Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery presented How to Improve the World, during 26 May – 2 September 2007, an exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Arts Council Collection which featured work by Julian Opie and Richard Deacon amongst others. Ikon hosted a number of performances in connection with the exhibition.

Jeremy Deller Acid Brass
25 May
Turner prize winning artist Jeremy Deller’s Acid Brass was a presentation of acid house anthems performed by a brass band

Brian Catling The Rail
12 July
The Rail  was a new performance made for Ikon Eastside. Drawing some of its references from the atmospheric interior of the disused factory, The Rail was a combination of physical gesture and mechanical threat, with all other detail or description of the work being kept concealed until the night of the performance.

Ryan Gander Loose Associations
19 July
Loose Associations was a touring lecture presented in person by the artist Ryan Gander. It was on the brink between lecture, performance and presentation although its format and consistency was reminiscent to that of a conversation amongst friends around a table in a pub – that is to say its subject roamed aimlessly, linked only by seemingly trivial facts.

Richard Wilson and Sean Dower
Twenty Pieces of Silver
26 July 2007
Twenty Pieces of Silver reunited Richard Wilson and Sean Dower, former members of the ground breaking Bow Gamelan Ensemble. They performed a series of short percussive sketches in which sound, light and action were absolutely integral. Developing out of a process of improvisation and rehearsal in the studio, these brief moments built up, creating a loose sense of continuity and visual narrative.

How to Improve the World was an Arts Council Collection exhibition from Southbank Centre on behalf of Arts Council England.