The new phased opening of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery was taking place today with many exhibitions on display.
Run by the Birmingham Museums Trust, the Museum and Art Gallery is now able to share the city’s diverse collections, stories and spaces with the people of Birmingham and beyond with regular funding from Birmingham City Council and Arts Council England.
‘Made in Birmingham’ is a new display in the Industrial Gallery – one of several spaces to re- open to the public after essential maintenance work to the heating, electrics, lifts and roofing was completed on schedule across the whole Council House complex.
The display opens with items such as the giant logo from the now-demolished HP Sauce factory, a sign from the Eagle & Tun pub (made famous in UB40’s Red Red Wine video), vintage advertising signage from Bird’s Custard and a large model showing an abandoned vision of what Centenary Square might have been, among dozens of other quirky items that tell the story of a city that 'will be nice when it’s finished'.
Showcasing Birmingham’s art collection for almost 150 years, the impressive Round Room gallery has reopened with ‘One Fresh Take’, a new display about how art can be a way to see the world differently.
Visitors can discover how artists from David Cox to Lubaina Himid, Bridget Riley to Cold War Steve, have brought their own fresh take to places that are meaningful to them.
Additional reopening exhibitions at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery include ‘Curtis Holder: Drawing Carlos Acosta’ and ‘Modern Muse’ by Arpita Shah.
Curtis Holder won Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year in 2020 and was commissioned to draw Carlos Acosta, director of Birmingham Royal Ballet.
‘Deviance & Difference, running from 24 October to 8 December, is an exhibition opening on the balcony gallery space that wraps around the Made in Birmingham Display, curated by internationally acclaimed artist Osman Yousefzada.
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery also welcomes the The Pixel Studio – a new digital gallery and activity space. The Pixel Studio will host screenings of digital work and immersive experiences created by artists and producers from across the region, as well as showcasing collaborations using the collections as an inspiration.
Two films are on display in The Pixel Studio: ‘The Tiny Spark’ and ‘Excerpt’. These are repeated throughout the day.
The popular Tearoom has also reopened for refreshments in a beautiful setting, while unique gift collections and collaborations with local artists and makers can be found in the new-look Museum Shop.
The world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, takes place in Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s Waterhall (until 20 April 2025) featuring exceptional images that capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world.
Due to visitor demand, the Victorian Radicals exhibition of world-famous Pre-Raphaelite art will continue in The Gas Hall until 5 January 2025.
Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah, Co-CEOs at Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “This reopening is a big first step in the development of a new museum for the people of Birmingham. The new displays are a celebration of our vibrant city and its rich history.
“It brings us great joy to be able to welcome visitors back into these spaces and we hope people will share in that joy and see themselves reflected in the displays.”
Major capital works to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery were made possible thanks to funding from the Government’s Museums Estate and Development Fund (MEND) through Arts Council England.
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am until 5pm.
