Work proceeds on the Baths and Balsall Heath Library. In the library, the structure of the new mezzanine floor, and the lift giving access to it, are nearing completion. In the baths, striking progress has been made in the slipper baths on the Moseley Road frontage. The arched cast iron beams have been painted the same green as those in the Gala Pool. This was researched some years ago when the Gals Pool roof was renewed, with paint scrapings being taken to establish the original colour used in 1907.
Slipper Baths in new light
Most striking is the return of the stained glass windows to the slipper baths. These have been repaired and cleaned by a specialist in the Jewellery Quarter. You need to be inside to appreciate these changes. There is an opportunity when public tours of the two buildings happen as part of |Birmingham Heritage Week. The tours happen on September 11th and 18th, and if there is still room you can sign up for these on the Birmingham Heritage Week website.
This September, experience Balsall Heath in Birmingham Heritage Week through a multi-venue touring FREE exhibition, ‘In Changing Times‘ by Balsall Heath Local History Society. Featuring the photographic archive of Mick Turner, community oral histories, poetry, art, and history trails exploring Balsall Heath through the eyes of those who live it.
Balsall Heath’s story is one of dramatic transformation and social change. Within living memory, we’ve seen bomb sites used as playgrounds well into the 1970s, mass demolition and redevelopment, and the arrival of different communities that reshaped our streets.
Touring Exhibition & Venue Highlights
Six local hubs across Balsall Heath will host unique events, workshops, guided trails, and activities:
SS. John & Martin Catholic Church. Guided heritage tour exploring the building’s architectural and community legacy.
The Old Print Works & Creation Climbing Centre. Pop-up archival displays, film and art.
St. Paul’s Venture, special event (September 20th). An intimate afternoon with acclaimed poet Liz Berry, featuring poetry readings, film screenings, and shared local memories.
Local artist Muhmood Tahir, inspired by archive images and Mick Turner’s photography painted his Balsall Heath. Meet the artist, sketch and paint alongside him – bring your contemporary visual perspective on our Balsall Heath – all free, including materials, date to be confirmed.
Mick Turner Archive of photographic images is a vast collection of images, thousands of which were published in the Balsall Heathan from 1960 to 1990. We used these images as a starting point to understand Balsall Heath through the eyes of people who have lived there.
Charles and Diana marry at Balsall Heath CarnivalPhotographer Mick TurnerDick Atkinson and Roy Hatersley in Balsall HeathHousing ClearanceThe Old Tramworks, now Creation Climbing CentreMuhmood Tahir and his artwork inspired by Mick Turner imagesMoseley Road Baths in 1907Folk Singer at Balsall Carnival
From the streets of 1960s Balsall Heath to decades of dedicated community service, Zhor Malik’s story is woven into the history of Calthorpe Park and Balsall Heath. A former Royal Mail union representative, long-time community advocate, and former local councillor, Zhor sat down with Marcus and Val for Changing Times to look back at Balsall Heath and where it’s heading next.
Deep Roots in Balsall Heath
Born in Derby, Zhor moved to Balsall Heath with his parents. Since then, the area has been home to three generations of his family.
“I went to Percy Shurmer School. My sons and daughter went to Percy Shurmer, and now my grandkids have been going to Percy Shurmer… I’ve lived around this area since 1966.”
Zhor remembers the major clearances and redevelopment of the mid 1970s when old terraces along Princess Road, Balsall Heath Road, and Varna Road were demolished to make way for new housing. His family moved to Edward Road around 1976, where he still lives today.
Playgrounds, Parks, and Community Space
For Zhor, growing up in 1970s Balsall Heath:
“So I can tell you when I those times, they were brilliant times …it was the times when our mothers used to leave the back doors open. We hardly used the front door, we used to go down the back, and we had visitors and we used to go to people there and we didn’t even think or were afraid of people stealing or anything. The best days I remember growing up were in the summer. uh the six seven weeks of summer we used to spend playing in Calthorpe Park.”
After working 27 years with Royal Mail he brought his passion for public service directly to Calthorpe, joining Birmingham City Council. He became the first manager of the Calthorpe Park Pavilion.
During his time there he established football pitches and a cricket pitch inside Calthorpe Park, installed cricket practice nets in partnership with Edgbaston Cricket Groundskeepers., converted disused tennis courts into the game area there now, and worked tirelessly alongside community champions like Foster Derby at the local Play Centre to provide after-school and holiday schemes.
