10-4 upper gallery The Old Print Works
Another chance to see this piece of Balsall Heath and South Asian music history.
The Second Saturday of the Month
10-4 upper gallery The Old Print Works
Another chance to see this piece of Balsall Heath and South Asian music history.
10am – 4pm The Old Print Works, Lower Gallery
Art and crafts from the people at The Old Print Works community and beyond including pottery, art, jewellery, postcards, crafts, and lots lots more.
The Original Art Club to The Old Print Works and Balsall Heath Second Saturdays.
The Original Art Club is a safe creative space for children to explore, create and develop their artistic skills. This is project-based learning tailored to each individual and their ability. The idea is progress not perfection and with an ‘I can do’ attitude here at the club we want all our budding artists to feel confident and encouraged in their creative journey. We teach several 2D and 3D techniques within our projects using a wide range of materials from pencil, acrylic paint and watercolours, to clay and paper mache. Our mixed age and mixed ability classes is a unique way in building self-confidence, independence and social bonding. Those children who have been with us longer will have gained more flexibility in steering their own projects and outcomes. We use mediums such as acrylics, watercolours, oil/soft pastels, inks, fine liners and 3D work with papier mache, clay and paper sculpture. At the club we value art and believe it is a significant component for the holistic education of children.
Join us this Saturday between 12-3pm to find out all about our new garden project and how you can get involved! ✨🌱
You will be able to….
👀 …have a rare opportunity to look around the charming front garden of Myrtle Cottage, the oldest house in Balsall Heath and the former home of The Old Print Works director
👋🏽 …meet Rebekah Warmington, Nature Pedagogue and Environmental Educator, who is collaborating with The GAP and young people to regenerate the garden
💡…share your ideas for how the garden can be transformed into an urban oasis which reflects the heart and history of Balsall Heath and its vibrant communities and cultures
🍂 …get crafty with some Autumnal Activities to get your ideas flowing!
Be sure to pop by, have a little browse, let your imagination wander and share your ideas and inspiration to support the project 💫
All ages.
Free.
Drop-in
2pm – 4pm, The Old Print Works
It’s back, your favourite workshop!!! Come along to our mini paint by prompt workshop! As we are entering a new season, we are excited to warmly welcome an autumn themed painting experience!! Create a mini painting on a mini canvas. This is an intuitive art workshop to reconnect you with your inner artist while creating a calming environment of wellbeing.
No experience is required (there is no right or wrong way here, this workshop is for relaxation purposes but also we welcome anyone eager to learn and develop their painting skills), all materials and light nibbles will be provided, and ALL ages are welcome! It’s going to be so much fun and we can’t wait to see you there!
11am until 1pm, Drawing Room, Courtyard Entrance, The Old Print Works
Monthly family carving club, all ages welcome, learn how to use a sharp knife to make beautiful things from wood
Donation/ pay what you feel – drop in
12 – 4pm The Old Print Works
Sundragon Community Pottery will be hosting a FREE clay pumpkin making workshop.
Join us at the Old Print Works for the community screening of A Bedroom For Everyone, a new film commissioned by Ed Webb-Ingall, currently showing at Grand Union 1pm-4pm The Drawing Room, The Old Print Works
Taking inspiration from Leeds Animation Workshop’s powerful short animation ‘Home and Dry’ from 1987, which remains strikingly relevant today, ‘A Bedroom for Everyone’ serves as a sequel of sorts, shifting our focus to the current housing crises and the essential role of grassroots organizing. It prompts us to reflect on the progress we have made and the work that still lies ahead. 💪🏠
The script of this animation was crafted collaboratively with members from four inspiring activist and community groups: Save Druids Heath and Acorn Union from Birmingham, Akwaaba Social Centre for Migrants and Housing Action Southwark & Lambeth from London. By incorporating the voices and perspectives of those with lived experience of the housing crisis, the film acts as a powerful resource, inspiring individuals to seek out local groups, lend a helping hand, raise awareness, and contribute to the cause. It is a testament to the strength of collective action and the transformative potential it holds. 🌍❤️
We invite you to engage with ‘A Bedroom for Everyone’ as a resource that can be shared with anyone interested or engaged in housing struggles. Reach out to us at info@grand-union.org.uk if you would like to showcase this impactful film in your community setting. Let’s empower one another, raise our voices, and ignite positive change. Together, we can make housing a fundamental right for all. 📧🎉 Available in Arabic, English, Polish, and Spanish. 🌍🌟
Made by:
@Edwebbingall
@Sofia_niazi
@astroidg
With support from:
@acornbirmingham
@sifafiresideofficial
@leedsanimation
@makinglevel
@stirchleycd
@granby4streetsclt
@Acorn_notts
@nottm_contemp
@luxscot
@rule_of_threes
The Women Asylum Seekers Housing Project
Generously funded by:
@oak_foundation
@aceagrams
@artfund
@unibirmingham
@serpentineuk
The ‘Hell Bus’ is an exciting interactive art installation by artist Darren Cullen (@SpellingMistakesCostLives) exposing the dirty tactics polluting industries employ to green their public image. Joined by campaign group Adfree Cities and environmental organisation Switch It Green, people of all ages will be welcomed aboard the exhibition to be entertained, educated, and encouraged to get involved.
