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.

Full Analogue Photography Course with Darkroom Birmingham

This course is a comprehensive introduction to traditional analogue black and white photography, designed to equip participants to work in a darkroom to produce high quality negatives and prints.

This course is a comprehensive introduction to traditional analogue black and white photography, designed to equip participants to work in a darkroom to produce high quality negatives and prints.

It is suitable for novices, those with digital photographic experience, and photographers wanting to consolidate or refresh their knowledge or practice. With 20 years experience leading photographic workshops your tutor will cover all the fundamental technical and practical aspects of traditional silver based darkroom practice.

Dates: 3rd July, 24th July, 4th September, 25th September (more dates TBC)

Venue: Darkroom Birmingham, The Old Print Works, Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, B12 9AH

Cost: £95 (£75 concs) see website for details

Suitable for: Complete novice photographers, those with some previous photographic knowledge to professional digital practitioners who want to expand their traditional process knowledge. A 35mm or medium format camera (loan cameras available subject to availability)

Website: https://darkroombirmingham.co.uk/full-analogue/

Contact: info@darkroombirmingham.co.uk

Splash and Scream at Moseley Road Baths – 27th June 2021

Come and help _underscore as they develop the musical soundscape of a new site-specific opera at the Moseley Road Baths…

Come and help _underscore as they develop the musical soundscape of a new site-specific opera at the Moseley Road Baths…

In this entirely free event we are opening the doors of the Gala Pool for private sessions of up to 6 members of the public to explore how this unique space behaves when it is animated through sound, which we’ll make using our hands, feet and voices.

Discover space through sound in these 30 minutes sessions as we explore the intimacy of its corners, dialogue with its echoes, murmur with its reverberations.

Through acoustics we unite… our distance may be socially separate but our sounds can come together.

You don’t need swimming costumes, but you may want to take off your shoes and socks for an optional splash!

Details

Date: Sunday 27th June

Session timings:

Sessions run throughout the day but please note, our first session is for families who swim with us only

  • 12.00-12.45 – Family session only (following the morning family swim session)
  • 14.00-14.30 workshop 1
  • 14.40-15.10 workshop 2
  • 15.20-15.50 workshop 3
  • 16.00-16.30 workshop 4
  • 16.40-17.10 workshop 5
  • 17.20-17.50 workshop 6
  • 18.00-18.30 workshop 7
  • It is 1 ticket per person (not family or household) although baby in arms do not need a ticket, everyone else will for Covid restrictions.
  • You must have booked a ticket to enter the event.
  • We only have 6 spaces per session, first come first served! (2 households are allowed to book, just email the address below to organise this)
  • Please get in touch if you have any additional requirements on emily.butler@moseleyroadbaths.org.uk.

Tickets available via Eventbrite 
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/splash-n-scream-tickets-158608966689

Please note that by booking this ticket and attending the session you automatically consent to granting full rights to use the images and sounds resulting from the photography/video filming, and any reproductions or adaptations of the images for fundraising and publicity. This might include (but is not limited to), the right to use them in their printed and online publicity, social media, press releases, funding applications and short promo videos. Takt will be filming on behalf of Outdoor Places for Unusual Spaces and Moseley Road Baths.

Time to take our city back – 4 week creative visual art workshops

A free arts programme led by Birmingham Centre for Arts Therapies supporting Public Health Birmingham in delivering COVID related messaging​.

A free arts programme led by Birmingham Centre for Arts Therapies supporting Public Health Birmingham in delivering COVID related messaging​.

​Join us and book your free workshops to expresssharereflect and create as part of this city wide project to deliver safe messaging around COVID 19 in a creative way. 

What is available?
free 4 week courses plus materials
in subjects including Painting/Printmaking/Sculpture/Ceramics/Photography/Video/Design/Craft 

BOOK YOUR FREE WORKSHOP NOW
Simply email us on the above link to complete your booking form and risk assessment and we will do the rest! 

