BLUEPRINT STUDIO
Our art production and curatorial studio, particularly invested in social art practice, championing and working with civic-minded practitioners. We work on self-initiated projects and on commissions. Previous clients have included BBC, Grand Union, Birmingham City Council and University of Worcester.
CREDIT: MYAH JEFFERS
Alysia Harris: Stars to Stars
2017
We produced and curated the sold-out 2017 UK 'Stars to Stars' tour of internationally renowned performance poet, Alysia Harris. Following the release of her chapbook, 'How Much We Must Have Looked Like Stars to Stars', Alysia delivered performances and workshops in London, Birmingham and Glasgow.
Guest artists included Anjelo Disons, Aliyah Hasinah, Liz Lubega and Lionheart. This project was in collaboration with Soul Features and Acoustic Live UK. The production was supported by Birmingham REP, Notting Hill Arts Club and University of Manchester.
CREDIT: CLICK JONES PHOTOGRAPHY
1Xtra Live: The Sessions
2014
As part of BBC Radio 1/1Xtra's outreach programme ahead of 1Xtra Live, we partnered with BBC and Beatfreeks to produce 'ScratchBEAT', a series of events championing local artists in music and spoken word. Alongside internationally renowned artists including Jacob Banks, George the Poet and Becky Hill, local talent such as Affiejam and Unhindered Reign performed at events hosted by DJ Trevor Nelson and Jade Matthews. The project received national coverage across the BBC network, including BBC Radio 1Xtra, Midlands Today and BBC Three - 6 artists got national airplay, Deci4Life featured on a national BBC documentary and shared a stage with Mary J Blige in front of 10,000 people at Barclaycard Arena for 1Xtra Live, performing his commissioned piece 'I am Birmingham'.
credit: future curious
Future CURIOUS
2015
Future Curious is a research-based project, driven by dialogue between people, artists and futurists, and investigates the possible futures we want to see and create. Originating as a festival produced by Amy Martin and Yinka Danmole, the project enabled young people to explore future innovation and technology through creativity. MAIA were commissioned to produce the launch event and collaborate on the project, aimed at aspiring and emerging artists in particular, and provided a wide range of free and open access talks, lectures, workshops, labs and commissions to explore future arts practice in relation to technological change.
Grand Union Christmas
2017
We were commissioned to produce Grand Union's Christmas Party 2017, complete with DJ Elliott, bespoke cocktails, Sara's Parlour and a lip-sync battle for the occasion! Curated by Rebecca Phillips, Selina Losa Gonzales & Louisa Robbin.
Images: Marcin Sz
CREDIT: JONNIE TURPIE
CREDIT: MAGDALENA SWIATEK
Hundreds & Thousands
2016
Hundreds and Thousands was a Birmingham City Council commission, in partnership with Jonnie Turpie. Working with Grand Central Birmingham, Birmingham Museum & Arts Gallery, Birmingham Open Media and The Lighthouse Young People's Centre, we were invited to engage young people in filmmaking and animation as part of BCC's Year of Arts & Young People in Birmingham (YAY 16) campaign. MAIA produced the project that saw over 50 young people attend workshops led by artists Emily Mulenga and Danielle Phelps. 30 film and animation videos were exhibited at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and 8 shorts screened at Grand Central Birmingham's Media Eyes.
credit: university of worcester
A Night in the Museum
2013
We were commissioned by the University of Worcester to co-curate a networking event for the university and the Worcestershire Ambassadors, hosted at the Infirmary Museum. We commissioned spoken word artist Sipho Eric Dube and a student theatre collective to produce works in response to the Infirmary's history.
CREDIT: MARCIN SZ
Scratch Night: Kanaval
2014
MAIA were invited to work with Ort Gallery on the exhibition: 'Kanaval' by Leah Gordon, to engage new artists and audiences with the exhibition and the work of the gallery. We produced a night of works-in-progress, inviting performance artists and writers to share work that resonated with 'Kanaval'.
I Am My Mother's Child
2015
We produced 'I Am My Mother's Child', a multidisciplinary project, fusing sound, digital art, performance and installation at Birmingham Open Media. The project explores the contrasts between "mother nature" and the "concrete jungle" of man-made constructs, while presenting creative responses — glitch art and installation — to a piece of audio engineered by Deci4Life, investigating the synergy between the natural and constructed. We commissioned Laurie Ramsell and Antonio Robert to create in response to the work and Demi Nandhra to curate the installation. I Am My Mother's Child was supported by Arts Council England.