September shout out for Birmingham

Birmingham City Council is looking for people to shout about Brum in September as ambassadors to help welcome the thousands of people expected to flock to the city. The city is looking to emulate the success of the London 2012 Olympics and the opening of the first half of the redeveloped New Street Station in 2013 with ambassadors welcoming visitors to the city.

Super September as it has been dubbed will see Birmingham welcome thousands of visitors with Rugby World Cup matches played at Villa Park, the opening of the Grand Central shopping centre and John Lewis store, the opening of the completed redevelopment of New Street Station and the Birmingham Weekender arts celebration.


Birmingham City Council expects there to be over 500 ambassadors and volunteers welcoming people to the city for the opening of Grand Central, the Rugby World Cup and the Birmingham Weekender with 100 volunteers at the Grand Central / New Street Station opening and the Birmingham Weekender and 250 for the Rugby World Cup.

“To help things run as smoothly as possible, we are looking for people to volunteer as Birmingham Ambassadors to provide a warm welcome to visitors, helping them find their way around the city and make the most of what we have to offer.

“This is a chance for people from all backgrounds to get involved in what will be a hugely important time for Birmingham, so I hope that as many people as possible will sign up and take advantage of this exciting opportunity.”


http://birminghamnewsroom.com/your-chance-to-become-a-birmingham-ambassador-during-super-september/

The opening of the first half of New Street Station's new concourse in April 2013 saw volunteers help point the way find their way in the new layout. Volunteers will be back again to help point people in the right direction as the opening of the new concourse changes the geography of the city and offers north - south, west - east routes through the station for the first time.

Image reproduced from, http://www.newstreetnewstart.co.uk/construction-progress/latest-news/birmingham-welcomes-its-new-new-street-station.aspx

Thankfully for organisers of the different activities taking place in September there will be some gaps between activities which should help to manage the number of people expected to visit.

New Street Station will open on 20 September with the Grand Central Shopping Centre and John Lewis opening on the 24th. The Birmingham Weekend will take place from 25 - 27 September and Rugby World Cup matches at Villa Park on September 26 and 27 including a fanzone at Eastside Park.

The Birmingham Weekender follows the success of the 4 Squares Weekender which accompanied the opening of the new Library of Birmingham in September 2013, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2013/08/six-days-till-brums-peoples-palace-opens.html. This saw almost 100,000 people flock to the city. The Weekender followed the scrapping of Birmingham's Artsfest, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/britains-biggest-free-arts-festival.html, which was scrapped in 2013 and this years will be almost twice the size of the 2013 event.

Highlights include Birmingham Hippodrome’s presentation of Compagnie Transe Express’ Maudits Sonnants – an orchestra of baroque bell-ringers will play from a musical chandelier suspended above Centenary Square in a night time performance for everyone. 

A new commission from Birmingham Repertory Theatre in association with Mem MorrisonCompany – Luminous – will see a promenade performance taking place in the Alpha Tower area inviting audiences to discover the unknown amongst the familiar through a series of intimate performances and installations.

http://www.thechamberlainfiles.com/birmingham-seeks-ambassadors-to-spread-citys-good-news-story/

This years Weekender promises to electrify the city with 200 artists from 70 companies taking part and some amazing performances with performances turning the streets and Birmingham itself into a stage.

Highlights include an orchestra of bell ringers playing high up above Centenary Square, which will also play host to a Mexican Day of the Dead party.

Coventry’s six metre tall Lady Godiva puppet will visit Birmingham for the first time, while CBSO will take up residence at the Mailbox and Birmingham Royal Ballet will perform an excerpt from Swan Lake in the Bullring.

Look out for roaming astronauts as Highly Sprung perform their street theatre and the Bicycle Ballet Company offers Strictly Night Cycling. 

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/birmingham-weekender-ends-super-september-9598768

You can find more about the Birmingham Weekender on their website, http://www.birminghamweekender.com/

While the city will be literally buzzing it is worth planning your visit as train services are likely to be busy and there are roadworks and disruption affecting routes into the city.

Whatever form of transport you use to visit Birmingham you'll feel an amazing buzz. September marks a great welcome to visitors new and old to Birmingham and as well as the events above The Mailbox will reveal it's £50m makeover as it matches the newly opened Harvey Nichols for style and luxury while at the NEC the Resorts World integrated leisure complex will offer a UK first similar to complex's in Singapore and New York. Resorts World, the UK's first integrated leisure and entertainment complex, will offer a hotel and spa, 11-screen cinema, restaurants, bars, outlet shopping and casino.

If all that has tempted you to help shout about Birmingham you can register your interest becoming a Birmingham Ambassador by emailing: eventvolunteering@birmingham.gov.uk

If you are interested in being an ambassador at New Street Station you are asked to email your CV to BAMBAS@networkrail.co.uk and explain why you'd like to be an ambassador.

All ambassadors must be aged 18 and over.