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
The Faith Trail as part of Balsall Heath Community Festival has been a great way to celebrate our diverse community. It has been for me an invitation to visit the many different faiths I knew little about, like Sikhism. There was early migration during that time from India. As a Muslim interfaith is important to me and I wanted to share my faith reflection visiting this Gurdwara as part of Balsall Heath Community Festival, there was a group including Anawim who were there for the first time.
Langar, the act of selflessness
We were kindly asked to cover our heads as a sign of respect. The Langar plays a vital role in day to day activity. The principle is simple: Sikhs share their honest earnings to provide free food for everyone, regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed, age, gender or social status.
The Gurdwara opens every Sunday for all and on the Wednesday a women’s group meet there. The women serving were friendly and hospitable, the food was delicious. We had a vegetarian curry with rice pudding as dessert, it was refreshing that the air conditioning was on, especially with the heatwave.
Sikhs regard and respect the Granth (holy book) as their living Guru. Above is the Palki, a domed structure that covers the area that holds the Guru Granth Sahib. This is covered by the Chanani, made from decorated cloth known as the Rumalla.
Sikh History
We were told about the history of Sikhism from its early roots with Gura Nunak, the first Guru. There is selflessness to Sikhism and equality is important. Sitting together is a demonstration, it makes you feel included which I believe is important.
Foundation (c. 1481): Guru Nanak established the first community kitchen to challenge social discrimination. According to Sikh tradition, when his father gave him money to start a profitable business, a young Guru Nanak instead spent it feeding a group of hungry travelers, calling this “the true business”
We were told that Sikhs come from around Birmingham, many having that connection from 1950s, building their first Gurdwara in 1957. A former petrol station, the Gurdwara became a place of worship for the Sikh community. It is the Second oldest Gurdwara in UK and the first one in Birmingham. I really enjoyed my visit and I would encourage residents of Balsall Heath who have never visited but have always been interested to book a tour.
Festivals and the Future
Sharing a meal at Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara as part of the Faith Trail
As someone who has volunteered with Retrofit Balsall Heath, I learnt how Detroit helps insulate homes and reduces bills. I hope to make a connection and perhaps the Gurdwara may benefit with support such as solar panels and air source heat pumps, in this heat it would have generated renewable energy.
For me festivals like this bring people together, it’s a time to celebrate the best of Balsall Heath, for me hearts and minds start with caring, supporting neighbours and respecting one another. Balsall Heath is a diverse community with a rich history, today we make history and long may it continue.
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Over three days (6th to 8th July) over 100 visitors have been warmly welcomed into our local Faith Centres. Stepping out of the sun and into new, cool, brilliant spaces on our doorstep – meeting our neighbours – we were embraced by everyone who opened their doors to the heart of their community. There is nothing that can replace spending time, sharing food, meeting face-to-face to ask questions and find common ground.
Our Visits in Photos
Exploring The Carnival at Balsall heath Church Centre‘…and this is the mausoleum of Imam Hussein’s brother Abbas. He was also killed in the Battle for Karbala’ Al-Abbas Shrine is also in Karbala (Arabic: حَرَم أَبا الْفَضْل الْعَبَّاسOutside Guru Gob Singh Gurdwara, the first Gurdwara in Birmingham and second oldest in the UK.SS John and Martin Balsall Heath Carnival display in the Church Hall‘The model of the new Mosque, which is being built. And as I said that, Goodwilling, it will be ready in 12 to 15 months…The dome which you see here, beneath that is the place of worship and then the first floor would be for the ladies.’Finding yourself and your family in our catalogue of photos from the CarnivalToqueer outside the new Al Abbas Mosque to open soonGuru Gobind Singh Gurdwara‘This is a replica of the Imam Husayn Shrine (Arabic: مَقَام الإِمَامُ الْحُسَيْن اِبِنْ عَلي, The mausoleum of Husayn ibn Ali, located in the holy city of Karbala Iraq.’Main Altar at Birmingham Buddhist CentreThe Garden at Birmingham Buddhist CentreAl Abbas new mosqueSharing Food at Al Abbas MosqueMaking friends at Al Abbas MosqueSharing food at the Gurdwara
Faith in the Future
‘We’re less than ten doors away, and this is the first time we’ve met! We need to be closer and work together for all our sakes.’