Taking Back the Streets
During the late 1980s and 1990s, he took an active role in the famous community-led movement to clear street prostitution and pimping from the area. Spurred into action by community elders and local figures like Dick Atkinson of the St. Paul’s Trust, residents organised street corner patrols to reclaim their streets.
“The community came together… It was all the residents. Taxi drivers helped us before mobile phones existed, using their radio systems to call for backup if there was trouble. It took us nearly two years, but we took our streets back.”
A Vision for the Future
Zhor remains determined as ever to advocate for Balsall Heath. He was teh first Balsall Heath West Ward Councillor in 2018. Reflecting on changes to ward boundaries, local media, and local politics, his core priority remains simple: transparent, open facilities for everyone.
“I don’t care who gets the credit, as long as we achieve what we want for the betterment of Balsall Heath.”
Balsall Heath is galvanised to pick litter every month on the first Sunday. Al Abbas Islamic Centre, CUUK, Friends of Seven Streets Park and many other local partners are all out on the streets supporting each other and cleaning up. We’ll be litter picking and doing other park maintenance tasks in the little park on the other side of the railway bridge. Come and say hi if you’re heading up Clifton Road. There is tea/coffee/squash and biscuits!
Cleaning together
The initiative to clean up Balsall Heath, supported by Local Councillors Duncan Ali and Jamil Khan, brings together communities and local activitists, some of which who have worked for decades to make a difference.
‘We hope by working together we can get on top of our litter problem and change attitudes to how we care for Balsall Heath.’
The Environmental Leadership Programme (ELP2), a free nine months course for ages 18-25, opens for applications: Its to build leadership skills, create local nature projects, and explore green careers. Wildlife Trusts particularly encourage applications from people in the Balsall Heath area:
Run by The Wildlife Trusts and Shropshire Wildlife Trust, it helps young people build green skills, connect with nature, and launch community projects locally.
The Environmental Leadership Programme is a FREE programme for 18–25-year-olds based in the West Midlands. Running from October-July, it consists of both online and in person sessions. The aim is to increase your connection to nature and provide the development of important environmental leadership skills.
Build your skills
Throughout the programme, sessions are designed to enable you to build the skills and knowledge you need to understand green leadership and what a future career in the green sector might look like.
There is no cost to take part, and our dedicated team are on hand to ensure you are fully supported to get the most out of your experience, including a pre-programme check in to make sure you have everything you need and answer any questions. Financial support with travel to the in-person sessions is always available!
Hear first hand from guests and speakers with experiences in the sector. There are opportunities to network with experienced professionals as well as meeting and sharing experiences with each other.
The programme is hybrid and flexible in nature. Play back recorded sessions and connect in-person at our events.
How to apply
Applications are now OPEN for the Environmental Leadership Programme 26/27! Please contact el**@************ts.org with any questions.
1 August 2026 marks the second anniversary of the declaration of Birmingham’s Road Safety Emergency. Better Streets for Birmingham will mark this anniversary and ask the new councillors who represent us to increase their efforts to reduce road harm on Friday 4th September at 5pm outside the Council House. Contact Better Streets to join this or to help with the organisation.
Four year old Mayar Yahia tragically passed away on the evening of Sunday, April 14, 2024 next to New Hope Park, Upper Highgate Street. Plans to pedestrianise the road where Mayar was killed were shelved in May. The father of Mayar, who was hit with her mother and her friend by a speeding, reckless driver, has spoken out in sadness after Birmingham City Council ‘broke a promise’ to create a pedestrian zone in her memory, providing safer streets near where she died.
City of Cars
City of Cars will be screened at Birmingham Council House before the Full Council meeting on 15 September, telling the story of the tragic death of Mayar Yahia and the immeasurable loss experienced by her family. The film was made to challenge the political and societal apathy around dangerous driving in Birmingham and to highlight the threat this poses in the city.
Better Streets say plans to pedestrianise a part of Upper Highgate Street were apparently delayed because:
‘A series of ‘errors’ had been made that meant local opinions were outweighed by objections from people out of the area.’
As filmmaker Sarah explains:
“I made this film because I was so concerned about what I was witnessing on Birmingham’s roads every day. In the film I speak to people who have lost loved ones in road traffic collisions and follow the campaigning activities of Better Streets for Birmingham.”
6pm to 8pm general meetup – Monday 10 August 2026, 6pm The Warehouse, Alison Street
Monthly meetup for city-wide Better Streets.
