Missing a swim? Missing books? Come to the Exchange in Balsall Heath

What: The Exchange Festival – a free two-day event for everyone who loves Balsall Heath

When: Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November

Where: Moseley Community Hub, Schools of Art, Balsall Heath

Why: Because Balsall Heath Library is closed and won’t re-open until 2025. This will give you the opportunity to reimagine the Library, connect, and actively participate in making sure the Library is the place you want it to be.

Yes, but what will I actually be doing??? Comedy, family activities, watch films, take part in Sufi poetry discussions, make felt bookmarks, learn about Urdu typography and much, much more. See the Exchange Festival programme.

Exchange Festival is part of the Diving In project, made possible through the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This project has given Moseley Road Baths the creative space to explore how both the Balsall Heath Library and Moseley Road Baths can continue to serve the needs of local people.

Back Home – Friction Arts

Back Home is an exhibition of black and white portraits of diverse Brummies, captured by legendary photographer Vanley Burke, at places across the city where they feel at home.

Friction Arts are bringing their ‘Back Home’ project to the Old Print Works, Balsall Heath.

We all have a ‘back home’, whether it’s Mombasa, Karachi, Kingston or Smethwick, there’s somewhere that we recognise as being where we originate from. It may be where we live now, or were born, or even somewhere we’ve never been. Back Home is an exhibition of black and white portraits of diverse Brummies, captured by legendary photographer Vanley Burke, at places across the city where they feel at home.

You can hear stories attached to each photograph about people’s ‘Back Home’ simply by scanning the QR code beneath the portraits with your smartphone camera and clicking the link that appears – for the best experience we advise you to use headphones, where possible.

Back Home explores what it means to belong somewhere, and how people feel about where they are now, and celebrates the individual stories of people in our Brummie melting pot.

How were you? – How are we?

Since May 2021, we’ve been visiting places where people meet in Birmingham like in the street, the markets and local shopping centres and asking people ‘How Were You?’ to find out about people’s experiences of the last couple of years. Whilst we chat with people, artist Ben Jones draws cartoon portraits of them, then adds their words, thoughts, and ideas to the finished portrait. You can see some of them exhibited here.

It’s been an extraordinary privilege to hear people’s stories of our recent times. We’ve been finding out how the pandemic, Black Lives Matter and the wider political landscape have affected their lives, and how they’ve managed to navigate their way through.

We are now asking ‘How Are We?’ continuing open conversations on where we are all now and what people think ‘a’ future looks like.

Exhibition and event dates: The Old Printworks, 498-506 Moseley Road B12 9AH

October 4th-14th 2022 Open Monday-Saturday 12pm-4pm. There will be a special free event on Friday 14th October 6:30-8:30pm talk and discussion with photographer Vanley Burke, and artist Ben Jones. Please book/RSVP your free place via info@frictionarts.com.

IKON’s Migrant Festival – Balsall Heath events

IKON Gallery have their fourth annual Migrant Festival coming up. There are three events happening in Balsall Heath.

IKON Gallery have their fourth annual Migrant Festival coming up. There are three events happening in Balsall Heath.

Artist’s talk: A Joyful Noise with Faisal Hussain

Artist’s talk: Osman Yousefzada and Ian Francis

Mosaic Road photo studio  

From City of Empire to City of Diversity at Moseley Road Baths

Join Sampad at Moseley Road Baths as they take you on a visual journey, exploring how Birmingham changed from being a City of Empire in 1889 to the City of Diversity it is today.

Join Sampad at Moseley Road Baths as they take you on a visual journey, exploring how Birmingham changed from being a City of Empire in 1889 to the City of Diversity it is today.

The city’s changing population is shown through images from the Library of Birmingham’s important collections, including captivating portraits of people photographed by the Dyche studios over several decades.

The exhibition includes personal stories of migration and settlement by those who came to Birmingham and put down roots in the city.

In the year that sees the city host the Commonwealth Games, From City of Empire to City of Diversity explores how Birmingham’s connections to the British Empire have shaped it’s past, present and future.

Opening Times can be found here. This is a free exhibition, no booking required. 

