- Flatpack’s crowd funding target met enabling collaboration with Birmingham City University’s School of Architecture.
- Students will transform Custard Factory space into the Flatpack Palais, the festival hub.
- A space for networking, parties, workshops and exhibition of Birmingham Arts Lab screen-prints.
- Flatpack Palais will be open from 28-31 March
On Friday 1 February Flatpack Festival’s crowd funding campaign to fund its 2013 festival hub came to a close, having raised £7,734, 110% of its target.
The Kickstarter crowd funding campaign was launched on 19 December, with the aim of reaching £7,000 to fund the festival’s hub, the Flatpack Palais.
The Palais is the beating heart of Flatpack, a place where festival-goers can meet, kick back with a piece of cake, pick up a brochure and watch a film.
In March 2013 the Old Library, part of Digbeth’s Custard Factory, will be transformed into the Flatpack Palais.
The money kindly donated has enabled collaboration with students from Birmingham School of Architecture at Birmingham City University who will design and create the new space.
Flatpack Founder and Director Ian Francis said “This is our first experience of crowd-funding and we’re delighted that it’s gone so well. The enthusiasm people have shown for the project has been really inspiring, and we hope to repay them all by putting on a festival to remember.”
Flatpack will work with Co.Lab, an architecture and design initiative within the Birmingham School of Architecture with a focus on exploration, employability and collaboration over the coming months to realise the project.
Through working on live projects with clients like Flatpack, Co.Lab students gain valuable experience with real-life clients on real-world briefs, where they learn to work to budget and within other logistical restraints. In return, Flatpack will get an amazing hub space which caters to all our needs: offering free screenings, a bar with food, and the usual eclectic mix of filmic wonders, discussions, workshops, and parties.
Lecturer and Co.Lab Co-ordinator Alessandro Columbano said: “Such collaborations between Flatpack and ourselves can bring a positive contribution to the creative industries in Birmingham. The donations made will ensure we can continue as planned, enhancing the learning experience for all the students involved in such a dynamic and exciting project. Both the students and staff from the Birmingham School of Architecture are pleased with the success of the Kickstarter campaign and would like to thank everyone who contributed.”
The Flatpack Palais will have its grand opening reception on the evening of Thursday 28 March and will be open from 28-31 March. As well as an information point and a place for festival goers to network, this year the Flatpack Palais will host parties, live music, workshops and an exhibition of pioneering screen-printed posters by Birmingham Arts Lab dating from the 60s and 70s.
This year’s Flatpack Festival will take place from 21-31 March 2013. The full Flatpack Festival programme will be announced in mid-February.