Circle the City – Friday 7th August
A group ride around Birmingham leaving from Hippodrome Square, B5 4BN at 6pm. Meet people, learn new cycle routes and enjoy the fun and freedom of cycling safely in the city. All ages and all abilities are welcome. The more the merrier!
Sadly the Festival is over for 2026, but the good news is we are already making plans for 2027, the fiftieth anniversary of Balsall Heath Carnival!
We had over 1600 participating in over 20 events and 40 workshops over the 10 days of Festival. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of what’s been happening (there’s too much to put in a single blog so apologies to events not mentioned!
Colouring Competition
‘I won an orange skipping rope!’ Miss Choudhury, a former winner
The colouring competition was well received and remembered – there were several occasions where I met proud former winners. Thanks to the many people who volunteered to support this, visiting local schools and organisations as well as walking streets to judge the entries.
Colouring poster from 2011
Colouring Competition winner at Clifton Primary School
Historic Interpretation Panels
‘These are great – it’s about our history, all of it, for everyone’
A comment and conversation with a BCC street cleaner captures the heart of the Historic Interpretation Panels project as well as helping with the installation, cleaning all around a corner of a Ladypool Road Car Park opposite the Congregational Church. Two local shops have offered to help maintain the space around this panel. Funded by Believe in Balsall Heath and led by BHLHS, what started as an idea for five heritage boards expanded into nine due to overwhelming local support. The collaborative approach to displaying our history built a real sense of local ownership and has been celebrated as part of a history trail in the build up, and during #BHCFest26. After the festival passersby can still stop and see our heritage, and many are diving deeper into Balsall Heath’s rich story by scanning the QR codes, sparking conversations both on the street and in The Heathan.
Fireman Louis reads about the history of Balsall Heath
Jago, a regular climber finds out about the Tramworks for the first time 2026
Festival events
‘We have to do [The Festival] next year’
With so many events over 10 days indoors and outside, all over Balsall Heath, it is impossible to single out any, so here is a photo gallery covering some!
Touring Moseley Road BathsJoe Holyoak explains plans for Moseley Road BathsLearning about growing at Reaside Forest GardenHot work keeping plants cool, music and gardening with Fruit and Nut VillageSharing a meal at Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara as part of the Faith TrailExploring The Carnival at Balsall heath Church CentreFinding yourself and your family in our catalogue of photos from the Carnival at Ss.John and Martin ChurchSharing Food at Al Abbas Mosque as part of the Faith TrailThe Garden at Birmingham Buddhist Centre, part of the Faith TrailCrowds at Retrofit Balsall Heath Drama Pickwick Park, with Retrofit Balsall Heath at the start of #BHCFest26!Ceremonial planting of a fig tree at Anawim’s 40th anniversary celebrationEast West Festival Procession, 5th July with Retrofit Balsall HeathFiremen Louis reads about the history of Balsall HeathStart of the ProcessionWoodcraft workshop in Seven Streets Park with Fo7SP
Working together
‘We were really happy with the event. We are a very small volunteer group and we were too busy to get on with all our usual work! The attendance was good and much boosted by the involvement of our local partner organisations. It was lovely to share our lovely little pocket park with people that may have never been there before’ Friends of Seven Street Park
Much thanks to Together St.Paul’s who funded the Festival. Also thanks to all the partner organisations who contributed time, organised and ran all events, and all the volunteers without whom the festival would not have happened.
From colourful windows and rich local history to lively events in our green spaces, this year proved what makes Balsall Heath truly special: our people. A massive thank you to everyone who showed up, volunteered, and brought the energy. Here’s to the connections made, the stories shared, and a festival season we won’t forget anytime soon. See you all next year!
A community grows when you give it a little space, some shade, and some love. July 8th, Reaside Forest Garden, one of many Fruit and Nut Villages in Balsall Heath, welcomed visitors to the site. With the summer sun beaming down, we spent a very pleasant morning gathered under the cool, welcoming shade of the big poplar tree right in the middle of the garden. Another beautiful day of growth, connection, and celebration, part of Balsall Heath Community Festival #BHCFest26!
We were joined by Friends of the Earth! They spent the morning filming and interviewing our visitors, volunteers and partners about the Postcode Gardener Project, which they have funded right here in Balsall Heath. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the hard work happening on the ground.
