SHOUT Festival ft. Out, Jamaican dancehall art & The Ultimate Lad
A festival of culture that celebrates all things LGBTQ+, expect cutting-edge theatre, exhibitions, dance, film, performance art and more as SHOUT returns to display the hottest queer talent that the Midlands has to offer. Ranging from issues of oppression to the topic of expression, SHOUT festival is set to host art which will be as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. The exceptional work of Polish queer artist Karol Radziszewski (pictured) dominates the art space at Centrala from Fri 10 Nov – Sat 30th Dec as he curates a collection of material from the Queer Archives Institute. Elsewhere highlights include Out by Rachel Young on Sun 12 Nov – a dance/performance art piece inspired by the Jamaican dancehall style. This piece will express what it is to be gay and Jamaican – exploring issues of homophobia, transphobia and racism. See more in our Top 5 SHOUT picks preview here.
Thu 9 Nov – Sun 19 Nov. Various venues and prices. See www.shoutfestival.co.uk

SHOUT at BOM ft. interactive cruising event on Thu 9 Nov & a queer hacker den Thu 9 Nov – Sat 18 Nov, see our full preview here.

The Planet Art Project #3 at The Hare and Hounds
The Planet Art Project is not an art event, but a night of live music which hopes to use the money raised to fund art projects in poorer, rural communities. The first project will go towards the small village Endanachan in Tanzania, to help build a community art centre. Featuring an array of indie and psychedelic rock music, provided by The Mother Earth Experiment, The Opera Comic and more; the night promises to feature an eclectic mix of different genres.
Fri 24 Nov, The Hare and Hounds, 106 High Street, Kings Heath, B14 7JZ. 7pm-3am. £5
www.skiddle.com

I, The Angry Black Woman & Other Stories
Curated by the acclaimed poet and writer Siana Bangura, Centrala Gallery will be opening its doors to this insightful new instalment which will strive to fight the stereotypes surrounding black women. Refusing to be put in a box, Bangura hopes to take on labels of seen as aggressive, emasculating and even unfeminine. By showing these stereotypes as an ongoing issue, ‘I, The Angry Black Woman’ hopes to combat these by putting racial politics in the forefront. The exhibition will display work by three black artists: Ruth Aquino, Paris Walker and Ejatu Shaw. Exploring the themes of otherness, hair and sexuality, Bangura’s exhibition promises to be as appropriately poignant as it is necessary. Inspired by a poem of the same name written by Bangura, the work throughout the exhibition aims to connect with the poetry from Bangura’s debut collection: ‘Elephant’.
Wed 15 Nov – Sat 18 Nov, Centrala, Unit 4 Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, B5 5RT. 10am-6pm, Sat 1pm-5pm. Artists talk 5-6pm on Saturday, ticket only. www.facebook.com

Play Nice launch party & exhibition with Elisabeth Ilsey and Molly Cleaver.
Instagram queen and leather-artiste Elisabeth Ilsey is set to display an exhibition of new works with fellow artist Molly Cleaver. If you’ve not heard of the girls before be prepared to expect soft-colour palettes, aesthetically beautiful works, and retro porn. Ilsey’s porn close ups force the viewer to see what the artist wants. Her work is punk meets delicate femininity – think Charli XCX if she made art. Cleaver’s social media on the other hand does not have as big a following. By not being as well known, Cleaver does not have as much to prove. That being said, her art speaks for itself and her paintings are exquisite. With their opening night on Digbeth First Friday, alongside the exhibition there promises to be cocktails, DJ’s and beer provided by the venue: The Dig Brew Co. Whether you’re into art or just want a pic for the ‘gram, this event will be one of the coolest exhibitions that the evening has to offer.
Fri 3 Nov – Sun 5 Nov at The Dig Brew Co. 43 River Street, Digbeth, B5 5SA. Free. Fri 6pm – late, Closed Sat, Sun 2pm – 7pm. www.mollycleaver.com www.elizabethilsley.co

From Chibok to Calais, performance, installation & a DIY ‘zine/tote making workshop with Eca Eps
Using elements of soil and water to portray the process of migration, Eca Eps will be exploring the issues which surround displacement and survival. The show features a mixture of performance and installation, allowing participation and voyeurism in a way which mimics the public’s involvement with the subject of immigration. Eps’ work hopes to reflect on the current issues which surround that of borders – struggles, nationalism and the discourse surrounding rights and freedom will feature throughout. To close the exhibition on Sat 11 Nov, Eps will be working alongside SHOUT festival to host a DIY print making workshop. This will include designing your own zine or tote bag.
Exhibition ongoing until Sat 11 Nov, Ort Gallery, 500-504 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, B12 9AH. Tue-Sat 12pm-5pm, closed Sun & Mon. Free (print workshop requires booking and costs £2). www.ortgallery.co.uk