GALLERY37

 
 

Gallery37 ​is a creative development programme investing in Birmingham and its young artists through masterclasses, commissions, residencies and workshops

 
 

BIRMINGHAM’S CREATIVE FUTURE

Gallery37 is Birminghams flagship creative development programme investing in the city’s next generation of artists, with an alumni of over 300 artists.

This FREE programme offers Birmingham-based artists (16-25 years) a significant opportunity to boost their career in the creative industries, focused on nurturing creative talent from across the city’s diverse communities and neighbourhoods.

Focusing on multiple artforms, we experiment and collaborate, responding to the next generation of creatives, makers and producers. We offer personal, professional and creative development support and opportunities and aim to help build and encourage artists to fulfil their ambitions.

2024 commissioned artists

Gurpreet kaur & Sohail 'SliK' Qureshi

  • Gurpreet says:

    "Family sitcoms such as: “My Wife and Kids”, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-air” and “Everybody Hates Chris”, played a big part in my childhood, they taught me lessons about making sacrifices for family and understanding each other, while providing me a sense of comfort in a lighthearted, comedic package. Because of my enjoyment for the genre, and cultural background I’ve wanted to make a modern sitcom based around aspects of the Asian community which makes jokes anyone can enjoy.

    I began acting in primary school and continued through to university, I flourished on the course and, in 2020, I graduated with a First Class in Drama and Performance at The University of Worcester.

    Since then, I've performed on stage at renowned theatres such as The Old Rep and Crescent Theatre, specialising in performing comedy and scripts that explore themes of diaspora, friendship and sexuality."

    SliK says:

    "I’m Sohail Qureshi, better known as SliK. My creative journey started at the age of five when my Father introduced me to The Beatles. Between the ages of two and ten, I learnt the drums and self taught myself the guitar, bass and piano. Since then I’ve been honing my skills as a musician and songwriter.

    During this time, however, film and television was also a huge part of my creative development; again, thanks to my Father, I was able to experience many life-altering stories. In particular, comedy became the most watched film and TV genre in our household, enabling my becoming a young comedian to family and friends.

    Favourite television sitcoms include: ‘Seinfeld’, ‘Friends’, ‘Modern Family’ and ‘Faulty Towers’.

    Currently, I’m completing my university course (Music & Sound Production) but, having entered the screen industries back in 2022, I’ve found myself working on several projects and eager to work on more."

  • "Like Sister & Brother" will be a 10-minute early pilot for a sitcom, which follows half-siblings Sukhy (played by Gurpreet) and Sammy (played by SliK), who find themselves living together in their father’s home after Sukhy loses her job.

    Their relationship is tested as their differences in age, personality, and cultural background lead to awkward and comical situations. Despite the initial clashes, the siblings gradually learn to get along, gaining valuable life lessons from each other and eventually seeing each other as true family.

Rere
Demarae

  • Rere Demarae, born and raised in Birmingham, England, is a Neo Soul artist and music producer with a lifelong passion for music. Growing up in a family of musicians and creatives, she was surrounded by artistic inspiration from an early age. Her two older brothers played a key role in her musical journey, sharing their knowledge of music production and piano, which laid the foundation for her career. She further honed her piano skills through lessons in school.

    Rere's unique sound blends the essence of Neo Soul with her own beats, a combination that has earned her performances at notable events such as The Commonwealth Games, Mostly Jazz Festival, Punch Records, and The Rising Festival. She has also showcased her talent in London at Live Ones events and supported community projects, including Civic Square, Birmingham Children’s Trust Charity, and Blesst.

    Inspired by artists like Erykah Badu and Alicia Keys, her music embodies themes of freedom and self-love. Beyond music, Rere expresses her creativity through visual art, often designing her own album covers. For her, music is not just a passion but a way to connect with the world, spread joy, and build bridges through art. With her soulful sound and heartfelt lyrics, Rere continues to captivate audiences and make her mark in the music industry.

  • The Purple Clouds EP is a self-produced 3-track Neo Soul project that fuses the nostalgic vibes of the 90s and early 2000s with a modern twist.

    This EP marks a significant milestone, as it showcases not only the music but also independently produced music videos, expanding skills in production, recording, and design.

Precious
umurhurhu

  • Precious Umurhurhu is Dublin born writer now living in Birmingham. For the last few years she's been writing various work, moving seamlessly between poetry and prose.

    Precious released a young adult dystopian novel called To Catch a Rebel which was published by Olympia Publishers in London in 2020. She independently-published the sequels, To Raise a Banner and To Cause a Reckoning in 2021 and 2022 and various nivellas.

    During that period, she was invited to speak at libraries to young writers about inspiration and the writing process. She recently founded the business Essayer Notebooks which provides daily planners and other organisational tools tailored to writers.

  • "Identity in the West Midlands" is a collection of poetry and short writings from ethnically diverse young & emerging artists who have either recently settled in the West Midlands or have lived here for an extended period.

