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Celebrating Balsall Heath – Festival faces, figures and fun

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 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 Trams for the first time 2026 — 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!

Joe Holyoak explains plans for Moseley Road Baths — Touring Moseley Road Baths

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!

Balsall Heath Community Festival 2026 Schedule – so much more happened – see Balsall Heath Community Festival 2026 page

My Faith Reflection – visit to Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara

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.

Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara — 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.

Please support the Balsall Heathan by subscribing and visit my own blog.

www.greenfaithadventurer.com
www.footstepsbcf.org.uk

The Sights and Sounds of Reaside Forest Garden

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!

And tonight (Friday 10th July) we’re back to enjoy Forest Sound Garden!

Food and Vine Sharing

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.”

Learning about growing — Shade and chat iunder the trees

Live music among the trees!

The week isn’t over yet, and we have the perfect way for you to unwind.

After the heat of the day breaks tomorrow evening, why not join us back in the garden? We are hosting a magical evening of live music right among the trees.

When: Friday 10th July 7 – 9pm
Who: Featuring the incredible talents of local singer-songwriters Alicia Achar, Lyndon Tyler and Emily Churchill.

Bring a friend, enjoy the cooler evening air, and let the music wash over you in our favorite green space. We can’t wait to see you there!

Faith in the Future in Balsall Heath

With over 60 different Faith Centres across Balsall Heath, and many more either demolished or changed purpose, there are lots of places to visit. For Balsall Heath Community Festival Faith Trail, #BHCFest26, we were welcomed into Al Abbas Islamic Centre, Balsall Heath Church Centre, Birmingham Buddhist Centre, Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara Ss John and Martin Catholic Church.

Faith Trail 2026

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

The Imam Husayn Shrine (Arabic: مَقَام الإِمَامُ الْحُسَيْن اِبِنْ عَلي, romanized: Maqām al-ʾImām al-Ḥusayn ʾibn ʿAlī) is the mausoleum of Husayn ibn Ali, located in the holy city of Karbala, in the Karbala Governorate of Iraq. — Exploring The Carnival at Balsall heath Church Centre

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.

Mapping our Community

Home 3

Opened in 1980. Balsall Heath Community Church is a community venue and home to St Paul’s Church, the Church of Christ, as well as providing a day centre for the elderly together with some sheltered accommodation.

First Weekend of #BHCFest26 – so much more to come!

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 Heath

Award 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' — Shops and so much more, down ‘The Lane’

BCC Street Cleaner loves us Celebrating our history, cleaned all around our new sign. — Shops and so much more, down ‘The Lane’

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 play — Litterpicking at Balsall Heath Park to start our procession, with Peter, creator of the Retrofit Balsall Heath mobile model home.

Event details to come

Balsall Heath Community Festival 3rd to 13th July – find out more

Faith Trail at The Buddhist Centre

Faith Trail at St.John and St.Martin

Faith Trail at Al Abbas

Faith Trail at Balsall Heath Church Centre

Faith Trail at Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara

Forest Sound Garden

Join the East West Retrofit BH Walking Procession!

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!

Retrofit Balsalall Heath East West Procession flyer

Memories of Balsall Heath with Liz Berry

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

A Live Reading & Interview with Poet Liz Berry

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the award-winning West Midlands poet Liz Berry for a live reading of her stunning new poem, “Psalm”, and interview with Val Hart.

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.

Anawim Turns 40 as the Balsall Heath Community Festival Begins!

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!

Goodbye to Trams, Hello Festival!

Reclaiming Urban Spaces in Calthorpe Park

Community Invited to Create a Unique Artistic Map of Balsall Heath

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.

Judging Day at Clifton Primary in lead up to #BHCFest

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.

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!

Relive the Carnival in Balsall Heath

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.’

Val Hart, Balsall Heath Local History Society

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.

Exhibition details

Little Sprouts arrive for Balsall Heath Summer

Birmingham Open Space Forum (BOSF) offer new FREE pilot nature sessions with Parents and Toddlers across Balsall Heath. BOSF are already working in partnership with Saheli Hub and Fruit and Nut Village on Calthorpe Park with people of all ages, are now looking to work with more parents and toddlers to start new nature sessions in different locations locally.

What are little Sprouts

Their ‘Little Sprouts’ outdoor activity workshops are FREE nature activity sessions for children under 5yrs and their adult!