At every visit it was clear that we need to keep working together across faiths to meet the challenges of the future. The Faith Trail for many was an introduction, a meeting, breaking bread together. At every visit we came away with plans for the future. We share so much common ground and you couldn’t help be excited to see how quickly first meetings were leading to plans for future sharing and support across Balsall Heath.
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 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.
We are sad to hear that Roy Hattersley died on June 13th 2026. He was MP for Sparkbrook from 1954 to 1997 and an active player in the regeneration of the area. The Heathan newspaper is full of details of his involvement locally. He was a guest of honour at many of our significant events: the opening of Clifton Infants School in 1979, and the opening of both the new Mosque in Clifton Road and Roshven Gardens in 1982, for example.
It was not just big events, however. He came to see for himself how the neighbourhood was faring under the Urban Renewal scheme and gave much support to Dick Atkinson’s efforts to build a better Balsall Heath. For some years he captained a cricket team for matches in Pickwick Park park as part of the year’s Carnival events.
So it is a thank you Roy from Balsall Heath. Rest in Peace.
Roy Hattersley opening Roshven Gardens August 1982Roy Hattersley with Dick reading the HeathanRoy playing Cricket in Balsall Heath 1987A cuppa with Roy 1980Reviewing Housing with Roy Hattersley 1980
Join us for family-friendly events in June and July, leading up to Balsall Heath Community Festival. Come along to share and learn about retrofit, meet others in the neighbourhood and celebrate Balsall Heath past, present and future! All events are free, and everyone is welcome.
Workshops leading up to Festival #BHCFest26!
Home Retrofit Pop-Ups
Come and see our model house and take part in the ‘retrofit street drama’, sharing ways to lower our bills and make our homes and neighbourhoods healthier and happier. Free popcorn or ice lollies, depending on the weather!
Tuesday 23rd June, 11.30am – 1.30pm St Paul’s Venture Badgemaking and colouring
Wednesday 1st July 2.30pm – 4.30pm Spark Green Park, Brunswick Rd with friends of Spark Green Park
Friday 3rd July, 12pm – 2pm Pickwick Park, St Paul’s Rd Storytelling and drama
East/ West Retrofit Walking Procession
A procession through Balsall Heath with ‘retrofit street drama’ performances, banners, flags, drums and more. Join for as much of the procession as you like, or meet us at one of the happenings along the way! Part of Balsall Heath Community Festival.
Sunday 5th July, 11am – 5pm 11am: Meet at Balsall Heath Park 12pm: Set off 11.30am – 2pm: Seven Streets Park – Activities, refreshments, carnival exhibition. Retrofit-themed mini flag and banner-making workshop 2pm: George St Park – Retrofit model house street drama 3.30pm – 5pm: Calthorpe Park – Drumming workshop and refreshments
Find out more
Retrofit Balsall Heath is delighted to be taking part in Balsall Heath Community Festival 2026.
We’re inviting local residents to join us in a walking procession from east to west across Balsall Heath linking green spaces; from Balsall Heath Park to Calthorpe Park, on Sunday 5th July.
The procession will be the first outing for our brand new Retrofit Balsall Heath banner, made by local residents with local artist Jane Thakoordin.
We also invite you to join us in carrying five further banners, celebrating the strength and resilience of Balsall Heath’s vibrant community, which were made by young people in workshops by Jane, in association with The GAP Arts project and Culture Collective.
Join us for one of our ‘retrofit street drama’ performances, and / or for all or part of the Retrofit walking procession.
We will be meeting in Balsall Heath Park from 11am with Extinction Rebellion’s Drummers ‘Brumbeats’, before we set off at 12 noon bearing our banners and flags.
Drop in to a workshop at Seven Streets Park 11.30am – 1.30pm to make your own mini banner or flag to carry!
As we walk, we will be able to spot solar panels on homes that have been retrofitted, see fruit and nut trees planted by Fruit and Nut Village and view historical information display boards recently installed by Balsall Heath Local History Society.
Our route will take us via Seven Streets Park near Balsall Heath City Farm where there will be a History Exhibition of Balsall Heath Carnival. We will then carry on to George Street Park for another pop-up performance of our model house ‘retrofit street drama’.
Finally we will walk down Edward Rd to the square on the corner of Edward Rd/Court Rd by the offices of local community organisation, MECC Trust and where cooked food will be available from Change Kitchen and other local cafes.
