SLOW BOAT JOURNEYS 3

In August, Slow Boat began the final movements of its Year 3 tour of the West Midlands.  

A group of young people from Birmingham Virtual School visited Slow Boat for a tour of Birmingham City Centre, and a flag-making workshop inspired by Mali Morris’ exhibition.   

Ikon Youth Programme met artist Emily Scarrott on Slow Boat for a writing workshop, writing eulogies to celebrate the life of a dead fish that featured in artist Alistair MacLennan’s event at Ikon in May. This was followed by a performance in Ikon’s Galleries, and formed part of the Vivid Projects performance art laboratory.  

Artist Mengxia Liu led a drawing workshop for a group of parent-carers from Sandwell Parents for Disabled Children. The group utilised regular stop-offs along the canal to complete detailed studies of inner-city activity.  

IYP continued their collaboration with artist Seungwon Jung and Coventry Biennial, producing weaving work with Jung on the boat. Members of the youth programme also visited The Weaver’s House in Coventry, where volunteers hosted the group with a tour of the space and an introduction to simple weaving activities. 

The artwork produced by Jung, IYP and the weaving group was exhibited on Slow Boat in September and at the Herbert Gallery & Museum as part of Coventry Biennial in October. 

In September, artist Robert Cervera performed the second iteration of Pipework with a student from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and a member of IYP. A tubular instrument, produced by the artist, was used to create a soundscape inside and outside of the boat. Audiences followed the performance as it travelled along the canal between Brindleyplace and Icknield Port Loop.  

At the beginning of November, IYP had their final trip on the boat. Artist Tat Vision led an activity, which involved the group completing a carousel of felt-tip pen portraits.  

About Slow Boat

With the support of Freelands Foundation, over three years (2021-24) Ikon Youth Programme (IYP) navigates the waterways on board Slow Boat, a converted narrow boat. IYP are collaborating with creative thinkers and makers to reimagine Slow Boat as a local art school.