Ikon director Jonathan Watkins has praised the transformation of Birmingham and described it as a “city that’s going places” in a short film to mark his retirement after 23 years.
Looking back on his time as director, Mr Watkins said highlights have included developing the Ikon Youth Programme and watching the Brindleyplace and Broad Street developments transform Westside.
“It’s great that Ikon is here in Westside,” said Mr Watkins. “When I arrived here, Brindleyplace wasn’t even half built. Even now, we’re still part of a changing district in the city and it’s been a pleasure and a privilege to watch those changes take place.
“I love the energy here. You feel an optimism in the air now that wasn’t there in the same way when I first arrived. You feel like it’s a city that’s really going places. You can see the skyline changing and that signifies something very hopeful.”
Mr Watkins was speaking in a mini-documentary video commissioned by Westside BID, and filmed by Paula Young of Magic Lantern Media.
Watch the full interview with Jonathan Watkins here:
He estimated that visitor numbers to Ikon have doubled since he arrived, going from 100,000 in 1999 to around 200,000 today. It’s something he’s proud of, alongside creating the canal boat youth programme and attracting internationally acclaimed artists to Birmingham.
Despite his love of the city, he’s not planning to stay, and will shortly move to the Kent seaside where he will continue to work as a freelance art director and writer.
He added: “I’ll miss the team and the fact that I had the privilege to work with such great people who’ve supported me in the programming that I’ve wanted to do. But more broadly I’m going to miss Birmingham. It’s the city I’ve grown to love.”