Further free family friendly Festival activities including a Brumbeats Beginners Drumming Workshop will continue in Calthorpe Park.
Join us!
In the lead up to the Community Festival and the East/West Retrofit Walking Procession, we are holding pop-up performances of our model house ‘retrofit street drama’ in Spark Green Park and Pickwick Park, in association with local schools and Friends of Spark Green Park, and at St Paul’s Venture, supported by Balsall Heath Family Hub.
These sessions are open to all and will be family friendly, with free activities for children, supervised by their parents or guardians. They are co-hosted by Retrofit Balsall Heath Community Connectors, who speak a range of local languages.
Balsall Heath Community Festival is a week of fun, heritage, and innovation, 3rd – 13th July. For more details about Balsall Heath Community Festival visit the Balsall Heathan website.
Find out more about Retrofit Balsall Heath on our website.
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The billboard, it’s making and the fabulous smorgesborg of FREE events across Balsall Heath from 3rd to 13th July are very much in place because local organisations are determined to pull together, show the Best of the Heath.
Our Community festival begins and ends with Balsall Heathans celebrating Balsall Heath! 3rd July is the 40th Anniversary of Anawim, a celebrated locally based charity now active across Birmingham. With over 60 active Faith Centres in Balsall Heath, anawim are starting a ‘Faith Trail’, exploring and linking faiths across Balsall Heath. More than 20 events later we end our festival on 13th July with Saheli in Calthorpe Park
Draw yourself in
Before the fun even begins, we’re running the legendary colouring competition across Balsall Heath! Anyone is welcome to join – see here for instructions:
Hard at work paintingReady for Retrofit completion – Billboard hitting the streets any day now!Nearly finished!Billboard painting at OPWBalsall Heath Nature lover from Woodcraft FolkHow the board used to look before it’s latest iterationWho lives in a happy forest?
The Museum of Islamic Arts & Heritage (MIAH) Foundation’s latest exhibition, Under the Sultan’s Shadow: How Imperial Identity Shaped Ottoman Life and Culture, examines how the Ottoman Empire consciously built its identity by drawing upon different historic empires, and wider Islamic traditions of the lands it ruled. Through objects, manuscripts, maps, and artwork, visitors can discover how these influences shaped Ottoman society, culture, and public life.
Highlights include a facsimile Qur’an copied by the renowned Ottoman calligrapher Sheikh Hamdullah, maps by the famous explorer Piri Reis, and a sixteenth-century tile from the Dome of the Rock that once adorned al-Masjid al-Aqsa
Based in the gallery space in Moseley Community Hub on Moseley Road (which used to be the Old Moseley School of Art) the exhibition brings together objects from private collections that are being displayed together for the first time. Alongside the exhibition, MIAH is delivering a programme of workshops, talks, and family-friendly activities throughout the summer.
The exhibition is currently scheduled to run over the coming months, with hopes of extending its stay should additional funding be secured.
For those keen to explore the exhibition in greater depth, MIAH is also hosting a series of monthly curator talks. The next session, Ottoman Art, will explore how Ottoman artists drew inspiration from Byzantine architecture, Persian motifs, Chinese porcelain, and Abbasid calligraphy, transforming these influences into a distinctive Ottoman visual language during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
Future talks in the series will cover Ottoman art, architecture, and the later Ottoman period, giving visitors a deeper insight into the exhibition’s themes and the process behind its creation.
Who are the MIAH Foundation and how can you find us? Founded in 2020, the MIAH Foundation works to promote awareness and understanding of Islamic arts, heritage, and culture through exhibitions, education programmes, workshops, and events. Its long-term aim is to establish the UK’s first independent museum dedicated to the arts and heritage of Muslims and the Islamic world.
We are located on Moseley Road in the Moseley Community Hub:
MIAH Foundation Islamic Arts & Heritage Gallery 496 Moseley Rd Balsall Heath Birmingham B12 9AH
Balsall Heath Community Festival starts in just 23 Days! We’ve been finalising events, preparing banners, and will have all out at next Second Saturday, 13th June 2026, The Old Print Works, to put the finishing touches together with everyone.
To reflect the old Carnival preparations, we’ll be painting a giant bill board this Saturday, listing all the fabulous activities, all FREE over the ten days of the festival.
