After almost four years closed, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery finally reopened in February, sort of. Only The Gas Hall – hosting the return of Birmingham’s world-famous collection of Pre-Raphaelite art, Victorian Radicals – opened to the public, but very soon we’ll be able to explore more of the museum.
After closing for the pandemic, the museum remained shut for essential maintenance works. It’s slowly reopening in phases throughout the year (and potentially next year too), with the next phase of reopening set for the October half-term (October 24). This includes the Round Room Gallery, Industrial Gallery, Bridge Gallery and Edwardian Tearooms among spaces set to reopen.
The museum’s iconic Round Room will be at the heart of the reopening with new and familiar artworks back on display surrounding Jacob Epstein’s bronze sculpture, Lucifer. The Industrial Gallery will also reopen with a new ‘Made in Birmingham’ display, which celebrates the city of a thousand trades, self-deprecating humour, creative people and their worldwide impact.
“When we re-opened the museum with ‘pop-up’ displays during the Commonwealth Games in 2022, visitors told us they loved the refresh and seeing and feeling the stories of all Birmingham people front and centre,” said Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah, co-CEOs of Birmingham Museums Trust. “We heard that, as well as the message that people wanted to see more of the collection, understand more about our history and needed more for families and children.”
As such, these gallery spaces due to reopen have had extensive and sensitive flooring and roof restoration work – meaning visitors will see their favourite artworks in a whole new light. The popular Tearooms and Shop will also reopen in October for hot drinks (with a new food and drink menu) and gift collections with local artists/makers.
Due to demand, the Victorian Radicals exhibition will continue in The Gas Hall until at least Christmas 2024.
Key galleries to reopen in October
Made in Birmingham
The Industrial Gallery reopens with a new ‘Made in Birmingham’ display, featuring people who were born here, or came here, and made the city their home – and includes the HP Sauce factory sign, Ginny Lemon costume and Benjamin Zephaniah’s typewriter. The Industrial Gallery Balcony will also present ‘Deviance & Difference’, a show curated by internationally acclaimed artist Osman Yousefzada, featuring artworks by BCU School of Art graduates, alongside works by Francis Bacon, Donald Rodney and Barbara Hepworth.
Wild City
Wild City opens two new galleries dedicated to children and families, telling stories about nature in the city. Key objects include the famous portrait of the Official Rat Catcher to the City of Birmingham by Arthur Charles Shorthouse (1870-1953), children’s artworks on the walls and a small soft play and coffee area.
Modern Muse on the Bridge Gallery
A changing display area is planned for the long gallery bridging the space between the original museum and the extension wing. This space will focus on displays about people and places in the city. Modern Muse is a series of portraits of South Asian women who live and/or work in Birmingham and the West Midlands. The display also features Birmingham Museums’ important miniature portrait of Arjumand Banu Begum (Mumtaz Mahal) – the Taj Mahal was built as her tomb – as well as modern miniatures in the same style.
Round Room: One Fresh Take
The Round Room is the museum’s front room and has been a showcase for the city’s art collection for almost 150 years. The new display offers a fresh perspective- exploring how artists from David Cox to Jittish Kallat, Joan Eardley to Cold War Steve, have brought their own fresh take to places that are meaningful to them. It’s also a chance to enjoy the beautiful Round Room architecture, with Jacob Epstein’s Lucifer sculpture back on display.
Featuring Curtis Holder
A changing display space around creativity and the city is set just before the entrance to The Tearoom. The first display in this space is work by Curtis Holder, who won Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year in 2020 and was commissioned to draw Birmingham Royal Ballet’s director, Carlos Acosta. The display features the Carlos Acosta drawing as well as Holder’s working sketches, and drawings of other familiar figures.
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery will open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am until 5pm – there is no need to book. You can learn more by heading here.