A Match Made in Hockley
Business and the arts are not obvious bed fellows, yet when two organisations in the Jewellery Quarter were thrown together six years ago, they developed an unlikely partnership which has blossomed into a successful relationship. Performance company Stan’s Cafe has been creating innovative artistic projects in Birmingham since 1991. In 2008 they secured Arts Council funding for acclaimed work ‘Of All The People In All The World’ and the hunt was on for a suitable presentation space. Meanwhile metal pressing firm AE Harris, based in the Jewellery Quarter for over 130 years, decided to reorganise their business operations, leaving the site at 110 Northwood Road empty. They were asked if they’d consider leasing the space to Stan’s Cafe. “I figured half a loaf is better than no loaf at all,” says Managing Director, John Sloyan. What began as a ten week arrangement back in 2008 proved so successful that it turned into a two year commitment on a rolling contract. Both parti...