintings and sculptures to jewellery and textiles.  | | The BrainCell Collective art market |
The Collective was started up in the beginning of 2004 by my wife and I, who were looking for a way of promoting our paintings. We realised that there was not an outlet for members of the public to easily view works of art that were also affordable, and also allow them to meet the artists behind the work. We set up the BrainCell Collective with the idea of bringing together artists; who have some kind of link with the Midlands; and giving them the opportunities to promote themselves and their work through a series of art fairs and exhibitions. During the summers of 2004 and 2005 we have been holding an Art Market in Brindleyplace Birmingham, once a month, and also during events like ArtsFest and Mad About Music. Raising money for Mind As campaigners for the de-stigmatisation of people with Mental Health problems, we wanted to raise money for the charity Mind in Birmingham, so we decided to donate 10% from any sales of artists’ work to this important and often overlooked cause. So far we have raised nearly £700. Artsfest  | | Picture by Tim Thomson |
The Collective is having a busy weekend during ArtsFest this year. In Brindleyplace we will be holding an out-door Art Market, with a wide range of artists, including potters, jewellers, ceramicists and printmakers, alongside a huge range of paintings in many different styles and mediums – there will be something for everyone. Running alongside the market in the Cityspace Gallery, above Jacob’s Photography Shop on Corporation Street, we are holding an exhibition of selected members’ work. We are asking the public to come to the gallery and vote for their favourite piece of work – the artist with the most votes counted after the ArtsFest weekend will win the title "BrainCell Artist of the Year, 2005". The exhibition will feature work by members of the Collective who do not exhibit at the Brindleyplace Art Market, so regular market-goers will have some nice surprises to feast their eyes upon! The exhibition will run for a week each side of ArtsFest to allow everyone a chance to see it – from 5th – 16th September, with the award being given on the 13th. A bright future This exhibition is the first of many to come from the BrainCell Collective. We plan to hold the competition on an annual basis, possibly at the same venue each year, during the ArtsFest weekend.  | | Picture by Sandra Dingley |
We are also planning to tour around the Midlands with selected pieces of work, with temporary exhibitions popping up all over. There are very few avenues for artists to promote their work in the Midlands, so hopefully we can help to a small degree. The Collective is continually growing, and although we like to veto the artists’ work to encourage a certain quality, we are very open with our ideas as to ‘what is art’. The first step for artists to join is to contact us via the website and send us examples of their work. There are artists from all kinds of backgrounds, races, creeds, religions and wealth. All of the artists, including ourselves, have an equal amount of input and organisational ability within the framework of the collective. Using this strength we hope to grow into one of the Midland’s biggest and most widely known arts organisations ============= Find out more by visiting the BrainCell Artists Colletive
BrainCell Collective >
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