WHAT'S THE B.I.G IDEA?
As someone who’s grown up and spent most of my adult life in the vibrant city of Birmingham, I can’t help but feel a deep connection to its artistic spirit. Since leaving school, art and design have been an integral part of my life in some way, shape, or form. Starting at Bournville School of Art, where I completed my BTEC, and continuing at Birmingham University, where I studied History of Art for three years, I have always been immersed in the world of creativity. Volunteering in galleries and theatres before working in the creative sector for 16 years allowed me to gain a plethora of experience. In 2022, I joined forces with my partner, Chez, who founded Seventh Circle just before the pandemic in 2019. Together, we brought the bricks-and-mortar version to Moseley Village, Birmingham.
We work with nearly 30 independent artists from diverse backgrounds and styles, connecting with art fans and collectors alike. We always uphold the stance that art is for everyone. We also run a popular framing service that we have become renowned for, where we work closely with everyone to help them find the perfect frame for their art. Whether it’s something beautifully simple or a bit more out there, we’re here for both.
What we enjoy most is the connection we make with people through the power of art. It’s like nothing else. However, we can’t deny the current challenging climate for many independents. We feel it’s essential to shine a spotlight on the arts.
Why Are Independent Art Galleries So Important?
Art galleries are absolutely essential. They act as the vital link between talented artists and the wider world. Creatives often lack the time or resources to promote their work independently, and that is where independent galleries step in.
From marketing and networking to creating opportunities and showcasing artists’ work to new audiences, galleries handle the heavy lifting to help artists succeed. Without such support, many artists would not gain the visibility needed to reach collectors who might otherwise never discover them. The role of an independent gallery is to amplify artists’ voices and build connections. This relationship not only elevates the artist’s profile but also enriches local communities. I see first hand every day the artists I work with pouring their hearts and souls into their craft. They are your neighbours, friends, the people who make your city unique and help it thrive!
Birmingham: A Creative Hub, But…
Now, let’s talk about Birmingham’s vibe. Many of us feel it’s a buzzing, constantly changing cultural metropolis and it is, in many ways! We have a city with historical and cultural richness, a vibrant food scene, and extensive green spaces. Yet, we cannot ignore the harsh truth: too many of our artists are struggling. The gap between creativity and commerce is widening, and many local gems are left undiscovered.
What's even sadder? Independent galleries in Birmingham are disappearing faster than we can keep track, they’re at the lowest amount we’ve seen in 20 years. I mean, come on, this is a city that’s bursting with creative potential! Alongside the threat of arts funding being drastically reduced, we are at a crisis point.
Let’s Compare Birmingham to Other Creative Cities
It’s easy to get complacent. Yes, our street art in Digbeth is celebrated, and we have some public galleries and craft markets. But when we stack ourselves against creative powerhouses like Bristol, London, and Brighton, we start to see the cracks in our support for local talent.
Check out the numbers as of Spring 2023
City Population Number of Independent Galleries
Birmingham 1,149,000 6-7
London 9,000,000 850+
Manchester 550,000 18
Bristol 467,000 25
Brighton 277,000 16
There are fewer independent commercial galleries in Birmingham now than at any other point in the past 20 years, and that pattern doesn’t play out nationally. In fact, countrywide, between 2010 and 2019, the number of commercial art galleries grew by almost a third. Sadly, Birmingham’s bucking the trend in a bad way. Drilling down further, where London has about 850 independent commercial art galleries and Manchester has 18, we have six. Some way behind both Bristol and Brighton, which have significantly smaller populations. But Birmingham's a city with working-class roots, right? These numbers aren't that surprising, are they? Maybe. Maybe not. Our average wage is above Manchester, above Brighton, above Bristol. The buying power is here, but the buying isn't happening at the rate it should!
A Vision for Change
So, what is the point of this blog, I hear you ask?! No, I’m not advertising a magic wand that will make all of this better with a quick swish and flick. I wanted to introduce the result of Seventh Circle uniting with several other independents in the city. This is a rallying cry for our community!
Introducing Birmingham Independent Galleries (B.I.G). B.I.G is a group of local independent galleries based in Birmingham, UK. Each gallery has a passion for supporting local artists and is locally owned.
When you buy an artwork from a local gallery, you are directly investing into the local creative community. With prices in our galleries starting at just £15, art is more accessible than many think. By buying art from local artists, you allow more creative people to continue to create and sell art as a means of income. This helps build and support a more creative cultural city. By building a more creative city, we maintain more of our best creative people, allowing Birmingham to become a more creative tourist destination for future generations. By retaining local money , you are investing not only in the city’s culture but in its finances. Now, doesn’t that just sound delicious?
Let’s embrace our local art scene and make a collective choice to support Birmingham’s creative community. Your investment in art isn’t just about a purchase; it’s about believing in and investing back in this big, beautiful city.
Birmingham Independent Galleries has a website here and they're on Twitter and Instagram too.
Marie Hutton
Director
Seventh Circle Artworks & Aesthetics