We also gave out a dozen grape vines! Lovingly propagated from the original vine at Apna Ghar.After a productive morning, our friends at Apna Ghar hosted 17 of us for a spectacular, delicious meal. Gathering around the table provided a much-needed moment to rest, catch up, and swap stories with both familiar faces and new friends.
“A community garden is about growing relationships.”
Shade and chat iunder the treesLearning about growingHot work keeping plants cool
Live music among the trees!
The week isn’t over yet, and we have the perfect way for you to unwind.
After such a fantastic weekend, the next three days promise to be equally wonderful as Balsall Heath Community Festival brings together so many more people to celebrate Balsall Heath! A quick summary, flyers below, offering joy and fun in gardens, exhibitions and in our fabulous Faith Centres across Balsall Heath from 6th to 8th July!
Community Festival so far in pictures
Day 1 – Anawim is 40
We started our Festival with a party at Anawim, a visit to the Fire Station and drama at Pickwick Park!
Crowds at Retrofit Balsall Heath Drama Pickwick Park, the start of #BHCFest26!Firemen Louis reads about the history of Balsall HeathAll ready for guests at Anawim’s 40thBell is rung every day to ‘Call to Muster’ at the New Fire Station – hope to see the fire engine at an event later this fetsival!New Fruit and Nut Village Garden at AnawimJoy ceremonially planting the fig tree with Fruit and Nut VillageWatering in the new fig treeAward Ceremony, singing, poetry and tree planting with Fruit and Nut Village at Anawim.
Day 2 – History on the Lane
We talked to shop owners, passers by and local organisations like Friends of Balsall Heath Park as the next history interpretation panels were installed bu Balsall Heath Local History Society. Find out more on our history trail across Balsall Heath.
‘Our history is important, all of it.’
Shops and so much more, down ‘The Lane’BCC street cleaner loves us celebrating our history, cleaned all around our new sign.Entrance to Balsall Heath ParkAnawim staff with the new heritage panel outside their HQBy Balsall Heath Park, so much historyInstalled outside Anawim before their 40th Celebration
Day 3 – East West Procession and more!
Litterpicking at Balsall Heath Park to start our procession, with Peter, creator of the Retrofit Balsall Heath mobile model home.Last read through of the script for the Three little pigs playLitter managed!Start of the ProcessionAli guides a young wood carverArt and Crafts at Seven Street ParkCarnival Exhibition in Seven Street ParkParty begins at Seven Streets ParkBanners on display in the parkTrying on a new necklaceMore woodcraft in the ParkMore woodcraftFlag makingDrumming to George Street ParkChilling in Calthorpe ParkA short stop for Change Kitchen delicious foodTea and cake breakThe mobile model Retrofit Balsall Heath House on the move!Drumming workshop starts A grand evening in Calthorpe ParkCarrying the banner3 Little Pigs Retrofit Balsall Heath drama at George Street Park
Celebrate the creativity, diversity and community spirit of Balsall Heath with a joyful walking procession from Balsall Heath Park to Calthorpe Park on Sunday 5 July as part of Balsall Heath Community Festival.
Expect colourful banners, Brumbeats drummers, pop-up street theatre, family activities and plenty of carnival atmosphere as we walk together across the neighbourhood, celebrating local pride, greener homes, vibrant parks and the people who make Balsall Heath such a special place. Walk the whole route or join us wherever you can. Make your own mini banner, enjoy performances, meet neighbours old and new, and help launch Retrofit Balsall Heath’s new community banner.
Everyone is welcome—bring your friends, your family and your carnival spirit!
Event details
11.00am: Meet at Balsall Heath Park
11.30am–1.30pm: Free mini flag and banner-making workshop at Seven Streets Park(activities, refreshments and carnival exhibition until 2.00pm)
12.00pm: Procession sets off
2.00pm: Retrofit street drama at George Street Park
3.30pm–5.00pm: Drumming workshop and refreshments at Calthorpe Park
Join us for the whole procession or simply drop in along the route—everyone is welcome!
Sorry Hot weather means we’ve had to POSTPONE new date to be announced soon -an intimate event dedicated to the living history, stories and memories of Balsall Heath.