The bus has already made appearances at COP26, Glastonbury Festival and Boomtown, and featured in comedian Joe Lycett’s Channel 4 documentary ‘Joe Lycett vs The Oil Giant’. It is sure to catch some eyes in Birmingham.
The exhibition’s tour is timely, as public concern surrounding planet-harming activities and fossil fuel expansion is high while greenwashing by large corporations is leaving individuals feeling unsure of the solutions. The ‘Hell Bus’ tells this story in a fun and accessible way, while Adfree Cities and Switch It Green are on hand to provide people with simple, effective ways to take positive action against oil and gas companies like Shell.
YOUTH THEATRE
FREE TASTER SESSION
Saturday 9 Sept 1-4pm The GAP
An exciting opportunity for creative, curious, local young people 12-16 yrs, who love to explore, imagine, tell stories & step into other people’s shoes. This is taster session for regular, weekly youth theatre sessions on Saturday afternoons. From Sept – March we will be exploring the theme ‘The Island’ What’s it all about? What does it mean to live on an island? How does it shape who we are, and who we are not? What does it mean to be “castaway’? And what is it like to be colonised? Islands have a gripping hold on our imaginations, offering conflicting possibilities: a paradise or a prison? refuge or danger? community or complete isolation?
Give it a go…
Don’t worry if you’re not sure this is your thing… Come along and try it out this Saturday and see what you think. You can also find out more about the other exciting plans and amazing opportunities being a member of The GAP Youth Theatre has to offer!
What’s involved?
We will use all kinds of drama techniques to get inside the hearts and minds of islanders, design theatre sets, make amazing masks and learn how to tell stories collectively for an audience through performance.
Who’s leading it?
The GAP has an excellent track record of giving young people meaningful and transformational arts experiences. It has highly experienced staff who are expert at facilitating the development of creativity, critical thinking, a confident sense of self and personal values, through the social practice of making theatre.
What will it cost?
There is NO CHARGE to belong to the GAP Youth Theatre. We just ask that you contribute your commitment. As well as having loads of fun on this project you will also need to be prepared to work hard as a reliable member of the team.
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED
FREE MEMBERSHIP
TRY BEFORE YOU COMMIT
2pm The Old Print Works organised by 0121 Collective CIC
This is an inter generational project that aims to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Windrush generation. To do this we are running free workshops where we will use cyanotypes photo process (blue prints) to share stories, learn and connect with each other. It’s free to join in.
Everyone is welcome and we especially would love to see people from the Windrush communities in Birmingham to come forward and share stories.
Workshop
We have three Saturday sessions coming up June to August which wil take place on Balsall Heath Second Saturday sessions where The Old Print Works and other places nearby hold a monthly creative open day.
The workshop will last two hours and theme of this session is Roots of Love – which explores the Carribean family in Britian. We will mainly look at make cyanotypes using old photographs and used postcards to share stories.
Tianna who is leading the project will tell you about her Nan’s front room who moved to Birmingham in the 1960s from Jamaica. Tracey who is the lead artist on the project will help people to make cyanotypes using lace and dollies on fabric and paper.
