Mr Elephant Presents

The ‘Digbeth 2008’ reports are part of the ongoing study ‘An Account of Profit & Loss’- research of regeneration in the midlands. This work has been carried out independently without the aid of mainstream funding a mission I undertook under the guise of the ‘MISC.ellaneous organization’. This experience has not only advanced my research project, but also provided a starting point for the evolution of Eastside. The findings contribute to an ongoing public conversation in the local area and hopefully will lead to a negotiation with developers and the hierarchy that they represent.

The adaptation of the artistic role can construct and reinforce community ties therefore building strategies that might lead to ‘communicative action’- an important principal of Habermasian theory. I hope that the space that I have occupied might now be handed to ordinary working people, having established a site for text that allows open and opinionated discussion. I am proud to have been part of other similar protests that unite our community, enforce change and allow for common debate.

Communication leads the way, but an extent of control is required in order for this to become effective. Chaos alone will not change anything in an area of regeneration- a balance is needed between compliance, understanding and respect for difference. Resistance to blogging and text splurge of a hedonistic nature, if well constructed and contextualised, will focus our recognition on how free space can cause change and effect in society.

Reprise
This exploration began on the sixteenth of January at the Digbeth Business Association’s ‘What they are planning for Digbeth’ event. Having spent 12 months looking at the changes in the area I am now hoping to share the data I have collected and utilise the findings of this research study. RHR2008.

You can find me at: http://miscorg.blogspot.com

Report #2

I recently asked Carl if he would comment about regeneration in Digbeth:

“Whilst regeneration of Digbeth can be a good thing I believe that it must integrate sensitively with the historic landscape and work carefully with established manufacturing businesses and licensed premises especially. Digbeth and Deritend are working areas and I am concerned that both are in danger of being transformed into another part of ‘apartment Birmingham’, an entity which has no connection with the past and which does not have an affinity with manufacturing and pubs.” (Carl Chinn, June 2008).

Carl highlights concerns that many of us are presently tackling and taking up issue with.

The Big City Plan will affect the lives of all those living and working inside the middle ring road for at least the next fifteen years. This process is not unique to Digbeth. Other towns in the West Midlands are undergoing comparable changes and in every industrial city in Britain we see similar patterns of transformation in the name of regeneration.

Common distaste for regeneration stems from the failure of Governments to acknowledge the selling out of British manufacturing and the ongoing denial of a working class supports and expands this ignorance. The instrumentalised decline of industry outmoded the labouring population of Britain, leaving traditional trades and skills surplus to requirement in a working climate based on commerce alone. The infiltration of such business systems destroying workers solidarity and now eating into the core of national services- service no longer a duty or helpful action, but a measurable commodity.

Industrial belts like Digbeth, in the wake of British industry, are earmarked for branding as ‘lifestyle quarters’, the new industry of Digbeth- the ‘Creative and Cultural’. Existing businesses that do not correspond with the desired lifestyle stereotype are encouraged to diversify and buy into imagined communities rather than finding support in their existing state. This state of flux and impending decline sends visual messages to onlookers who then back stark regeneration rather than renovation and restoration as an option for existing local enterprise.

Digbeth’s ‘Creative and Cultural’ status and the inevitable expansion of the Custard factory will continue to effect the immediate location and the working community. This brings into question not only the historical context, but the focus that is now put on artistic labour and the influence this will have on trades excluded from the ‘Creative’ sector. The arts and the art not’s. The elevation of the ‘Creative’ role will further alienate the function of the worker. How will the arts funded under the conditions of Bourgeois reality cope with an essentially contradictive environment that is fundamentally hostile to art?  (RHR July 2008)

Report #1

Industrial belts like Digbeth that were once the guts of our nation, now lie in states of limbo as Government and private developers grapple with the complexities of regenerating spaces and local identities.

Investment should not disregard existing ways and means of living and would be advised to support rather than engulf active communities. Realistic planning benefits from grass-roots intervention as the professional consultation process remains disconnected from communities and isolates individuals.

Walking, talking and standing still are important to the outcome of my work and in the influence we have on the fabric of our communities - finding commonality and sharing experience reliant on our contact. Today’s pace of life often leads us to forget the power of a smile or spoken word.

Development of up-market residential zones and the expansion of all considered ‘Creative’ and ‘Cultural’ threaten the growth of independent economies outside these sectors- loud and lively elements discouraged in favour of appropriated art. Digbeth High Street seemingly split down the middle into a ‘Creative side of the street’ and a potential residential zone. The suppression of popular entertainment and activities will only extinguish the vibrancy that already exists.