​All produced visuals will be displayed as part of the BCAT and Birmingham Libraries Creative COVID Recovery Event to take place in South Yardley and Handsworth and other selected local libraries in February 2022.

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.

What have you heard about Covid?

Women and Theatre is working in partnership with Moseley Road Baths and local women in Balsall Heath, to create a series of short videos which share information about Covid-19 and promote positive wellbeing messages.

Women and Theatre is working in partnership with Moseley Road Baths and local women in Balsall Heath, to create a series of short videos which share information about Covid-19 and promote positive wellbeing messages.

Janice Connolly of Women & Theatre, poet, writer and performer Rupinder Kaur and film maker Rachel Gillies will be talking to women of all ages and backgrounds about concerns, anxieties and misinformation about Covid-19 guidelines and vaccines. Join them for a swim and a chat and then get creative with some fun workshops to develop the short films.

Sessions take place on Mondays (17th and 24th) and Thursdays (20th and 27th), 11:15am-1:15pm over the next few weeks. For more information, call Matt Smith on 07849 214 799 or e-mail mattsmith@womenandtheatre.co.uk.

Theatre Mix @ Home

Theatre Mix @ Home is a live-streamed, cross-artform performance night for West Midlands artists. It features performances from a range of West Mids-based artists and creatives, all live-streaming from their own homes.

Theatre Mix @ Home is a live-streamed, cross-artform performance night for West Midlands artists. It features performances from a range of West Mids-based artists and creatives, all live-streaming from their own homes.

It’s completely free via YouTube Live, and there will be a donation link on the night for anyone who wishes to donate, with all donations going towards the running of future nights like this.

ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED

Date: 15/04/2021
Time: 8pm (running time approx 1hr)

Our YouTube channel where you will find us on the night: https://bit.ly/3gztK3S
Facebook event for info & updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/254562116322070/

Grab yourself a treat, pull up a couch cushion and enjoy some local creative talents.

This event has been made possible by funding from The Society for Theatre Research, Arts Council England Project Grants and support from The GAP Arts Project.

Audience: Sometimes there is strong language, so aimed at 14+

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A background textured like crumpled paper with text that reads “THEATRE MIX @ home. West Midlands artists streaming live from their homes to yours. Acts to be announced… Thursday 15th April, 8pm, YouTube Live (see link in description)” At the sides are social handles for Twitter: @gushtheatre, @theatre_mix and Facebook: @gustheatre. At the bottom are logos for The Mix cafe, Arts Council England and the Society for Theatre Research.]

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

Threading Tales Together

Threading Tales Together is a project exploring connection and healing through story. Taking place between March and June, the series of Artist guided workshops encourage gentle sharing of stories and a range of creative activities, including textiles, photography, hip-hop and poetry.

Threading Tales Together is a project exploring connection and healing through story. Taking place between March and June, the series of conversations (over a platform that most suits the individual) and Artist guided workshops encourage gentle sharing of stories and a range of creative activities, including textiles, illustration, photography, hip-hop and poetry.

This project is particularly (but not exclusively!) aimed at those who have been shielding during the Covid-19 pandemic and their families, carers and loved ones.

For more information contact Emily.Butler@moseleyroadbaths.org.uk or ring 07926 999 442. Supported by the ‘Moseley Road Baths Alive’ project, with support from BVSC and Moseley Together.

Arts Connect’s Leadership Development Programme

Are you an active/aspiring leader within arts and culture? Are you passionate about learning & engagement with children & young people?

Are you an active/aspiring leader within arts and culture? Are you passionate about learning & engagement with children & young people?

Consider applying for Arts Connect’s Leadership Development Programme.

Art Works’ Co-ordinator Rachel Gillies joined five years ago and is still finding it valuable, especially the annual leadership convention (quite aside from the cake offering!). She is very happy to chat with anyone who is wanting to find out more. E-mail her at hello@artworkshallgreen.co.uk.

https://www.artsconnect.co.uk/what-were-doing/leadership

Theatre Mix @ home – April

Theatre Mix @ Home is a live-streamed performance night for West Midlands artists – scripted, devised, music, spoken word, cabaret, dance and more. We’re open minded!

GOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TRY OUT? NEED AN AUDIENCE?

Theatre Mix @ Home is a live-streamed performance night for West Midlands artists – scripted, devised, music, spoken word, cabaret, dance and more. We’re open minded!

Open Slots:

Breaking down barriers for artists to try out new work and have performance opportunities.

  • First come, first served for each art form
  • Up to 5 minutes
  • Drink provided

Submission form HERE

Deadline: 5pm on Thursday 8th April (may close sooner if all slots are filled before this date). We will respond as and when each submission comes in.

Artist Slots:

For more developed work.

  • Programmed by organisers Holly and Lisa
  • 15-20 minutes
  • Fee: £100 for a solo act, £200 for a duo
  • Duos can be in a bubble, or we can facilitate two performers remotely on the screen

Application form HERE

Deadline: 5pm on 1st April. We will respond by 12pm on Monday 1st March.

Where: Your place

When: Thursday 15th April 2021 (evening)

Although this event is taking place online, we are committed to platforming local artists and, as such, are looking specifically for artists based in the West Midlands.

If you have further questions, would like help applying or want the submission form in another format, please email theatremixbirmingham@gmail.com

Note: You will need a stable internet connection and a device to record from (smartphone, laptop etc).

GUSH Theatre welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, socio-economic background, sexual orientation, religion or disability. We are particularly interested in working with people who consider themselves to be from backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in the arts sector.

Supported by Arts Council England, The Society for Theatre Research & The GAP Arts Project.

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A blue background with an orange circle in the top left corner. Text reads: “THEATRE MIX @ home – APRIL! A cross-artform performance night featuring a range of West Midlands creative talents, live-streaming from home. Got something you’d like to perform? ARTIST SLOTS. Programmed by organisers. Paid. 15 – 20 minutes. Online application. Fee: £100 solo / £200 duo. Deadline: 01/04/21. OPEN SLOTS. First come, first served. Unpaid . Up to 5 minutes. Online submission form. Drink provided. Deadline: 08/04/21 (slots might get filled sooner). Where? Your place. When? 15th April 2021 (evening). To apply: See links in description or email theatremixbirmingham@gmail.com for more info.” At the bottom are logos for The Mix cafe, Arts Council England and The Society for Theatre Research.]

Theatre Mix @ home

Theatre Mix @ Home is a live-streamed, cross-artform performance night for West Midlands artists. It features performances from a range of West Mids-based artists and creatives, all live-streaming from their own homes.

Theatre Mix @ Home is a live-streamed, cross-artform performance night for West Midlands artists. It features performances from a range of West Mids-based artists and creatives, all live-streaming from their own homes.

It’s completely free via YouTube Live, and there will be a donation link on the night for anyone who wishes to donate, with all donations going towards the running of future nights like this.

ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED

Date: 11/03/2021

Time: 8pm (running time approx 1hr)

Our YouTube channel where you will find us on the night: https://bit.ly/3gztK3S

Grab yourself a treat, pull up a couch cushion and enjoy some local creative talents.
This event has been made possible by funding from The Society for Theatre Research, Arts Council England Project Grants and support from The GAP Arts Project.

Free to watch (donations welcome)

Suitable for 14+ (sometimes pieces contain swearing)

For more information contact theatremixbirmingham@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/events/718966215436443

Lok Virsa: Good Vibrations-Buttons, Beads and Birds

Sonia Sabri Company are running a workshop on Saturday 20th February at 3pm. Using the rich colours & shapes of birds & other animals depicted in Persian Folk art, we’ll be making our own bold, bright & sparkly craft!

Sonia Sabri Company are running a workshop on Saturday 20th February at 3pm. Using the rich colours & shapes of birds & other animals depicted in Persian Folk art, we’ll be making our own bold, bright & sparkly craft!

