Rediscovering your Heathan
Saturday, 11th April we officially relaunched The Heathan online and a monthly e-newsletter – subscribe now!
Balsall Heath Local History Society and the Museum of Islamic Arts and Heritage (MIAH) bring this iconic community zine back to life, supported by St.Paul’s Trust, our Believe in Balsall Heath partner organisations and an alliance of people and organisations across Balsall Heath.
From Cow Gum to Clicks
The relaunch event, held during Second Saturday, was a perfect place to bridge between our past and our future. We gathered at the Mix Café inside The Old Print Works, surrounded by archive editions of The Heathan with fab food and refreshments from Change Kitchen.
For those used to modern layout software, the exhibition was a revelation – We showcased how the original zine was painstakingly assembled using typewriters, ‘cow gum’ and a massive amount of patience. While the technology has changed, the mission remains the same: for Balsall Heath and Balsall Heathans.
Second Saturday sees our return
We spent the day sharing memories, and chatting about what the future of Balsall Heath looks like. We will be at every Second Saturday to meet up, chat and keep grounded in Balsall Heath.
Take a look at our gallery below to see some of the faces we met on the day!
Thanks Photographer Richard Albutt
What’s next?
Whether you want to share a story, promote a local project, or just stay updated on what’s happening, we want to hear from you. If you’re interested in journalism, editing or helping in any way please get in contact with us.
‘I came here because of the Heathan’
Judith explains ‘Well, I was living in Moseley, you know, rented Housing Association Flat. At the time I couldn’t consider buying a property. I couldn’t afford to anywhere in Moseley, but what was available in those days in the newsagents, was the Heathan, which for 20p I could afford, and I’ve just found the article, [Issue 103 Dec 1987]…Seven Streets Success, which…that was what made me consider Balsall Heath.’