Working with the Arts Council Collection as part of their National Partners Programme, Birmingham Museums Trust is bringing contemporary art, including work by Birmingham based artists, to two heritage venues: Aston Hall and Blakesley Hall.

Aston Hall is a magnificent 400-year-old Jacobean redbrick mansion and Blakesley Hall is a Tudor timber-framed house sited amongst avenues of modern houses that lie beyond its gates. At each site, a selection of important works from the Arts Council Collection will go on display alongside select pieces from Birmingham’s own collection. The exhibitions will engage with the unique stories of both historical properties and their surrounding communities.

Walls Have Ears: 400 Years of Change at Aston Hall will mark the Jacobean mansion’s 400^th birthday year. The exhibition will present contemporary portraiture by artists including Mawuena Kattah, Ryan Mosley, Eugene Palmer, Paul Rooney, Zineb Sedira and Donald Rodney.

In its 400 year history the house has seen many changes in the social, demographic and economic landscapes surrounding the Hall. The selected artworks explore themes of history, culture, class and race that resonate with Birmingham’s own identity.

The exhibition includes a number of Birmingham artists, including Vanley Burke, whose photograph, Rasta Man from Handsworth (1968), captures a young black man growing up in Birmingham in the late 1960s. This was period during which Britain began to face the challenges of introducing racial equality, passing the first Race Relations Act in 1965 with further amendments in 1968.

Boundary II (2000) by Barbara Walker is taken from the series ‘Private Face’, which focuses on the African-Caribbean community in Birmingham and depicts an everyday scene within a neighbourhood barbershop. The close framing of barber and client prompts the viewer to imagine what type of conversation might be happening between them.

At Blakesley Hall, Nature’s Presence takes inspiration from the hall’s historical relationship with nature and the garden. Historically the hall’s grounds have been used in different ways. In the past they have been both ornamental and working gardens, whilst today they are a hub of community activity.

The display includes different artistic perspectives on the natural world. The works present subject matter including flowers, fruit and animals through a range of media, from film and photography to paintings and sculpture. The artists in Nature’s Presence, such as photographer John Blakemore and Birmingham-based artist Ruth Claxton, explore human observations and interactions with nature.

Georgie Hopton’s photographic work Faded Blooms (2009) shows the fragility and beauty of decaying flowers. Meanwhile Sam Taylor-Johnson’s Still Life (2001) depicts a traditional fruit still life decomposing over time. Both works capture a dialogue between the contemporary world and classic still life images. Each is a contemporary take on a subject which has been richly explored throughout art history.

Jill Constantine, Director of the Arts Council Collection, said: “Both Aston Hall and Blakesley Hall offer enormous potential to present contemporary art in a new and fascinating context.  We are delighted that the Arts Council Collection will be on display in these two new exhibitions and that the local communities who enjoy these much loved houses will also have the opportunity to explore contemporary art from the Collection.”

Deborah Smith, curator of both exhibitions, said: “We are incredibly excited to be able to bring contemporary art to our heritage sites, opening up a conversation with audiences and celebrating the past and present.

“Our partnership with the Arts Council Collection has allowed for a wealth of art to reach the public, and as a Trust we aim to make contemporary art accessible and engaging to visitors.”

The West Midlands police force area now has 13 weapon surrender bins.

It’s after a new safe and secure container, which is designed for people to safely dispose of knives, was unveiled today (Monday 26 March, 2018) at St Chad and St Mark’s Church in Lime Street, Merridale, Wolverhampton.

The bins are just one of the ways the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner is tackling the increasing problem of knife crime.

Wolverhampton now has four weapon surrender bins, all funded by the PCC. The other Wolverhampton bins are located at the New Testament Church of God, Wednesfield Road, Heath Town; Tabernacle Baptist Church, Dunstall Road, Whitmore Reans; and Morrisons, Bilston.

Commenting on the arrival of a new bin the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “I’m very pleased we have been able to provide another surrender bin for Wolverhampton.

“The bins are providing people with a legal and safe way to dispose of knives which they shouldn’t be carrying. Every knife posted into a surrender bin is potentially a life saved.

“These bins work best when the community wants them and in Wolverhampton the message we have been receiving loud and clear is that more are needed”.

The other bins are based across Birmingham and Sandwell.

The PCC installed the bin with the full backing of the City of Wolverhampton Council. Its leader, Councillor Roger Lawrence, said: “This is our fourth knife bin in Wolverhampton and, like the others, it will have an important role in helping to prevent crime.

"Very simply, if knives are taken off the streets then they cannot be used to commit a crime or cause injury.

"Sadly, knives are very easy to obtain. We have to ensure that people, particularly young people, are aware that if they take a knife out with them they could end up facing a murder charge."

Chief Superintendent Jayne Meir from West Midlands Police said: “We work very closely with the community, council and other partners in Wolverhampton to prevent the harm caused by knife crime.

“We are very grateful to St Chad and St Mark’s Church for allowing the placement of this additional knife bin.

“Alongside encouraging the disposal of knives, we ask the public to give us any information that might help us to protect our young people and I would urge them to contact us on 101 or through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111.”