Using the rich colours and shapes of the birds and other animals depicted in Persian Folk art, we will making our own bold, bright and sparkly bird, and abstract shape hangings that we can display in our windows; hopefully bringing a bit of colour and sparkle into our homes.

Please have a look around your house, and gather any scraps of material (felt or cotton is best- but anything will do) wool, ribbon, string, beads, old bits of broken jewellery, sequins you can find. You can use old tea-towels, socks or anything that you know is no longer needed- the more colourful the better. If you have any old bangles or empty rolls of sellotape please hang onto them too- they will come in handy! You will also need a fork.

Workshop will be delivered on ZOOM Pro. All times are GMT.

Please could you ensure that you provide the correct email for us to contact you on to send the link to the workshop. You will receive an email from us at 5pm GMT the day before the workshop. If you do not receive an email in your inbox please check your junk and spam folders.

Any problems please email info@ssco.org.uk

Thank you.

Events may be subject to change.

We also have fantastic dance workshops for all ages on our Facebook page across the week so make sure you check the full festival schedule, join in and have fun!

YOU WILL NEED:

Please have a look around your house, and gather any scraps of material (felt or cotton is best- but anything will do) wool, ribbon, string, beads, old bits of broken jewellery, sequins you can find. You can use old tea-towels, socks or anything that you know is no longer needed- the more colourful the better.

  • Scissors
  • Scraps of ribbon or string
  • Sewing thread
  • Needle
  • Old bangles or empty sellotape rolls
  • Beads (the bigger the holes the better)
  • Sequins or anything sparkly
  • You will also need a fork.

Gush Theatre’s Theatre Mix @ home – slots available

Theatre Mix @ Home is a live-streamed performance night for West Midlands artists – scripted, devised, music, spoken word, cabaret and more. We’re open minded! We have Artist Slots and Open Slots available for our next event.

Theatre Mix @ Home is a live-streamed performance night for West Midlands artists – scripted, devised, music, spoken word, cabaret and more. We’re open minded! We have Artist Slots and Open Slots available for our next event.

Where? Your place
When? Thursday 11th March 2021 at 8pm

More information and how to apply can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cmPBM8-6em8aRY6F5sN4j_Hua0fTSoDa3x-dI1AA5D4/edit?usp=sharing

Contact: theatremixbirmingham@gmail.com

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A blue background with an orange circle in the top left corner. Text reads: “THEATRE MIX @ home. A cross-artform performance night featuring a range of West Midlands creative talents, live-streaming from home. Got something you’d like to perform? ARTIST SLOTS. Programmed by organisers. Paid. 15 – 20 minutes. Online application. Fee: £100 solo / £200 duo. Deadline: 25/02/21. OPEN SLOTS. First come, first served. Unpaid . Up to 5 minutes. Online submission form. Drink provided. Deadline: 04/03/21 (slots might get filled sooner). Where? Your place. When? 11th March 2021 (evening). To apply: See links in description or email theatremixbirmingham@gmail.com for more info.” At the bottom are logos for The Mix cafe, Arts Council England and The Society for Theatre Research.]

Craft workshop – inviting women to imagine a cultural event for Moseley Road in 2022

A 1.5 hour stitching/drawing/writing workshop with artist Shaheen Ahmed facilitated by Craftspace on Zoom. Participants will receive a craft pack but must live locally in or around the Moseley Road.

A 1.5 hour stitching/drawing/writing workshop with artist Shaheen Ahmed facilitated by Craftspace on Zoom. Participants will receive a craft pack but must live locally in or around the Moseley Road.

Calling women residents who live or work on or around the Moseley Road in Balsall Heath.

Have your say about a local cultural celebration in 2022 when the Commonwealth Games comes to Birmingham. Birmingham City Council wants to ensure residents across the city collaborate with artists to create a range of high-quality cultural experiences during 2022.

Craftspace is inviting women and girls in Balsall Heath to take part in a consultation about developing arts-led cultural activity to take place in and around the Moseley Road area.