Cyanotype is a 19th Century photo process which uses the sun or a UV lamp to make amazing blue images.
We invite people to add work through a cyanotype image to the collaborative tapestry (fabric) that we are making for the project.
It’s free come and all materials provided.
The project is funded by National Lottery Community Fund
Book below
12 – 4pm The Old Print Works
Sundragon Community Pottery will be hosting a FREE soap dish making workshop.
Come and make a simple soap dish.
For an additional cost of £5, you can choose to have your soap dish glazed and fired, to collect at the next Second Saturday, in October, when we shall be hosting a “clay pumpkin lantern“ making workshop.
2pm – 3.30pm The Old Print Works Music workshop with Arianna
we will play, sing, make some noise and have fun.
Just bring yourself – no experience necessary
See you there!
Come and join us to celebrate the opening of Oriental Star Express exhibition in collaboration with @oldprintworksbrum. The celebration includes artist talk by @faishussainism, showing of our film ‘Request Line’, great music by @rizmi_____ , and food. This is a free event and everyone is welcomed. Booking below
Take an existing text such as a page from a book, to create a poem and to create illustrations that complement the words
Link to the tickets here
Lower gallery – The Old Print Works 10 years and over
Lithography printing was an innovative printing technique that made JH Butchers & Co world famous for their transfers. In this workshop, you will learn how to recreate this process (using items found in your own kitchen) and create a design to decorate your own postcards and greeting cards.
Time: 2-3.30pm, Saturday 9th September
If you have an idea for a children’s story and are looking for some friendly support and practical encouragement, grab your pen & paper and join author Kereen Getten and publisher The Emma Press for a creative writing workshop.
“One of the things I love about writing, is creating a world that engulfs the reader, not one they view from afar. In this workshop we will master how to create a story so vivid that the reader feels they are part of the world you created. We will learn about atmospheric writing. Creating stories that take readers on a journey where they smell, touch and feel everything in your story. We will use exercises that will help you develop new ways to make your world and your characters come to life.” – Kereen Getten
Pay what you can/suggested donation £5, please book a space below : maximum 12 participants
NB: This workshop is aimed at adults who are interested in writing children’s literature, it is not for children.
Venue: Second Saturday
About Kereen:
Kereen Getten grew up in Jamaica where she would climb fruit trees in the family garden and eat as much mango, guinep and pear as she could without being caught. She now lives in Birmingham with her family and writes stories about her childhood experiences. Her novels include the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-shortlisted debut When Life Gives You Mangoes (2020), a mystery novel in which the main character Clara struggles to remember what happened to her during an island storm the previous year, If You Read This (2022) revolving around a poignant treasure hunt that Brie’s late mother has set up around her island home, and The Case of the Lighthouse Intruder (2023) the first in the gripping Di Island Crew series, all published by Pushkin Press.
About The Emma Press:
The Emma Press is an independent publisher based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter specialising in poetry, short fiction and children’s books with a mission of making publishing and literature as welcoming and accessible as possible.
September 9th 2023 2 – 5pm Drawing room, The Old Print Works, Courtyard entrance
Balsall Heath Repair Cafe is back again at Balsall Heath Second Saturday. Repairers include woodwork ,brass polishing, general repairs, textiles, knife sharpening, bike repair, scrapstore, mechanical electrics, textiles. Check balsallheathrepaircafe.org for repairers closer to the day
11am until 1pm, Drawing Room, Courtyard Entrance, The Old Print Works
Monthly family carving club, all ages welcome, learn how to use a sharp knife to make beautiful things from wood
Donation/ pay what you feel – drop in
‘We Are Here’ Campaign invites you to put your feet up, have a cuppa, some biscuits and talk to Climate Nan about the challenges that our homes, streets and neighbourhoods are facing.
Climate Nan, as part of the We Are Here Campaign, will be parking her caravan at multiple locations across Ladywood and Balsall Heath between the 11th and 13th August as part of a tour of communities who have invited her to talk about the climate crisis. Residents can visit, share their concerns and discuss what can be done. Climate Nan will be offering a friendly ear to the neighbourhood with a warm invite and welcome into the caravan where you can either write a letter to the PM or local MP and or record a contribution to the podcast that will be recorded throughout the tour.