Breaking Bread

A photographic journey of cooking and companionship in Birmingham immigrant communities.

A photographic journey of cooking and companionship in Birmingham immigrant communities.

An exhibition by Francesco Falciani

Darkroom Birmingham
The Old Print Works 
506 Moseley Road 
Balsall Heath
B12 9AH

Evening reception Thursday 30th June 7-9pm
Exhibition runs until 20th July,
Tues-Thurs 10-3,
Saturday 9th 11-4 and by appointment.

One of my earliest memories with my mother was when I was small enough to have my hand round her leg and feeling the motion of her body as she was chopping and cutting food ingredients. That is a beautiful memory!

Sadie, Spring 2022, Change Kitchen

Breaking Bread is an ongoing, research led, documentary photography project by Birmingham based photographer Francesco Falciani. He writes: 

‘Sharing food has always been an obsession for me. I have always seen this as a way to reach people, an integral part of how I communicate my love and affection, how I try to inspire trust. Being an immigrant has made this aspect of my character even more important, an instrument to remember who I am and where I come from but also a way to integrate in the country I choose to live in. ‘

Through photography and interviews I have been exploring the way people feel the emotional and ritual element of cooking and eating together.’

This project was developed through the 15 Frames exhibitions programme at darkroom Birmingham, and in association with Change Kitchen CIC.

Balsall Heath Second Saturday – March events

Join community arts organisations in Balsall Heath on 12th March for another packed programme of events to celebrate creativity in Balsall Heath.

Join community arts organisations in Balsall Heath on 12th March for another packed programme of events to celebrate creativity in Balsall Heath.

The full programme is in the image, but please see the Second Saturday website for further details.

‘My Doorstep, My Culture’ exhibition launched at Moseley Road Baths

‘My Doorstep, My Culture’ is an exciting programme of creative workshops across three community
organisations, led by local Artist ILdikó Nagy. It has culminated in a group exhibition, open until the end of March at Moseley Road Baths.

‘My Doorstep, My Culture’ is an exciting programme of creative workshops across three community organisations, led by local Artist ILdikó Nagy. It has culminated in a group exhibition, open until the end of March at Moseley Road Baths.

Participants from Amal Creative, Kinmos and Smart Women CIC co-designed a series of workshops based on which artforms they wanted to explore with multidisciplinary Visual Artist ILdikó Nagy. Participants were eager to express themselves creatively and committed to working collaboratively to create something reflecting their skills, talents and cultural heritage. From a henna decorated door lit by lanterns to handsculpted incense burners, a huge willow-woven heart to needlefelted Yemeni flags, each group has crafted objects to show others who they are and what matters to them.

You can find out more about the groups’ creative journeys over on the ‘My Doorstep, My Culture’ page of our website.

The exhibition was launched to an invited audience of participants, their families and friends on Saturday 22nd February in the glorious setting of Moseley Road Baths’ empty Gala Pool. Over 30 people attended the launch where groups viewed each others’ work for the first time and reflected on their achievements with food and drink.

My Doorstep, My Culture’ is in the Gala Pool until 31st March 2022.

Art Works will be continuing to explore ways to support these community artists in their creative journeys.

Tye Ford Pop Art Exhibition Opening

What better way to start the new year than with a member artist exhibition? Join ORT Gallery to share and celebrate the opening of our very first exhibition of 2022. 

What better way to start the new year than with a member artist exhibition? Join ORT Gallery to share and celebrate the opening of our very first exhibition of 2022. 

Date: 20th January 2022

Doors open: 5pm

Duration: 1.5 hours, Free Entry

Venue: ORT Gallery, Moseley Road, Balsall Heath

About It’s A Pop World

A Pop Art exhibition by popular Birmingham Artist Tye Forde aka TFA, exploring how the modern world has become split during the Pandemic. Expect lots of colour, stormtroopers, talking points and some installations. 
 

About the Artist
 

Tye is a 49-year-old self-taught artist from Birmingham. 
 