Activities may include:

Finding out what willdlife lives there
Learning about nature
Nature crafts
Planting/making bug homes etc
Stories
‘Forest School’ activities

…. just generally enjoying being outside!! Places are limited and booking is essential.

Book NOW!

Contact Abi for more information: ab*@******rg.uk, 07985627426

Free ‘Little Sprouts’ Nature Sessions Wednesday

Free ‘Little Sprouts’ Nature Sessions Friday

Helping Little Sprouts Grow

Little Sprouts taster workshops are part of our extensive Balsall Heath Community Festival 2026 #BHCFest26! We’re really excited to be working with BOSF and so many other local partners to celebrate all that is Balsall Heath and Balsall Heathan – find out more here:

Balsall Heath Community Festival 2026 3rd to 13th July

Where did it come from?

BOSF ‘Little Sprouts’ sessions initially started at Omnia green space (behind Omnia Practice & Yardley Green Medical Centre, 73/77 Yardley Green Rd, B9 5PU), but since then Little Sprouts are spreading and Abi from BOSF has been looking for more green spaces and people interested to take part across Balsall Heath.

Although Balsall Heath as a whole has less green spaces than almost any other part of Birmingham, we are blessed with many smaller green spaces and pocket parks ideal for families and everyone to enjoy the outdoors on their doorstep and that’s what BOSF is all about!

Belle Walk Green Space is a small space, easily missed, on the edge of Balsall Heath and Sparkbrook. It is ideal for nature activities with young families, and right next to one of the more densely populated areas of Birmingham. These 2 sessions are standalone pilots, the hope being that they could start weekly after the summer.

Extra information:

Recommended for children between 18 months and school age.
Children must remain accompanied & supervised by their adult.
Open to everyone
Sorry, no dogs

What to wear/bring:

Adults & children should be prepared for being outdoors and the weather!

Comfortable clothing
Warm layers if it’s cold
Waterproof coat with a hood
Sun protection (e.g. hat & sun cream)
Closed-toe footwear (e.g. old trainers or wellies)

You might want to bring a bottle of water in a small backpack and extra clothing in case you get a bit cold/wet/dirty.

Contact Abi for more information: ab*@******rg.uk, 07985627426

Retrofit Balsall Heath Summer Events

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.

‍‍Sign up to receive our regular newsletters, and / connect with us on social media:

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Retrofit Balsall Heath, Retrofit our festival!

Retrofit Balsall Heath are once again playing a crucial role in our festivities for Balsall Heath Community Festival. Loaning a giant billboard to Balsall Heath Local History Society, it has been decorated by over 30 people at a local Woodcraft Folk workshop and Second Saturday at The Old Print Works, it is now ready for installation!

A Collaborative story

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.

On 5th July Retrofit Balsall Heath are inviting local residents to join in a procession from east to west; from Balsall Heath Park to Calthorpe Park – drumming, dancing and carrying banners made in workshops with local artist Jane Thakoordin celebrating the strength and resilience of Balsall Heath’s vibrant community. Friends of Seven Streets Park are organising one of the stops as are Friends of Balsall Heath Park, George Park and Calthorpe Park with Birmingham Open Space Forum and Balsall Heath Local History Society Carnival Exhibition, entertainment by Fruit and Nut Village, support from Edward Road Baptist Church, and I’m sure I’ve missed a few of our fabulous partner organisations taking part in just one day of our activity.

Ready for Retrofit completion - Billboard hitting the streets any day now! — Ready for Retrofit completion – Billboard hitting the streets any day now!

Love Seven Streets Park

Balsall Heath Carnival in Changing Times Seven Streets

Ten Days of Celebration

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:

Colouring Competition!

Billboard painting — Hard at work painting

“Under the Sultan’s Shadow”: Ottoman Exhibition and Curator Talks in Balsall Heath by MIAH Foundation

A fascinating new exhibition has opened in Balsall Heath, offering visitors the chance to explore one of history’s most influential empires.

Facsimile of Sultan Suleiman’s illuminated poetry (*Muhibbi Divani*) and maps by Matrakçı Nasuh. © MIAH Foundation

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.

Visitors can find out more and book tickets here: https://miahfoundation.com/events/exhibition-under-the-sultans-shadow

Monthly Curator Talks

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.

To register for upcoming curator talks, visit:
https://miahfoundation.com/events/under-the-sultans-shadow-curator-talk-in-person-ottoman-art

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

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For all enquires email us at co*****@************on.com.

We look forward to welcoming you all to our gallery!