Other stops of the tour:
Friday 11th August, 10:00 -2:00 PM at the Neighbourhood Supper Club Summer Special hosted by CIVIC SQUARE and neighbours at Midland Sailing Club, Icknield Port Rd, Birmingham B16 0AA
Friday 11th August, 3:00 – 6:00 PM at Birmingham Settlement- Edgbaston Reservoir Nature & Wellbeing Centre, 79 Selwyn Rd, Birmingham B16 0SL
Saturday 12th August, 3:00 – 6:00 PM with Edgbaston Reservoir Collaborative (ERCO) at Midland Sailing Club, Icknield Port Rd, Birmingham B16 0AA
Sunday 13th August, 10:00 – 4:00 PM at The B16 Lunch hosted by CIVIC SQUARE, South Loop Park, B16 0AE
4pm onwards, Upper Gallery, The Old Print Works
A little bit of food, music and drink. Pay as you feel, chilled music, a delicious plant-based meal, good company and craft activities
Pay what you can/free
10am – 4pm The Old Print Works, Lower Gallery
Art and crafts from the people at The Old Print Works community and beyond including pottery, art, jewellery, postcards, crafts, and lots lots more.
11-1 The Old Print Works organised by 0121 Collective CIC
This is an inter generational project that aims to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Windrush generation. To do this we are running free workshops where we will use cyanotypes photo process (blue prints) to share stories, learn and connect with each other. It’s free to join in.
Everyone is welcome and we especially would love to see people from the Windrush communities in Birmingham to come forward and share stories.
Workshop
We have three Saturday sessions coming up June to August which wil take place on Balsall Heath Second Saturday sessions where The Old Print Works and other places nearby hold a monthly creative open day.
The workshop will last two hours and theme of this session is Roots of Love – which explores the Carribean family in Britian. We will mainly look at make cyanotypes using old photographs and used postcards to share stories.
Tianna who is leading the project will tell you about her Nan’s front room who moved to Birmingham in the 1960s from Jamaica. Tracey who is the lead artist on the project will help people to make cyanotypes using lace and dollies on fabric and paper.
Cyanotype is a 19th Century photo process which uses the sun or a UV lamp to make amazing blue images.
We invite people to add work through a cyanotype image to the collaborative tapestry (fabric) that we are making for the project.
It’s free come and all materials provided.
The project is funded by National Lottery Community Fund
Please book via eventbrite link – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/roots-of-love-cyanotype-windrush-75-workshop-tickets-638665213847
18.00 – 21.30, The Old Print Works, free entry
Following on from a writing seminar and poetry workshop on love poems titled: ‘How to Write a Love Jones.’ on Saturday the 8th July there will be a relaxed poetry open mic, with a chance for writers of all abilities, new or seasoned, to share their work and showcase their best love poems at The Old Print Works in Balsall Heath. The open mic ‘An Outpouring of Love (Jones)’ will will lead into a film screening of Love Jones(1997).
An Outpouring of Love open mic and film screening is hosted by Marshea Makosa, who founded Norate & Augustine’s a brand new Midlands based arts and culture platform. She is an earnest Earth Scientist with a love for postcolonial literature and poetry forever and always.
All day, from 11am, 12th August, The Old Print Works
Come along to the launch of the True Form Projects ‘Oriental Star Express’ installation at The Old Print Works. In 1970 Mohammed Ayub founded Oriental Start Agencies in Birmingham. This record store and then label became one of the most influential and important parts of South Asian history and diaspora in the UK and world wide, before the store had to close in 2017. Creating a replica of Oriental Star Agencies at Print Works, will allow you to explore records that defined South Asian Culture and the history of one of the most iconic record stores in Birmingham
Image credit – Ian Reynolds
2pm, The Old Print Works.
Music wellbeing workshop for people of all ages
Everyone welcome – no musical experience required.
11am until 1pm, Drawing Room, Courtyard Entrance, The Old Print Works
Monthly family carving club, all ages welcome, learn how to use a sharp knife to make beautiful things from wood
Donation/ pay what you feel – drop in