I work in the arts in Birmingham (1): Charlie Levine

We’re kicking off a new series of micro-profiles of various individuals working in the arts in Birmingham. First up is Charlie Levine. . .

Name:
Charlie Levine

What do you do?
I am an independent curator, Director of TROVE, Curator at Aedas Presents and a writer/art critic.

Where are you based?
I work nomadically and in the offices of various partners.

Who are your key collaborators (or who would you like to collaborate with)?
I have personally collaborated with:
Editor/Curator Matt Price namely on the 5th Prague Biennale UK painting exhibition ‘Some Domestic Incidents.’ We are co-curating another exhibition later this year (2012) showcasing contemporary Hungarian painters entitled ‘The Happiest Barracks’.
Curator Trevor Pitt as Curatorial Advisor to his ‘anticurate’ project at mac birmingham.
Photographer Liz Hingley on her ‘Under Gods: Stories from the Soho Road’ an international touring photography and religious object collection exhibition.
Artist Nathaniel Pitt vis Pitt Studio as guest curator and the Worcester Open as mentor and curator.
Artist Caitlin Griffiths who I have worked with on many projects, she provides a constant soundboard for all my ideas and Kate Eagle who manages Aedas Presents, a contemporary art programme at Aedas Architects Birmingham office.

Organisations, festivals and people I have collaborated with at TROVE include:
Museum of Lost Heritage
Fierce Festival, Birmingham
Minnie Weisz Studio, London
Matt Roberts Art, London
Birmingham City Council, Birmingham
Brilliantly Birmingham Festival, Birmingham
Birmingham Jazz Festival, Birmingham
The Event, Birmingham
Crowd 6, Birmingham
Clarke Gallery, Berlin
Hereford Photography Festival
DownStairs Gallery, Hereford
Fargo Space, Directed by Talking Birds in Coventry
The Burlington Fine Art Club, Manchester
Birmingham Architects Association, Birmingham
ARC, Birmingham

People I would like to collaborate with:
It was a great experience co-curating an exhibition at Curzon Street Station with Minnie Weisz, so I would ideally like to bring in external to Birmingham curators into the city to highlight and respond to Birmingham’s amazing heritage and unused buildings.

What keeps you working in Birmingham?
There’s always more to explore curatorially, and it’s my home.

Is there anything about the city you find difficult in terms of what you’re trying to do?
Access to buildings can be extremely difficult depending on who owns them and how much money they want for short term access.

If you were trying to persuade someone to make a living in the arts in Birmingham what would you say?
I would encourage them to seek part time paid work on the side whether it be in a shop, temping or writing, and be prepared that the arts won’t be a 9-5.

What’s your next project?
TROVE are one of ten plot holders at mac Birmingham in a project entitled ALLOTMENT. The TROVE space opens 28th January and runs until 9th September 2012. I am also Associate Producer of the project.
Aedas Presents has an exhibition by Sparrow + Castice opening on 26th January 2012.
As an independent curator, the next will be the Hungarian painters exhibition with Matt Price in the Spring.