“I always liked drawing mainly copying cartoons from magazines Superman and Judge Dread 2000AD. In the mid 80’s I had a keen interest in rise of Hip Hop in UK and also the early graffiti movement. I would be off doing “Tagging” around Birmingham and getting into trouble with the local police. After several arrests, community service and the threat of being chucked out the house by parents I decided its time to stop. So after a 20 year plus break, I got involved in Art after speaking to some other artists in The Cube Community Arts Centre located in Erdington. I rented a space at the Cube and then it all took its journey. I started studying all different types and styles of art from the masters and travelled all around Europe visiting art galleries, exhibitions and museums. After studying all the styles I decided I loved Pop Art and wanted to develop as a Pop Art Artist creating fun, strange funny pieces. I have great admiration for Renaissance Art, particularly artists such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael. I also have respect for all art and especially graffiti artists who produce incredible pieces on difficult surfaces, in difficult conditions not using brushes and at incredible scales. I try to create pieces that people will enjoy and look at and hopefully not forget. I also wanted to keep Pop Art movement alive in Birmingham.”

Balsall Heath Second Saturday – December 11th

The Cultural Activity Zone brings you Second Saturdays in Balsall Heath, Birmingham.

The Cultural Activity Zone brings you Second Saturdays in Balsall Heath, Birmingham.

This monthly mini festival brings together families and residents to share and experience food, heritage, sport, arts, artisan products and literature. Bringing community organisations and businesses together for a regularly recurring event is a deliberate move to put our often-overlooked neighbourhood on the map, celebrate the diversity found here and promoting community cohesion.

Balsall Heath Second Saturday – 13th November

Balsall Heath Second Saturday is a monthly mini festival for families and residents to share and experience food, heritage, sport, arts, artisan products and literature.

Balsall Heath Second Saturday is a monthly mini festival for families and residents to share and experience food, heritage, sport, arts, artisan products and literature.

Bringing community organisations and businesses together for a regularly recurring event is a deliberate move to put our often-overlooked neighbourhood on the map, celebrate the diversity found here and promoting community cohesion.

The full listings for Saturday’s event are now up on the website and include badge making, board games, weaving workshops, pottery, a community meal, exhibitions and live music.

https://www.secondsaturday.org.uk/

Up, Down (and Somewhere in Between) – Ort Gallery members show

Every year Ort Gallery exhibits its members art work in a group show. This year the exhibition is curated by artist members Kathryn Sawbridge, Lesley Stewart and Maggie Leaver. There has been a rich and diverse response to this year’s theme, reflecting members’ personal, social and political perspectives.

Every year Ort Gallery exhibits its members art work in a group show. This year the exhibition is curated by artist members Kathryn Sawbridge, Lesley Stewart and Maggie Leaver. There has been a rich and diverse response to this year’s theme, reflecting members’ personal, social and political perspectives.

Exhibiting artists are:

Alfie P Moore | Amelia Rouse | Anisa Naz | Bernd Reichert | Ceridwen Raynor | Crow Dillon-Parkin | Erica Bloom | Fae Kilburn | Gina A Smith | Helen Garbett | Hilary Parle | Jameela Muncey | Jean Wilde | Jonnie Turpie | Joseph Lobi | Kathryn Sawbridge | Kirk Andrews | Maggie Leaver | Marcin Sz and Melissa Morris | Matt Greenhill | Mikeala Dowling | Patrick Willcocks | Rameesa Rehman | Sam Akram | Shir Beck


If you would like to join the Ort Gallery membership please find out more here. We are committed to supporting local artists with professional development and networking opportunities and work towards widening access and opportunity regardless of income. If you cannot afford the membership fee please get in touch.


Artwork on the flyer is by member Kathryn Sawbridge.

Banner Making for families at Moseley Road Baths

Join the People’s Heritage Co-operative this Half Term to find out more about the history of our rights and representation and make your own banner.

Join the People’s Heritage Co-operative this Half Term to find out more about the history of our rights and representation and make your own banner.

During October Half Term, families are invited to Moseley Road Baths to a free drop-in workshop to make a banner to go alongside banners created by community participants as part of the Represent exhibition.  Taking inspiration from stories of how people have historically made change in their communities, in our city and further afield, this is a chance to get creative and make your voice heard.