    This anthology aims to capture diverse voices and experiences from the region.

Amaan
Jahangir

  • Amaan Jahangir is a 25-year-old UK-based artist whose work explores the intricate tapestry of human emotion. His artistic journey bridges his bicultural upbringing, blending contemporary themes with the rich emotional depth found in historical and mythological narratives. Deeply rooted in the South Asian community, Amaan is committed to uplifting underrepresented voices and fostering cross-cultural understanding through his art.

    With a strong foundation in art therapy, Amaan merges creative expression with therapeutic principles, guiding individuals on paths of healing and self-discovery. His extensive experience in facilitating therapeutic art sessions has allowed him to develop a unique approach centered on meaningful conversation, tailoring each interaction to honor the individual's personal story and emotional experience.

    Storytelling is central to Amaan's work, as he seeks to encapsulate life's complexities and emotions through vibrant colors and intricate brushstrokes. His art highlights the beauty in imperfection, capturing the emotional depth that words alone often cannot express.

    Amaan's distinctive approach to art focuses on breaking barriers, fostering essential conversations, and resonating with the diverse spectrum of contemporary life. His aspirations extend beyond the art world, aiming for a lasting impact on society and culture.

    Since 2017, Amaan has participated in exhibitions at Ikon Gallery (2021), Eastside Projects (2023), and other notable venues, while also presenting two self-funded pop-up shows: Everything to Get Away (2018) and Millennium of a Moment (2019). Most recently, he was awarded a fully funded artist studio space and residency at Grand Union, Birmingham. His work has garnered online attention from critics like Jerry Saltz and institutions such as Tate Modern, London.

  • The Mixed Messages project is an art exhibition that explores mental health and the intricate dynamics of intimate relationships. Hosted at Centrala, the exhibition will feature 30 new paintings inspired by text messages shared by the local community, reflecting cultural and emotional nuances. These works aim to provoke thought about the unspoken truths behind everyday communication.

    Growing up in a religiously conservative South Asian household, the exhibition also serves as a personal and communal platform for emotional exploration and open dialogue, creating a safe space for expression. Additionally, a documentary will be produced during the exhibition, in collaboration with underrepresented local creatives, to highlight the therapeutic power of art and its role in healing.

Addie
Parr

  • Growing up in a mixed-race family, Addie Parr developed a deep interest in culture, cultural differences, and family history from an early age. However, they often noticed a lack of representation, particularly stories that reflected the Black side of their heritage. While reading engaging comics like Horrible Histories as a child, they realized there was no equivalent that represented people who looked like them. This experience fueled a desire to create content that helps children understand their roots and history without having to wait until adulthood, as they had.

    As an artist, Addie finds freedom in depicting culture through creative and innovative approaches, whether through specific color palettes, textures, or styles that draw inspiration from artists around the world. This artistic vision extends to the realm of comic books, where Addie explores cultural storytelling through visual elements—such as using Pan-Africanist colors when illustrating the significance of figures like Marcus Garvey. They aim to create comics that not only convey important historical narratives but also teach cultural nuances in a fun and accessible way.

  • "Heroes of History" focuses on the creation, illustration, and publication of a series of comic books dedicated to exploring and sharing Black history.

    Designed to be accessible for all ages, each comic will highlight a specific time period, influential figure, or significant historical event. The initial commission will fund the production of the first comic in the series, laying the groundwork for the continuation of the project and enabling the creation of future installments. Through engaging storytelling and vibrant illustrations, the series aims to bring important aspects of Black history to life for a broad audience.

2023 residency

The theme for Gallery37 2023 was ‘Elements’.

The Gallery37 residency is a two-week experience; where we will develop up to 100 hand-picked young creatives (16-25) across 10 creative camps with nationally recognised specialist artists & tutors.

You will get the chance to develop your skills in your chosen artform, meet like-minded creatives, showcase your work in front of audiences & industry figures, and be supported by established & nationally renowned artists. Now have a think, what does ‘Elements’ mean to you?

 

Artforms

• Music Production

• Vocal Performance

• Acting

• Creative Writing

• Photography

• Dance

• Film
Led by Daniel Alexander

• Digital Arts

• Visual Arts

 

what to expect

Induction

Get together with Birmingham’s creative future, hear what will be in store for the Residency, meet your facilitators and make new friends.

2-Week Residency

Following the induction, you will be a part of an intensive two-week residency - where you will explore, experiment and play with your art form & create new work.

Showcase

On the final day of the Residency, all camps will join as one to create a Showcase, with hundreds of attendees ready to see your work and find out more about you.

Commissions

In previous years, we have selected a handful of Residency participants to create new work; examples of this have included: exhibitions, EP releases, immersive music events, and documentaries.

Further Opportunities

Four artists spontaneously created a track called ‘Wake Up’ in 2021. We then released the song on streaming services and received over 50K streams from Spotify & Youtube.

 
 

See what happened across 2020 - 2022

 

partners