University launches Arts and Science Festival

Arts and Science Festival 2013
18-24 March 2013, venues across campus and the city

The University will host its first Arts & Science Festival this spring to showcase the wealth of ideas, research and collaboration across campus. There’s something for everyone, including special events with regional partners such as Flatpack, who celebrate the opening weekend of their annual film festival with a family-friendly screening of The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) complete with live score at the Bramall Music Building; and Vivid Projects who in association with local curator Antonio Roberts and The Barber Institute of Fine Arts present Dirty New Media, an eclectic day of performances and interactive installations from digital artists, hackivists and new media explorers.

The festival takes place at locations across the University campus including the Great Hall, The Barber Institute of Fine Art, Winterbourne House & Garden, and the Bramall Music Building. With over 70 events confirmed including screenings, performances, talks, exhibitions and events, Arts & Science Festival promises to be a jam-packed week. Programme Highlights inlcude:

Connections: Communication in Ancient Egypt
Monday 18 March, 1pm, Mingana Room, Selly Oak Campus
A groundbreaking exhibition of ancient Egyptian artifacts; ‘Connections’ investigates ancient methods of communication. This brief introduction and open exhibition will allow you to get up close and personal to related artefacts and ask experts about how ancient Egyptians communicated. Free admission, no booking required.

Victorian Magic Lantern Show
Thursday 21 March, 12pm at Winterbourne House & Garden
Join a fascinating experience traveling back in time to the 1890s, with exciting images of volcanoes, glaciers and earthquakes shown alongside coloured moving images from the period. Experience how University of Birmingham students studied in the Victorian age in this Magic Lantern show brought to you by Winterbourne House and Garden and the Lapworth Museum of Geology. Free admission, booking essential, please email enquiries@winterbourne.org.uk to reserve a place.

10x10 The Journey Home
Tuesday 19 March, 7pm at George Cadbury Hall, Selly Oak Campus
Featuring writers from UK, Ireland and the US, and performed by a professional company assembled especially for the event, 10x10 brings 10 exciting new 10-minute plays from members of the University of Birmingham Masters Playwriting course. Call 0121 200 0946 to book (tickets £5, in aid of Playwrights’ Workshop).

A leg to stand on: Prosthetics, Art and Robots presented by Nick Hawes (Computer Science) and Camila Smith (History of Art)
Monday 18 March, 6pm at LG14, Learning Centre
This session explores the shifting constellation of relationships between bodies, technologies and subjectivities. It looks at ways in which Western visual culture such as, photographs, advertising and art have engaged with disability, in particular prosthesis and how this culture both challenges and reasserts the ideal body image. Free admission, booking required. Please email s.a.franklin@bham.ac.uk with ‘Robots’ in the subject line to reserve a place.

Download the Festival Programme for full details on all events.