As an artist I should be rubbing my hands together. Instead I am concerned that yet again the activities of an existing working community will be disregarded in favour of preferred bourgeois lifestyle options. The research and outreach in Digbeth will focus on the workers of the area. Responding to current debate and the predominant issues surrounding the invention of a place called Eastside. (RHR April 2008)

So today’s kinda the “launch” of this website, so it might be a good time to introduce what we are doing, and why…..

Well firstly i’m (obviously) a real elephant, and i live in a nice lickle park in Moseley, Birmingham. I came over to this country about 2 years ago, and have many great stories to share of my past…..That however, is for another day.

The first thing that struck me about Birmingham is the wealth of creative talent and this melting pot of cultures. After a short period of getting adjusted, i started meeting people who were showcasing culture’s from all around the world alongside their own slices of life, and the more i dug, the more i found.

While it confused me that it wasn’t in the tourist information office, or on the birmingham websites, i was inspired by this almost underground culture, and it is what has inspired me to create my own events, which i hope will help to shine a light on all this beautiful activity.

The other thing that struck me about this city is the friendliness of people. Human’s not only willing to share their tips and knowledge with you, but also a real sense of wanting to get involved, with many of the city’s creatives and promoters working for little or no money.

It also seems that while this city was once known as the workshop of the world, that the pace of today’s lifestyle doesn’t allow time to share knowledge and skills with each other, with most human’s being restricted by problems that don’t really affect us elephant’s, such as money, time, responsibilities, etc.

So we thought it might be beneficial or/at least interesting to offer a platform for anyone who wants to share what they do. At our events, with support and workshops from our team, and/or on our website as part of the Workshop of World idea, by sharing your tips and links.

We figure if you can share what has moved you forward, it (a) introduces you to the local community, and (b) might be beneficial to others, hopefully creating new opportunities. Either way it’ll be interesting to find out what we like to do, and we will be asking you for your tips at the next Mr Elephant, (and hopefully scratching them into the mix via the djs!)

We are doing short mentoring opportunities for people that are interested in doing what we do at our events, by giving them hands on experience and/or a workshop so they can experience what its like to be doing what they are into. We hope to make this into a Mr Elephant programme of workshops later this year, if we can find some financial support, so the workshops will always be free.

Our other strands of Mr Elephant are currently the explorations and of the 3 part radio show. The Radio show is designed to be accessible to a wide range of tastes, with an ecletic mixtape with narrative , a dj mix, and live recordings from Birmingham. It’s free and the links to the artists are provided to encourage you to check them out. The cd covers and artwork by the way is designed by Aart Tanner, and are available for download.

The explorations will be hosted by me and Ruth Robinson, who will be conducting a period of research into the effects on local businesses of the current eastside development of Digbeth. I’ll be looking at things that i’m curious about from the point of view of an elephant living in Birmingham , e.g like empty buildings, the big city plan, how easy is it to get your voice heard to the local council etc, and we’ll both be blogging and/or recording our journey.

And last but not least, we we are working on/towards hosting festival tents and venues, offering music based on our radio shows, and workshops for all ages, alongside all the rest of what goes into a Mr Elephant tent/experience. We have the setup and the team to deliver events of any size, and are always open to any offer, though aside from the current festival bids, and collaberations with the local venues, this will be something we are looking to expand after the summer.

So that’s about it. Collectively we hope the ideas will continue to evolve, and that it’s something you might like to get involved with in someway. (Even if that be shaking your trunk on the dancefloor

One love

Mr Elephant x

Hello gorgeous human types

A lot of people have been asking me, where i’ve been, and more importantly when the next mr elephant event will be after the unfortunate closure of our home at Epic Skate Park, (which did you know was down to just one obsessive compulsive complainer, who also happened to be a lawyer….again!) Similar things btw, seem to be happening again at the Spotted Dog, so do please read this if you haven’t already.

Me, i’ve been loading up on human culture, and checking out some amazing music on a recent trip around the world, and while i’m still based in my park, its getting fxckin cold, so I will be moving in with a friend while the winter is here.

Whilst i’m at his house, we will be working on the next 4 Mr Elephant events, and we have put around 6 months of work into it all so far. We have much work still to do on redeveloping the site, so i’m going to keep shush until then, as we have been cooking up some cool stuff.

In the meanwhile, here’s a sneak dload of my 2nd mixtape specially, which is all about my journey around the world. Just right click and “save link as”. I really hope you enjoy it, and comments are appreciated. As ever please check out any of the artists you like via the links.

Please see Radio Show 2