Plinth are currently in the process of transforming an untouched Georgian house, dating back to 1710, opposite the British Museum into a unique pop-up space – part home, part gallery.

Christmas is upon us and we are feeling festive! To celebrate, Ikon Shop is opening seven days a week until Christmas (usually closed on Mondays) or you can shop online.

12 artworks by prisoners from HMP Grendon have received the Koestler Trust annual arts awards or commendations. This includes 8 commendations, 1 first-time entrant award (£25 cash prize), 1 Bronze Award (£20 cash prize), 1 Silver Award (£40 cash prize) and 1 Sir Hugh Casson Gold Award (£60 cash prize) for a painted portrait Love and Life (pictured above). Congratulations to the artists!

Art at HMP Grendon was the first exhibition of the prisoners’ artwork supervised by Edmund Clark held at the conference centre of the prison. It was a unique opportunity for the inmates to present their work to a number of invited artists, curators, writers etc.

The Slow Boat were very kindly invited to moor up at the Black Country Living Museum to be part of their Half term Myths and Fables event.

Last month the Slow Boat visited the Bonded Warehouse, Stourbridge for the annual Open Weekend.

The Slow Boat was brought back to Birmingham. Moored up underneath Brewmaster Bridge in Brindley Place, this is the closest event the Slowboat have held to Ikon Gallery.

This weekend the Slow Boat returned to one of their regular locations, Bumblehole Nature Reserve for a number of activities.

In August 2015 the Slow Boat was taken back to Stourbridge, returning to the Red House Glass Cone for a week of workshops.

Since mid August IYP have been running boat trips with Kick Ash; a programme where young people get involved in projects using drama, music, sculpture and loads of other art forms to explore all aspects of smoking and related issues.

For the last two days we have been running boat trips for the retired painting groups at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery.

Last weekend, Black Country Voyages made its way to Pelsall North Common in Walsall. It started out as a bright summer day full of painting, drawing and clay making.

Read about Joe’s time at Ikon as an Arts Administrator Intern.

This summer for the Bronze Arts Awards, we had the privilege of working with a fantastic group of students at the Winterbourne House and Gardens.

Last month the Slow Boat returned to Netherton to take part in the Bumblehole Family Fun Day. This was a one off event organised by the very welcoming volunteers of the Bumblehole Conservation Group Visitor Centre.

On Saturday Black Country Voyages made a short journey from Brindley Place, Birmingham to Kings Norton Junction to take part in the 2015 festival to celebrate 200 years of the completion of the Birmingham to Worcester Canal.

Yesterday, 2 July 2015, saw the finale of Ikon Gallery’s 50th anniversary celebrations with a major art auction at Sotheby’s, London. Entitled Artists for Ikon, it achieved £785,375 selling works donated by some of today’s most important artists, all of whom have previously exhibited at the gallery.

On Sunday, the boat went to its second year at Brownhills Canal Festival.

Tuesday 26 & Wednesday 27 May at the International Festival of Glass- The Redhouse Glass Cone, Stourbridge

Saturday 16 May was Black Country Voyages first event showing the Black Apotheca. Jacques Nimki worked with members of the public to discuss his ideas of adding to his archive of herbs and objects whilst we worked around the Black Country canals.

Wednesday 13 May saw the Launch of Black Country Voyages, The Black Apotheca. This was the publics first opportunity to see the newly transformed boat.

On Saturday 13th June the boat was moored up at a new location at Longwood Boat Club for their Canal Festival.

By Emily, Marketing and Press Assistant and Kerry, Visitor Services Co-ordinator

Join us on Saturday 11 April, 10am-2pm for a fun, family-friendly community duck race with prizes for the first 3 ducks over the line and best decorated duck. You can sponsor a duck for £1 on the day or in advance – online, by visiting Ikon Shop or the Canal & River Trust at Peels Wharf in Tamworth or Cambrian Wharf in Birmingham.