Brilliantly Birmingham, the annual fair celebrating Birmingham's jewellery
making heritage and its contemporary jewellery makers, opens on November 10th
2001.
Venues across the city will come together with a collection of exhibitions,
workshops, displays and the chance to buy some of the jewellery on show.
Walking tours of Birmingham's famous jewellery quarter will be available and
for the first time in 50 years the traditional style Jeweller's Ball will
return to the city, with a contemporary twist, with a chance for makers to
parade their wares and mingle with their peers.
The annual celebration is a chance for the city to promote the Jewellery
Quarter's reputation as the largest centre for jewellery making in Europe and
raise the profile of the up and coming makers that are the quarter's hidden
talent.
Visitors will be able to attend free workshops on jewellery making at the
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Christmas tree decoration hanging at the mac
and have the chance to buy contemporary jewellery at venues around the city.
Built around the preserved workshops and offices of Smith and Pepper, a Birmingham jewellery
firm, the award-winning Museum of the Jewellery Quarter offers a fascinating insight into the
city's historic jewellery trade. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour around the perfectly preserved
'time capsule' factory - little changed since the beginning of the century - and see a skilled
jeweller at work.
In addition to the factory tour, the Museum's exhibition galleries tell the story of the Quarter
and the jeweller's craft which has been practised in this distinctive part of Birmingham for over
200 years. The museum brings the story right up to date by showcasing jewellery made by
some of the city's most exciting contemporary designers.
The Museum is divided into two parts - the new extension (No 79 Vyse St) containing exhibition
galleries, reception area and shop, and the old Smith & Pepper factory (Nos 77-78). [A third
building, Nos 75-79, contains the museum café, temporary exhibiton space, offices and a
meeting/education room]
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