There are two ways to participate:

Take part in free 1.5 hour craft workshops with artist Shaheen Ahmed on Zoom. Participants will receive a craft pack but must live locally around the Moseley Road/Balsall Heath area.

  • Sunday 14th February 3-4.30pm
  • Monday 15th February 5-6.30pm.

Captions available. 10 places available for each workshop.

OR

Download and print an illustration by Shaheen Ahmed to write, draw or stitch your thoughts in response to these questions. You can also answer the questions using the online form.

  • What does the word or the idea of ‘Commonwealth’ mean to you?
  • What ‘common’ ‘wealth’ (cultures, resources, people, spaces, skills) do we have in Balsall Heath and want to share and celebrate as a community?
  • What sort of cultural activity/community event involving artists would you like to be involved in?

For more information on the project or any enquiries about the consultation, please contact Craftspace directly at d.figueiredo@craftspace.co.uk .

Moseley Misfits Choir

The Misfits Choir (Birmingham, UK) for adults will meet for fun weekly sessions. You’ll sing the songs you love, connect with others and learn breathing techniques that will help you to feel great.

Register your interest in The Misfits Choir.

The Misfits Choir (Birmingham, UK) for adults will meet for fun weekly sessions. You’ll sing the songs you love, connect with others and learn breathing techniques that will help you to feel great.

These techniques will also help anyone managing conditions such as Long Covid and other respiratory problems on their road to recovery.

Register your interest now via: https://misfitsmusic.org.uk/the-misfits-choir or email rob@misfitsmusic.org.uk

Commonwealth Co-design

The Gap Arts Project are working with 3 local arts organisations, Craftspace, Ort Gallery and Celebrating Sanctuary, to plan a large scale project in 2022 which will feed into the Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games cultural programme.

The Gap Arts Project are working with 3 local arts organisations, Craftspace, Ort Gallery and Celebrating Sanctuary, to plan a large scale project in 2022 which will feed into the Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games cultural programme.

To to kick it off they will be conducting 2 online sessions where we want to hear from you things such as what common wealth means to you, and what you would want to see as part of an arts project that looks at the themes that common wealth brings up. They will take all that information and co-design a project that you want. It will be a great opportunity to have a real say in the activity that happens in your area!

Session dates and times:

Monday 25th January 2021, 5 – 6.30pm

Monday 8th February 2021, 5 – 6.30pm

​A great opportunity to get involved in shaping a large scale future project in Balsall Heath!

​Want to get involved, drop a line to arron@thegapartsproject.co.uk with your Name, Age, Post Code, and a short sentence of why you want to get involved!

Sound Tapestry Creative Workshop Series

The Gap Arts Project are inviting 12 – 18 year olds in Birmingham to join artist Meera Shakti Osborne and producer A.G. in a FREE creative workshop series exploring self-expression and healing through sound.

The Gap Arts Project are inviting 12 – 18 year olds in Birmingham to join artist Meera Shakti Osborne and producer A.G. in a FREE creative workshop series exploring self-expression and healing through sound.

Through 6 fortnightly online sessions, you will work with the artists and other young people you meet on the programme to create a Sound Tapestry. This Sound Tapestry will be a collaborative artwork made during the Zoom sessions through sound recordings based on our feelings. The work will be exhibited at The GAP later in 2021 as part of a touring exhibition.

Sound Tapestry is an opportunity to be part of a collaborative art making process, to learn about sound art, and to meet new people.

Who: 12 – 18 year olds living in Birmingham. We especially welcome young people from working class backgrounds and/or who are Black or a person of colour.

Where: Online via Zoom

Date: 13th January – 24th March 2021

When: Every other Wednesday

Time: 5 – 6.30pm

Interested?
Drop an email to ella@thegapartsproject.co.uk with your Name, Age, and Postcode
Spaces are limited so get in touch soon to reserve your spot!

Funded by Arts Council England Project Grants.