Whatever the issue closest to your heart – social justice, our environment, education, healthcare, inequality, animal welfare, safer streets – come and follow in the footsteps of Brummies of the past and express your ideas for the world to see!

Date and time: Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th October, 2pm-5pm

Venue: Gala Pool, Moseley Road Baths, Moseley Road, Balsall Heath B12 9BX

Booking: None needed, turn up on the day and staff will direct you to the Gala Pool

Contact: rachel@peoplesheritagecoop.uk

Women from Saheli Hub raise their banners as part of Represent’s community heritage project

We hope that this project sparks conversations and ideas about political organisation and representation a century ago and in the present day. Share your thoughts with us on Social Media by using the hashtag #RepresentBrum.

Represent is a project by the People’s Heritage Co-operative, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, examining these questions through archival research, co-learning and creative responses with community participants from Saheli Hub and the Monday morning coffee group at Edgbaston Community Centre. It is supported by The Active Wellbeing Society and the Library of Birmingham’s Archives and Collections service.

Please note that the Gala Pool is accessed by steps leading into the pool, therefore we regret that it is not fully accessible for people with limited mobility. In terms of Covid-19 safety, the Gala Pool is a spacious and well ventilated area. We strongly encourage visitors to make use of hand sanitiser provided and respect the space of others.

Balsall Heath Second Saturday – 9th October 2021 to 12th March 2022

Balsall Heath Second Saturday.  A monthly festival celebrating community, arts, heritage, sports, and food in Balsall Heath.

Balsall Heath Second Saturday.  A monthly festival celebrating community, arts, heritage, sports, and food in Balsall Heath.

A festival celebrating the rich community of Balsall Heath; praising its history, diversity and creativity each month and firmly putting us on the map as a destination for families to enjoy.

Over the next 6 months, Second Saturday aims to highlight the work of leading arts, heritage and community organisations based on Moseley Road who want to join together and promote their shared values of raising the profile of Balsall Heath. 

We aim to bring people from different faith and ethnic backgrounds together and sing the praises of Balsall Heath, a deprived area of our city. 

Kick starting on the 9th October, our mini festival for families and residents who will expect to experience local food, heritage buildings, well-being, arts, and literature. 

Firmly putting our often overlooked neighbourhood on the map, celebrate the diversity found here and promote community cohesion. 

Each ‘Second Saturday’ takes place from 10am-10pm on the following dates:

  • 9th Oct
  • 13th Nov
  • 11th Dec
  • 8th Jan
  • 12th Feb
  • 12th Mar

The organisations involved and who will host Second Saturday’s program of events are:

  • The Darkroom
  • The Gap Arts
  • Moseley Community Hub
  • Moseley Road Baths
  • The Old Print Works
  • ORT Gallery

For more details contact: Sadim.garvey@moseleyroadbaths.org.uk

EXHIBITION – ‘Drawing Connections ~ Stories of Community Spirit in Balsall Heath’

Haseebah Ali that celebrate some of the social spaces and sites of community spirit that can be found in both the past and present of Balsall Heath.

This exhibition shares a series of illustrations by local young artist Haseebah Ali that celebrate some of the social spaces and sites of community spirit that can be found in both the past and present of Balsall Heath.

Commissioned by us at The GAP Arts Project, each of Haseebah’s illustrations responds to a specific story drawn from oral history interviews that we conducted with eight members of the Balsall Heath community throughout 2020, excerpts of which are displayed alongside the images.

Taking place within barbershops, convenience stores, youth centres, Carnival, garden centres and more, these illustrations and the stories contained within them highlight the community connections between people living in the area and how these threads are weaved across time and space.

We’re inviting all our visitors to respond to the exhibition by creating a postcard design that shares your own personal stories, memories and experiences of Balsall Heath’s social spaces and community spirit. Draw and write on one of the blank postcards provided, then add this to our collection by hanging it up in our cafe display area for others to view!