Jane Thakoordin worked with Sewing Solidarity, a collaborative project with GAP Arts a young people focused creative project in Balsall Heath, 2025. Working over several sessions, a diverse group of young people engaged in discussions about their relationship to local community. Drawing on the traditions of union banner making, they co-designed a series of small hangings and a larger banner.
The banners are exhibited permanently at GAP Arts and the larger banner is available for local organisations and groups to borrow for community events, as it will be for #BHCFest26 The phrase “Strength in our Community” was written by a young participant of the Sewing Solidarity project.
2016 CarnivalJayne Thakoordin’s Banner for Balsall HeathColouring competition 2010Retrofit Model House in action in The Old Print Works Cafe 2026Fun at the Carnival 19951977 Float and banners2004 dressing up fun2016 costumes2004 Carnival Banner
Balsall Heath has seen many changes over the decades, reflecting it’s rich and every changing culture. Ten interpretation panels will be installed ready for Balsall Heath Community Festival, linked to the fabulous images of Mick Turner as well as archive images and present day photography. The Tramworks is a Listed building of historical significance. A truly grand tramwork purpose built and specially designed to be in keeping with the ‘select residential area’ around it.
Climber and Manager Joe outside Creation Climbing Centre, next to the history panel.
Jago, a regular climber finds out about Trams in Brum
Jago, a regular climber at Creation Climbing Centre said:
‘It’s really cool that these buildings aren’t demolished or lost.’
Reflections of the Carnival
The history panels will be ready for Balsall Heath Community Festival, 3rd to 13th July #BHCFest26. Balsall Heath Local History Society (BHLHS) have been selecting Archive images, talking to residents, businesses and local organisations to reflect our history in the panels. For more of the images and stories we are linking via QR code on our panels to ‘In Changing Times‘ resources. We will be building on these to keep our history alive and updated as Balsall Heath changes.
BHLHS are also preparing a touring ‘Balsall Heath Carnival Exhibition’ to run alongside many of the events happening as part of the Festival. The Carnival used to be on the first weekend of July, and while nothing can replace it, the Festival is one way we are hoping to continue celebrating our community and building pride in it.
The work, activism, and lasting influence of photographer Rhonda Wilson are being brought back into the light in a brand-new exhibition, Seeing Rhonda, making its debut alongside the official launch of the Rhonda Wilson Community Archive at The Old Print Works.
Spanning more than three decades of work from the 1980s to the 2010s, this project is a tribute to a woman who changed the cultural landscape of our city.
Photographer and Activist
She was a photographer, journalist, educator, cultural entrepreneur and activist, championing Birmingham women and social change through her photography, tackling issues like low pay, homelessness, and women’s representation.
Photographs, letters, posters and publications sit alongside personal notes, sketches and overlooked ephemera, revealing how she worked, collaborated and built opportunities for others.
“It is very fitting to have Rhonda’s archive in Balsall Heath where, in 1989, she set up the Poseurs Studio and Gallery with fellow photographer Ming de Nasty. The process of uncovering letters of thanks, rolls of her photographs and her personal notes is both exciting and profoundly moving.” Dr Annette Naudin
From co-founding Poseurs Studio and Gallery in the late 1980s to developing influential initiatives such as Seeing the Light (founded 1995) and Rhubarb-Rhubarb (founded 1999). Personal letters included in the archive offer a powerful insight into Wilson’s impact, documenting how her support shaped careers and opened doors for emerging photographers. The archive and exhibition bring into focus the contributions of women too often absent from formal collections, and reframing Birmingham’s cultural history through their work.
“We are delighted to host the Rhonda Wilson Community Archive here at The Old Print Works and to have the opportunity to shine a light on this important part of the city’s cultural history. Rhonda’s influence and impact on photographers and creatives is evident and we look forward to developing the archive further.” Hannah Greenwood & Rebecca Tura, Interim Co-CEOs, The Old Print Works
Archive material, Rhonda Wilson community archive. Image courtesy The Old Print Works.
“She thrived on creativity, she based her world upon it…One of the last things she said to me recently was ‘If an image can hold you for a second, then take you on a journey somewhere secret, peaceful or magical or tell a story to the viewer, it’s a true reflection of the person that made it’. To the very end she talked about light.” John McQueen
Plan Your Visit
The exhibition is free (though donations to support the archive are very welcome!).
