This report is by Michael Kennedy, Whitworth Wallis Artist Fellow 2024. 

The report can be downloaded via the PDF or the same information can be found on this page. 

Discovering the marketplace 

I wanted learn more about working class individuals in 18th and 19th century Birmingham. This was informed by my own research pre-fellowship into 19th century Birmingham the discovery of street performers and pedlars such as Billy Button and Jemmy the Rockman.  After some in-depth conversations with curators Jo Ann, Rebecca and director Toby and the first Museum Collection Centre session with Jo and Rebecca, It became clear that the geographic area of the marketplace was where my interest lay. The lives of people who worked in the market and the ways they made a living was the answer to my research into working class Birmingham of that time.  It was initially challenging to communicate what I would usually spend a long time ruminating on as an author, figuring out either on the page or in my head. Yet it was really refreshing for me to find out that experts in the museum collaborated through conversations and finding a consensus together.  As a result of conversations, I requested to study a large amount of material. The amount of items Jo and Rebecca collated to support the research was outstanding and changed my perspective on the market and my approach with each new item. 

Research and activity 

It was clear to hone in on a few key subjects within the market that told unique experiences I believed the public could connect with. Main characters I suppose. I'll be presenting much of this during the board meeting. There were a variety of items relating to each and a wealth of knowledge that Jo was able to impart about them.  In addition to the Museum Collection Centre, I was directed towards the central library archives for a variety of material they hold. The library then directed me to archives in Scotland for maps of 19th century Birmingham. I only really scratched the surface with other archives outside of Museum Collection Centre but it's an incredible new resource to have at my disposal for the future. 

For my last month of the fellowship. I have dedicated my time to meetings. Some about the future of the project. I've met with Rosie Barker about the research and work made and thinking how we can present this to the public perhaps making new work to do so. I'm due to meet Jenny Lockley, events and projects manager about similar matters.  

I met with the Jane Thompson-Webb to learn about conservation. She showed some fantastic cartoons and humorous drawings by the Pre-raphaelites that reflected the side of Birmingham that I have been looking at all fellowship. This was an unexpected surprise and was a result of being present in the building and meeting staff spontaneously. I wouldn't have sought this out myself. 

With the digital co-ordinator, I decided to publish no more than 3 blogs about my progress. We are also going to post one of my comics about the market on the Museums social media platforms. It will be informative as a post but also direct people to the blogs.

Work made in response to research

September to November: 

• I took part in a Pechakucha event for Birmingham Heritage week. Made a short presentation about my interest in 19th century street pedlars and how it's lead to the fellowship. Rare opportunity to publicly speak about my work.
• Tested animations for digital or phone based viewing. Potential to pair audio memories of marketplace with animations based on items in MCC
• Experimented with writing from the perspective of someone walking to the market along Birmingham major roads.

December to February (in residence at museum): 

• Tested with ways of making informative non-fiction comic strips about the market.
• Made large format cartoons in watercolour as engaging illustrations based on imagery in collections.
• Studies of contemporary market goers and historical market figures.
• Large graphite studies of overlooked figures within art works of the marketplace.

Learning a research-led approach 

The first 2-3 months of my activity contended with the reopening the museum after renovation. My response to the lack of access to the museum, was to instead research independently at Birmingham central Library and explore the resources at the school of art.  Although productive, I did find this period quite frustrating as I had little research to properly respond to myself. In retrospect I should have used this period as an opportunity to solely research in a dedicated way.  A second challenge came with finding a place for the School of Art. As I had put pressure on the October to November period to make work with my limited research, It was hard to factor the SoA into my plans. It is only now as the Fellowship is ending and we are exploring how my research and work can be presented to the public am I now seeing how I can best use SoA and its resources. This would be in relation to my research and not informing the direction of my research.  The big turning point was being able to make work in the Museum and surround myself constantly with the culture of appreciating art and history. It made making work about history feel easy to do. I found the social aspect to working in the museum so refreshing. Having strangers walk in on me when I'm drawing began as an alien experience, yet I found value in meeting new people whilst making work. 

Opportunities as a result of Fellowship

 Two post-fellowship events are scheduled to take place as a result of my work with the Museum. One which presents my research and work to the public in a drop-in session.  I'm hoping to use the unique experience of this artist fellowship to not only possibly make work with the public, but also learn more about the market through contemporary voices. I'd like to fold in their experiences and memories of the market into my fellowship research.  The second event is related to my work as a Graphic Novelist. With my debut book releasing on February 18th. It appeared beneficial to myself as an artist, a fellow, to the museum and the public to host an event to launch the book. With the publishers support, there will be a Q&A about the making and themes of the book, A reading from the book and a signing.  My work as an author is in dialog with many themes and ideas that overlap with my fellowship research. These two events will be the beginning a new platform for me as a writer and artist making work for the British public as readers and museum goers. 

Conclusion

Looking back, any challenges now seem normal on my journey to establishing a research-led writing and art practice. Foundational experiences that I've been through in every new sector/industry.  I applied to this artist fellowship with the aim of establishing a working relationship with the Museum. By extension, to begin a relationship with the museum going public. The fellowship has been beyond rewarding as an experience, possibly a practice defining experience. I hope it is the first of many projects with the Museum.