Free. All materials provided. Self-led activity. All ages welcome! Take part at any time during our opening hours.

Where: The GAP Arts Project, 498 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, B12 9AH

When: 13th September – 16th October

Website: www.thegapartsproject.co.uk

Contact: ella@thegapartsproject.co.uk

Out of the Frame – Now, Then and Forever

Ort Gallery are pleased to invite you to Ranbir Kaur’s new exhibition “Out of the Frame | Now, Then and Forever”.

Ort Gallery are pleased to invite you to Ranbir Kaur’s new exhibition “Out of the Frame | Now, Then and Forever”.

Join us for the opening event on Saturday 11 September, 3-5pm. We will have a new Rangoli laid live by Ranbir, meet the artist, enjoy some local treats & get a special preview of the new exhibition.

Out of The Frame features handcrafted South Asian arts and crafts created by rangoli and textile artist, Ranbir Kaur. It showcases Ranbir Kaur’s expertise in traditional Indian crafting techniques and the knowledge acquired from her extensive research of South Asian craftwork conducted over her 30 year long career. 

Coming from a textile background, Ranbir Kaur has refined her skills in Indian craft making passed down to her from her elders and strived to expand her understanding of South Asian artistry. She has traveled across Asia, researching different forms of creativity and craftwork, including tie dye in Bhuj in Gujarat, India and felt making in Istanbul, enabling her to combine different techniques to create unique and contemporary takes on traditional artforms. 

“Over the past 30+ years, since taking up residency in the UK, I have worked as an artist and teacher. My main aim has been to raise the profile of the arts and crafts of Asian Women, as they are an integral part of daily life for those women throughout the world.” – Ranbir

Find out more here.

This exhibition is curated by Jaleesa Padmore with support from Ort Gallery. The project has been funded by Arts Council England.

Specular Reflecular 2

Moseley Road Baths CIO are so excited to be bringing back Specular Reflecular after having to close in March last year due to Covid. This time the exhibition, created by Juneau Projects, will be held in the slipper baths.

Moseley Road Baths CIO are so excited to be bringing back Specular Reflecular after having to close in March last year due to Covid. This time the exhibition, created by Juneau Projects, will be held in the slipper baths. The exhibition will run from:12-4pm Monday 31st May- Friday 4th June.

Artists Juneau Projects have worked with hundreds of local people to create a beautiful hand-painted animation that celebrates Moseley Road Baths and the community that surrounds it. People of all backgrounds and ages attended workshops and made individual frames for the animation by painting over live-action footage of local swimmers. Each frame reflects the memories, personality and style of its local creator. Combined, they create an ever-changing collage of colours, light and water; which also reflects the vibrancy and eclectic nature of Balsall Heath.

Viewers are invited to relax on specially created wave furniture and soak up the atmosphere of this unique heritage space, while watching the light from the projected film and newly uncovered windows refracted through multi-coloured translucent decorations.

Specular Reflecular was funded part of Trust New Art, the National Trust’s programme of contemporary arts and is funded by Arts Council England. We have brought it back post-Covid thanks to the DCMS Cultural Recovery Fund.

Booking is essential and to keep everyone Covid-safe there will be one slot per hour where you and your group (either up to 6 people, or 2 households) get exclusive access for 20 minutes to enjoy the animation.

Birmingham Open Studios 2021

Birmingham Open Studios returns bigger than ever before, now covering even more of the city. Dozens of artists exhibiting and selling their work from their own homes and studios. Meet creators at work and buy direct. Free to visit and family friendly.

Birmingham Open Studios returns bigger than ever before, now covering even more of the city. Dozens of artists exhibiting and selling their work from their own homes and studios. Meet creators at work and buy direct. Free to visit and family friendly.

Weekends of 18/19th and 25/26th September 2021, all 11am-5pm

Pick up a guide book from various locations across the city, or visit website to use interactive map. Artists can sign up until 15th July online.

Dates: 11am-5pm on 18/19th and 25/26th September

Website: http://www.birminghamopenstudios.com

Cost: £42 to participate. Free to visit.

Contact: Owen de Visser at studios@artsbrum.com