The 13 knife bin locations across the West Midlands are:

·         New Testament Church of God, New Spring Street, Hockley

·         New Testament Church of God, 240-244 Lozells Road, Birmingham

·         New Testament Church of God, Goosemore Lane, Erdington

·         Aldi, 273 Stratford Road, Sparkbrook

·         Tesco, 278-299 Aston Lane, Birmingham

·         The Sports Hub Perry Barr, Holford Drive, Perry Barr

·         Cannon Street Memorial Baptist Church, 330 Soho Road, Handsworth

·         Green Lane Masjid, 20 Green Lane, Small Heath

·         Corner High Street/New Street, West Bromwich Town Centre

·         New Testament Church of God, Wednesfield Road Heath Town

·         Tabernacle Baptist Church, Dunstall Road, Whitmore Reans

·         Morrisons, Black Country Route, Bilston

·         St Chad and St Mark’s Church in Lime Street, Wolverhampton.

The award-winning conservation charity, Twycross Zoo, is celebrating the arrival of its first penguin chicks of the year!

The fluffy bundles of joy arrived to proud penguin parents Dory and Fin, one of the six breeding pairs at the Zoo. Hatching just in time for Easter, the Zoo is delighted to welcome the adorable Humboldt penguins, which are the first of many chicks to come this year.

Humboldt penguins are currently threatened by habitat loss, low food supply, and human disturbance leading to them being listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. As a result, the number of Humboldt penguins in the wild is now thought to be less than 30,000. Twycross Zoo experts hope to continue their work to protect this much loved species, having seen the arrival of over 100 chicks since 1969.

Twycross Zoo is doing its part to safeguard all marine life by using only sustainably sourced herring to feed its penguins. Humans also get to feast on sustainable fish at all of the Zoo’s catering facilities, including “the Catch” Fish Bar, with the hope to inspire visitors to take a small action to support the world’s oceans.

Yianna Cooling, Team Leader for Large Mammals, Birds and Pets, said, “We are so happy to see the first of our penguin chicks arrive, and just in time for everyone to come say hello at Easter! The family are all doing really well and the chicks are being kept well fed by mum and dad.”

Local celebrities have been showing a thumb for Macmillan Cancer Support’s Macbrum campaign.

Frank Skinner and Pete Waterman are amongst the celebrities who have shown their support for the regional fundraising campaign.

Frank said, ‘I've used my thumb for many purposes over the years but this is definitely the most worthwhile.’

Pete said, ‘It’s no secret that those of us from the West Midlands are the simply the best! It’s great that Macmillan Cancer Support are making sure that people affected in Birmingham and the Black Country get the vital support when cancer hits. I’m more than happy to Show a Thumb for MacBrum, hope you can support too.’

Eastenders’ Annette Badland, who grew up on Pershore Road, Bradley Simpson from the Vamps, actress and playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, actor and director Adrian Lester and actress Maya Sondhi have also expressed their support for the campaign.

The Macbrum campaign, which launch this week, aims to raise £250,000 for Macmillan services in Birmingham and the Black Country, services like the Macmillan Relate Counselling Service based in Bishopsgate Street, Birmingham. This vital service offers free counselling to people living and working in Birmingham and The Black Country who have been affected by cancer, at a time when they need it most. Cancer and its treatment can have a big impact on relationships, and the Macmillan Relate service offers up to eight free counselling sessions for people at various venues across Birmingham and The Black Country.

Liz Taylor, Regional Fundraising Manager for Macmillan, said, ‘We are so grateful for the responses we have had from local celebrities for the Macbrum campaign. Their supportive words highlight the importance of cancer services in the region, and the hugely generous and caring attitude people in Birmingham and the Black Country have. We are very excited to be launching the Macbrum campaign and hope people across both regions get behind us to raise vital funds for Macmillan services in Birmingham and the Black Country.’

To find out how you can get involved in the campaign please visit www.macmillan.org.uk/donate/macmillan-projects/macbrum.html . To donate to the campaign, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/macbrum-campaign.

You can also join the local famous faces listed above, like Frank Skinner, on social media by showing your thumb for Macbrum. Simply take a photo of you giving

us a thumbs up, then tweet the photo using the hashtags #showathumb for #macbrum.

Keys to nine new council homes at a Smethwick estate have been handed over to Sandwell’s housing boss.

The properties represent the final phase of 38 newly-built council homes at the Galton Lock development, off Mafeking Road in Smethwick.

The council  has been working in partnership with developer Countryside to build the properties which are part of a larger 180-home estate.

The 38 two and three-bedroom homes are the first properties the council has bought off-plan – that is before they were built – under the £4.5 million scheme.

Tenants are already signed up for the properties and will be moving in shortly.

The development is part of the council’s millions of pounds worth of investment into new housing and was completed on schedule.

Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Sandwell’s cabinet member for housing, said: “I’m delighted to receive the keys to these last nine new council homes on the Galton Lock development which has seen a total of 38 new council  homes being built for local families to move into.

“This is another example of the council working in partnership with a developer like Countryside to increase the quality and choice of housing in the borough.

“By the end of March next year we will have created nearly 200 new council homes since 2016 with hundreds more in the pipeline.

“This is part of our on-going strategic housing plan to increase the number of council-owned affordable homes.”

John Gilbert, regional operations director for Countryside’s Midlands division, said: “With a strong partnership model in place, we’re committed to ensuring much-needed, residential growth for Smethwick. Galton Lock was our debut into the West Midlands and has been a driving force behind our continued growth within the region, making the handover of these final homes an even greater milestone for us.

“Through the creation of high quality homes and engaging with local residents, our vision for Galton Lock was to transform brownfield land into a thriving and welcoming neighbouring. The scheme has been an unwavering success since day one and is a testament to what can be achieved through a collaborative working between Sandwell Council and Countryside.”

The Galton Lock development is made up of 180 homes. In addition to the 38 new council homes which have been bought by and will be managed by Sandwell Council, the remaining  142 will be made up of 79 for sale and 63 for rent by Countryside.