Friday, 15 September
Staff
My name’s Beau (they/them) and I hail from the often-maligned city of Milton Keynes. I currently live in Birmingham, having moved there in 2017 to study for a BA in English Literature and History of Art. I love the city so much that I decided to stay there after graduating and currently live in Harborne, where I am often found lurking in the charity shops or foraging by the river.
After leaving the University of Birmingham I worked as a freelance curator, with a particular highlight being assisting with the development and production of Grayson’s Art Club III: The Exhibition at MAC (Midlands Arts Centre). I also enjoyed a fun side hustle as a model for various life-drawing groups throughout the city up until joining the Live & Local team.
Outside of work, I enjoy visiting galleries, sharing food with my friends, and creating art about British folklore and psychogeography (the exploration of and interpersonal connections to places and routes in urban environments). I’m also a huge cinephile and make my way over to Brum’s independent cinemas as often as I can.
I’m so thrilled to be starting in this new role at Live & Local, especially at such an exciting time whilst the Rural Hub Towns project takes off, and I look forward to seeing you around on our social media channels!
What was your favourite live event or a memorable live event that you attended?
Seeing Baby Bushka, an 8-woman Kate Bush cover band from San Diego, perform at The Night Owl, my favourite venue in Brum. They are an incredible group who use props, costumes, and choreography beautifully to celebrate the music of Mother Kate. I’ve seen them twice now with a group of friends and both times were so special and joyful.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A costume designer for films. I still love making my own costumes for Halloween and going to pick out fabrics and trimmings from the Bull Ring Indoor Market.
What is your favourite tipple?
A Bloody Mary; brunch happens to be my favourite meal, but I’ll have one any time of day!
What was the last book you read?
None of the Above: Reflections on Life Beyond the Binary by Travis Alabanza. This is a beautifully written and very approachable book about non-binary identity, and I absolutely loved it. I’d recommend it to anyone, whether you’re non-binary yourself or just want to better understand your non-binary friends, family, and co-workers.
Do you have any podcast recommendations?
If, like me, you love horror but sometimes have to read the Wikipedia article for a film first to check you can handle the scares, Random Number Generator Horror Podcast No.9 is for you. Each week, the hosts roll two dice, one for a scare (e.g., aliens, creepy children, zombies) and one for a style (e.g., found footage, slasher, gothic). They then choose a film to fit these criteria, then watch and discuss it. It’s super entertaining and thought-provoking, and I’ve grown to love horror as a genre so much more thanks to this podcast! I’d also like to recommend Folkways, a podcast all about the rich and fascinating folklore of Britain and Ireland.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
There is an animatronic Viking child at the Jorvik Viking Centre in York that is modelled on my likeness as a 5-year-old.
This or that?
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