Terry Grimley previews an exhibition of photography at one of Birmingham's historic landmarks
Could Birmingham's grade one-listed Curzon Street Station, needing a new role since the collapse of plans by the Royal College of Organists, become Birmingham's new gallery dedicated to photography?
Some of us were impressed by how well it seemed suited to the role when a group of outstanding local photographers stole the show in the second New Art Birmingham event held there earlier this year.
Now it's about to host another photography exhibition as part of the Rhubarb Rhubarb International Festival of the Image, which takes place at the end of the month.
Light Sale, an exhibition and sale of photographs which is open to the public from July 21-26, draws on recent projects organised by Rhubarb Rhubarb, the Digbeth-based photography training and development agency.
They include The White Tent, a project in which photographer Barry Lewis pitched a tent in the Bullring for a week to photograph Birmingham residents and visitors. It was the first stage in Lewis's project to record the face of contemporary Britain, and drew 1,500 people.
He commented afterwards: "The people of Birmingham were lovely and made it so easy for me to capture the essence of the city in my photographs. I chose Birmingham as the first city to visit as part of my Portrait of Britain project because of its style and imagination."
Other work comes from Luminous, a showcase for the work of 12 West Midlands-based photographers presented by Rhubarb Rhubarb at one of Europe's leading photography festival, Les Recontres D'Arles in France, last year. Participants included Ravi Deepres, Max Kandhola, Matthew Murray and David Rowan.
There are also images from Otherlands, a collection of travel photography from China to Iceland, and Platform, a survey of work by emerging an established photographers from the region.
The exhibition overlaps with the Rhubarb Rhubarb festival, which is now in its eighth year. It now claims to be Europe's premiere portfolio review, in which photographers can submit their work to the scrutiny of international picture editors and gallery curators.
"Last year two people drove a camper van for three days from Vienna to get to Birmingham, the desire to take part in the festival is that great," commented creative director Rhonda Wilson.
"This year we have invited new experts from Europe - including Simone Klein, who takes up the new international photography post for Sotheby's. We are also delighted to announce that we have our first visitors from China and India this year - from the Lianzhou Photography Festival - Duan Yuting of Hanyu Media, and the director of the Habitat Gallery, Delhi, Dr Alke Pande.
"We've been out and about, weaving in and out of the different marketplaces and finding new people in areas of growth and potential."
While much discussion continues about the future value of creative industries to the local economy, Marketing Birmingham is already impressed by the impact which the once-a-year festival has, with photographers from 33 countries spending an estimated average of £600 each on hotels, travel, eating out and shopping.