A live performance by Liz Berry, award winning poet, of her new poem
An interveiw with Liz Berry
A showing of film clips of Balsall heath from the 1960s to 1980s assembled by The Media Archive of Central England
Display of Balsall Heath Carnival from 1977 onwards
Liz’s work has been described by The Guardian as a “sooty soaring hymn to her native West Midlands.” An award-winning poet and author of the critically acclaimed collections Black Country (Chatto, 2014); The Republic of Motherhood (Chatto, 2018); The Dereliction (Hercules Editions, 2021) a collaboration with artist Tom Hicks; and most recently The Home Child (Chatto, 2023), a novel in verse.
Liz shares a deep, personal connection with Balsall Heath. Published in May 2026 and featured in the Times Literary Supplement, her new poem “Psalm” is a deeply evocative, secular hymn that celebrates community, resilience, and womanhood. True to her remarkable ability to transfigure working-class landscapes into something sacred, “Psalm” anchors itself right here in Balsall Heath.
Following the reading, Liz will join us for a brief interview to discuss the inspiration behind the poem and her lifelong project of mapping the emotional geography of the West Midlands.
Film Clips & Archives: An Earlier Balsall Heath
Step back in time with us as we screen a selection of rare film clips capturing Balsall Heath from decades past. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see how our streets used to look, spot familiar corners, compare and contract Balsall Heath past and present.
Balsall Heath Carnival
Do you remember the floats, the music, and the crowds of the classic Balsall Heath Carnivals? We will have special archive displays set up around the hall dedicated to the history of the Carnival. Come browse the photographs, share your own memories, and celebrate the enduring joy of our community coming together.
Event Details:
What: Memories of Balsall Heath (A Balsall Heath Community Festival Special Event)
When:POSTPONED to be announced soon
Where: St. Paul’s Venture Hall, Balsall Heath
Featuring: A live reading and interview with Liz Berry, local heritage film screenings, and historical Carnival displays.
Whether you have lived in Balsall Heath your entire life or are new to the area, this evening is a celebration of your history. Let’s celebrate the extraordinary story of the place we call home.
As we prepare to celebrate Anawim’s 40th anniversary, Believe in Balsall Heath are thrilled to share a dedicated History Panel installed right outside Anawim entrance on Mary Street. Celebrating the rich heritage of Mary Street and George Street, the panel stands as a proud reminder of Balsall Heath’s heritage.
Anawim anniversary celebrations on July 3rd also serves as the official kickoff for the Balsall Heath Community Festival (#BHCFest26)! This fantastic festival will bring ten days of joy, culture, and connection to our neighborhood.
From “Britain’s Busiest Cul-de-Sac” to a Sanctuary for Women
Anawim began with two pioneering nuns, Sister Magdalene Matthews and Sister Maisie Nevin in 1986. Moving into a terraced house on Mary Street, they stepped directly into the heart of what was then a notorious red-light district, at the time described as “Britain’s busiest cul-de-sac.”
The Sisters saw women in need of safety, dignity, and care. Forty years later and that single terraced house has evolved into a lifeline. Today, Anawim sits proudly on the historic site of the former St John’s School, which educated local children from 1911 to 1980. While the buildings have changed, the core mission has never wavered: helping women from all backgrounds and communities in and around Birmingham get the support, respect, and opportunities they truly deserve.
“We are so proud of our history.” Joy, Anawim CEO
Come Take a Look!
The next time you walk past Anawim’s entrance on Mary Street, please take a moment to stop and explore the new history panel, linked to our ever expanding history trail of Balsall Heath. Trails are at the heart of 2026 celebrations in Balsall Heath and a wonderful way to experience our streets. The Balsall Heath Local History Society has been deep in the archives, uncovering fascinating stories of Balsall Heathans and Balsall Heath. Working with local partners, we have produced a series of historical interpretation panels that have been installed across Balsall Heath in 2026.
Are you celebrating with us at #BHCFest26? Drop a comment below, share your favorite memories of Balsall Heath, or tag us in your festival photos!
As part of this year’s Balsall Heath Festival, the Museum of Islamic Arts & Heritage (MIAH) is inviting local residents to help create a one-of-a-kind illuminated map celebrating the people, places, and stories that make Balsall Heath special.
Inspired by the rich artistic traditions of the Ottoman Empire, the collaborative artwork will combine traditional Islamic art forms – including geometric patterns, illumination, biomorphic designs, and decorative drawing – to create a beautiful, community-led map of the neighbourhood.
The project is open to everyone, regardless of age or artistic experience. Whether visitors have five minutes or an hour to spare, they are welcome to drop in and contribute in a way that suits them. Participants will be invited to identify places in Balsall Heath that hold personal meaning, sharing memories and local landmarks while helping to build a collective artwork that reflects the area’s rich heritage and diverse communities.
