| AdminHistory | The Drum was formed in 1994 with funding from West Midlands Arts and the West Midlands Probation Service out of the Newtown Cultural Project (1985). The Newtown Cultural Project was formed as a company limited by guarantee to promote and support black and asian arts in Birmingham, and to establish a "centre for Black arts" which eventually became the Drum. Vanley Burke was a member of the steering group for the Newtown Cultural Project. Other people involved were Bob Ramdhanie, Ifemu Omari, Gilroy Brown and representatives from Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Probation Service.
By 1998 the Drum had its own premises, the converted Aston Hippodrome. The Drum's objectives are to "support the development of …Black artistic practice" and to involve the local community at all levels to "establish a centre of national and international renown". There are expected to be more accessions to this part of the collection in the future. |