Why Capsule started

Capsule was founded out of a need to bring interesting non-mainstream music and art to Birmingham. In 1999 having an interest in non-mainstream culture and living in Birmingham meant having to make regular visits to London/Nottingham/Leeds etc. as none of these events were being brought to the city we lived in. In fact, as we found out, these artists were being positively encouraged NOT to come to Birmingham due to a lack of venues/audience/decent promoters and curators. This in turn meant that the creative community of Birmingham were not been fed a healthy diet of new /experimental work from which they could gain inspiration and influence. Since our first event capsule have strove to turn this situation around and through making steady progress and building our organisation on a DIY and ethical basis we have gained the trust and support of artists/agents and tour managers. Capsule has succeeded in placing Birmingham firmly on the map for experimental/adventurous non-mainstream sonic/visual work. The past few years have seen an increasing rise in exciting organisations/collaboration such as 7inch cinema/Beat 13/FHT/The Communion all with their specialist brands and off shoots of underground music/art (see links section for more info).

What have we done?
Founded in December 1999 Capsule's first venture was a six person exhibition entitled PMT held at the Medicine Bar Birmingham, exploring issue's of the turn of the century and the new millenium. Since this beginning we have continued to run an annual programme of exhibitions, Sonic/Visual performances and experimental music. Capsule is committed to providing opportunities for emergent and homegrown talent and encouraging artists to realise new projects through the commissioning and presentation of new work. To date capsule has curated 86 events, these have been a mixture of small venue gigs/ commissioned sonic visual performances and large-scale club nights and exhibitions. We have promoted a mixture of international and national acts/artists established and new performers. We have a policy of promoting Birmingham artists within each event and have a strong network of high quality experimental Birmingham based acts/artists.