Once completed, the map will become a lasting celebration of Balsall Heath and will help inspire a future heritage trail highlighting the neighbourhood’s history, culture, and community stories. The artwork will also be displayed at MIAH as part of its ongoing gallery programme.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore Under the Sultan’s Shadow, MIAH’s current exhibition, which examines the artistic and cultural world of the Ottoman Empire through objects, stories, and visual traditions.
The workshop is free to attend, with no previous artistic experience required. Everyone is welcome to take part and leave their mark on a collaborative artwork celebrating one of Birmingham’s most vibrant communities.
It’s officially colouring competition judging time for Balsall Heath Community Festival, ready for festival start on Friday! We’ve been judging entries in windows as well as visiting local schools like Clifton Primary. To help us handle the tough job of picking the winners, we teamed up with Miss Choudhury – who happened to be a legendary two-time past winner of the competition herself.
She met us with Mr Lamprey, who has helped organise many previous Balsall Heath Carnivals, where the Colouring Competition was always a highlight. Narrowing it down was no easy feat as there are hundreds of incredible entries, but after much deliberation, we officially selected a winner, two runners-up, and four “Highly Commended” artists.
‘I won an orange skipping rope!’
Miss Choudhury explains how excited she was in 2005, and how well loved the skipping rope was. The next year judging was done from the street view, and if there were lots of artworks in the window the judges couldn’t tell whose artwork was whose – meaning Miss Choudhury and all of her siblings walked away with chocolate prizes.
Colouring poster from 2011Colouring competition from 1981Entries from 2013
We can’t wait to return to Clifton Primary School soon to hand out this year’s prizes. In the meantime, we are encouraging all pupils to proudly display their artwork in School and in their front windows. Let’s get the whole neighborhood colourful and promote our fabulous, upcoming ten-day Balsall Heath Community Festival! #BHCFest26
The first day of the festival is this Friday, and there will be an event at Pickwick Park organised by Retrofit Balsall Heath with Storytelling and Drama. If you see a fire engine on the Park, don’t worry – our friendly Fire Service have offered to support our Community Festival too!
Balsall Heath Local History Society bring the Carnival back to life in a touring exhibition, ready for Balsall Heath Community Festival! #BHCFest26. The Festival runs from 3rd to 13th July and the FREE Touring Carnival Exhibition will be at many of the venues across Balsall Heath.
A Symbol of Hope
‘The Carnival was never just a Carnival. It was a symbol of hope, an agent for change and a showcase for our rich cultural diversity. It is part of our heritage and our community identity.’
When it started in 1977, the procession wound through streets which were still pockmarked with bomb sites and derelict housing. The area was only just beginning to recover from damage inflicted over thirty years previously in the Second World War. The City Council had cleared a huge swathe of older housing but the neighbourhood as a whole was in an appalling condition: poor housing; high unemployment; dreadful health statistics.
However, it was rich with the biggest asset of all – residents who were committed to rebuilding the community. Hundreds of people created the Carnival and thousands of people took part in it. The success for nearly fifty years reflects our achievement in becoming the thriving Balsall Heath of today.
Balsall Heath Community Festival is not the same as the old Carnival but it has risen from its ashes. But the Festival is again a symbol of hope as all parts of the community have come together to celebrate and to reaffirm our identity as diverse, creative and enterprising.
Balsall Heath for Balsall Heathans
For nearly five decades the Balsall Heath Carnival has been the beating heart of our community – a glorious celebration of diversity, creativity, working together to celebrate our community. Balsall Heath Local History Society volunteers have been looking through the archives – literally thousands of photos and films, artwork and crafty creations, seeing the carnival through the people who have lived it. From the legendary floats of the 1970s and 80s to all the music, dance and glitter of more recent carnivals.
Expect fabulous and fantastic costumes, unusual sporting competitions, artwork extraordinaire and the moving, funny and proud stories of the people who have made it happen year after year.
Whether you’ve marched in the processions, cheered from the pavements or entirely new to the Carnival, this exhibition is a love letter to the resilience, unity and a bit of craziness that is Balsall Heath.
Get involved
There’ll be activities for young and old, reliving activities from the Carnival and Fair of the past, as well as opportunities to find yourself in the photos and document your own stories of the carnival.
