We’re thrilled to announce that our exhibition At Home with Vanley Burke is going ahead.

As part of Ikon’s 50th anniversary celebrations we host a special day looking back at the last five decades.

As part of his critically acclaimed exhibition at Ikon Gallery, Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi held a two day masterclass, focusing on his miniature portraits, on 20 & 21 November.

Ikon’s 2015 exhibition, At Home with Vanley Burke, is an ambitious undertaking and will involve moving the entire contents of the artist’s flat in Nechells, north-east Birmingham, to the gallery. Burke’s home is extraordinary – a cabinet of wonderful curiosities.  You can help make the project happen by donating and you’ll receive special rewards in return.​

Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 November 2014, 4-10pm, free

Today we unveiled Gillian Wearing’s new sculpture for Birmingham outside the Library of Birmingham – A Real Birmingham Family

On Thursday 30 October we unveil A Real Birmingham Family, a public sculpture that is the culmination of our four-year project with Turner Prize winning artist Gillian Wearing.

1990s: The March of GlobalisationSaturday 11 October, 11am-9pmLibrary of Birmingham

Ikon is delighted to announce our partnership with Art Happens, a new national crowd-funding initiative from the Art Fund.

Join us at the Brownhills Canal Festival – expect stalls, music and crafts.

On Friday Ella, Kembhi, Kristina and Rohanie took part in a workshop led by artist Phil Duckworth (Juneau Projects). We worked on board the boat whilst making its way from Birmingham to Ocker Hill (approx 8 miles in total).

Saturday 1st November Black Country Voyages took part in the Annual BCNS Bonfire Rally in Smethwick.

A day spent at Saltwells Nature Reserve.

The second day the team was quite different: there were me, Kate, Duncan, Claire (Duncan’s wife and artist and producer as well), Julia, Kristina, Rohanie, Harr – Joht and the poet Elisabeth Charis who was involved by Clayground Collective to responde at the experience of the day.

July 24th – July 25th | Voyage to Saltwells Nature Reserve Dalton Clay pits

Black Country Voyages in Netherton.

Black Country Voyages disembark in Birches Green Infant School in Erdington.

We spent an evening in a friendly and informal mood talking about the Black Country Voyages project, Juneau Projects’ art works and sharing our ideas.

Kate started a special workshop for Year One children by talking about canals, boats and how people used to live on them.

We spent a lovely and sunny afternoon out on the boat in and around Birmingham city centre hosting this month’s Adult Practical Workshop.

We were delighted to welcome friends of Tipton Library on board our boat. Organised as part of the community engagement work for the Black Country Echoes Festival, local historians, archivist and library staff took part in a special workshop. The group’s cruise took place along the lush green canals of Tipton.

The boat moored up in Tipton for a workshop, encouraging those to paint or draw about nature, taking inspiration from the place we were in or from the books that we had on the boat.

Between Monday 18 and Friday 22 August we were moored alongside the Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge.

It was the first time that we had ever been part of the Brown Hills Festival and I’m delighted to say it was a huge success!