Take an existing text such as a page from a book, to create a poem and to create illustrations that complement the words
Link to the tickets here

Monthly creative festival

Take an existing text such as a page from a book, to create a poem and to create illustrations that complement the words
Link to the tickets here


Lower gallery – The Old Print Works 10 years and over
Lithography printing was an innovative printing technique that made JH Butchers & Co world famous for their transfers. In this workshop, you will learn how to recreate this process (using items found in your own kitchen) and create a design to decorate your own postcards and greeting cards.

Time: 2-3.30pm, Saturday 9th September
If you have an idea for a children’s story and are looking for some friendly support and practical encouragement, grab your pen & paper and join author Kereen Getten and publisher The Emma Press for a creative writing workshop.
“One of the things I love about writing, is creating a world that engulfs the reader, not one they view from afar. In this workshop we will master how to create a story so vivid that the reader feels they are part of the world you created. We will learn about atmospheric writing. Creating stories that take readers on a journey where they smell, touch and feel everything in your story. We will use exercises that will help you develop new ways to make your world and your characters come to life.” – Kereen Getten
Pay what you can/suggested donation £5, please book a space below : maximum 12 participants
NB: This workshop is aimed at adults who are interested in writing children’s literature, it is not for children.
Venue: Second Saturday
About Kereen:
Kereen Getten grew up in Jamaica where she would climb fruit trees in the family garden and eat as much mango, guinep and pear as she could without being caught. She now lives in Birmingham with her family and writes stories about her childhood experiences. Her novels include the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-shortlisted debut When Life Gives You Mangoes (2020), a mystery novel in which the main character Clara struggles to remember what happened to her during an island storm the previous year, If You Read This (2022) revolving around a poignant treasure hunt that Brie’s late mother has set up around her island home, and The Case of the Lighthouse Intruder (2023) the first in the gripping Di Island Crew series, all published by Pushkin Press.
About The Emma Press:
The Emma Press is an independent publisher based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter specialising in poetry, short fiction and children’s books with a mission of making publishing and literature as welcoming and accessible as possible.

September 9th 2023 2 – 5pm Drawing room, The Old Print Works, Courtyard entrance
Balsall Heath Repair Cafe is back again at Balsall Heath Second Saturday. Repairers include woodwork ,brass polishing, general repairs, textiles, knife sharpening, bike repair, scrapstore, mechanical electrics, textiles. Check balsallheathrepaircafe.org for repairers closer to the day

11am until 1pm, Drawing Room, Courtyard Entrance, The Old Print Works
Monthly family carving club, all ages welcome, learn how to use a sharp knife to make beautiful things from wood
Donation/ pay what you feel – drop in

‘We Are Here’ Campaign invites you to put your feet up, have a cuppa, some biscuits and talk to Climate Nan about the challenges that our homes, streets and neighbourhoods are facing.
Climate Nan, as part of the We Are Here Campaign, will be parking her caravan at multiple locations across Ladywood and Balsall Heath between the 11th and 13th August as part of a tour of communities who have invited her to talk about the climate crisis. Residents can visit, share their concerns and discuss what can be done. Climate Nan will be offering a friendly ear to the neighbourhood with a warm invite and welcome into the caravan where you can either write a letter to the PM or local MP and or record a contribution to the podcast that will be recorded throughout the tour.
Other stops of the tour:
Friday 11th August, 10:00 -2:00 PM at the Neighbourhood Supper Club Summer Special hosted by CIVIC SQUARE and neighbours at Midland Sailing Club, Icknield Port Rd, Birmingham B16 0AA
Friday 11th August, 3:00 – 6:00 PM at Birmingham Settlement- Edgbaston Reservoir Nature & Wellbeing Centre, 79 Selwyn Rd, Birmingham B16 0SL
Saturday 12th August, 3:00 – 6:00 PM with Edgbaston Reservoir Collaborative (ERCO) at Midland Sailing Club, Icknield Port Rd, Birmingham B16 0AA
Sunday 13th August, 10:00 – 4:00 PM at The B16 Lunch hosted by CIVIC SQUARE, South Loop Park, B16 0AE

4pm onwards, Upper Gallery, The Old Print Works
A little bit of food, music and drink. Pay as you feel, chilled music, a delicious plant-based meal, good company and craft activities
Pay what you can/free

10am – 4pm The Old Print Works, Lower Gallery
Art and crafts from the people at The Old Print Works community and beyond including pottery, art, jewellery, postcards, crafts, and lots lots more.

10am-4pm, Saturday 12th August, Moseley Road Baths
Join us in the Living Room as we gather round the television for “BHTV”, three channels of Balsall Heathen programming curated by Flatpack Festival. Expect family-friendly entertainment from around the world, as well as creative and documentary films about Balsall Heath and Moseley Road Baths itself.
Flatpack is a mobile arts organisation which exists to show amazing work, bring people together and develop new ideas. We love film in all shapes and sizes, particularly where it bumps up against other artforms, and get a kick out of transforming spaces to create unforgettable events. Every May bank holiday you can find us taking over venues across Birmingham with the “magnificently eclectic” Flatpack Festival, while throughout the year we pop up all over the place with everything from family activities to al fresco horror.

August 12th
session 1 – 1pm – 2:30pm
session 2 – 3pm – 4:30pm
Tickets – FREE
Oh buoy! Oh buoy! Fatt Projects and Moseley Road Baths have partnered up to throw the first ever BIG FATT POOL PARTY.
Book here
Hosted by local legend and amateur aqua-aerobics instructor Ginny Lemon, featuring performances from Mama Mamba and pool party beats from DJ Just Soriah, you’re in for 90 minutes of wet and wild wonder. Whether you want to make a splash or have a poolside gossip, come join us for a uniquely joyous swim sesh.
This is a judgment free inclusive pool party for all body types to come and use the pool in comfort. We’re pro-fat, pro-femme, pro-trans, pro-disabled, anti-racist, pro-fabulous. Bring your best self, bring your bingo wings, bring your pals, bring your inflatables!
This is a free sober daytime event, suitable for ages 18+. There will be loud music throughout. Private any-gender changing cubicles are available throughout.
About the space
Our historic pool is a one of a kind, unique and beautiful space. Being a historic pool we wanted to be as transparent as possible about what to expect in the space.
Please see our visual journey attached and please note we have 1 x hoist to access the pool as well as the swimming pool ladders.
Access to the Big Fatt Pool Party will be through the rear of the building straight into the pool hall, accessed via a slip road off Edward Road. There will be party people showing you the way from Edward Road through to the poolside.
If you have any questions before the day reach us on keepswimming@moseleyroadbaths.org.uk, or call us on 01214390320.
Parking
We are on the number 50 bus route for those taking public transport.
We recommend parking on Edward Road for those in vehicles. All roads nearby are free for parking.
Dimensions
About Fatt Projects
FATT PROJECTS IS A BIRMINGHAM BASED QUEER PERFORMANCE COMPANY.
We make shows, parties, performances, events, and juicy creative bits focused on advancing queer joy.
Our work celebrate queerness, community, care, empowerment, and change-making. It is just as likely to take place in public spaces and contexts where queer identities are underrepresented as it is in conventional theatre spaces.
Fatt Projects Ltd. is a company formed in 2021 to support and grow the creative work of artist, activist and professional hot mess Adam Carver (aka Fatt Butcher), they are artistic director of the company.
We describe our work as full-fat.

11-1 The Old Print Works organised by 0121 Collective CIC
This is an inter generational project that aims to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Windrush generation. To do this we are running free workshops where we will use cyanotypes photo process (blue prints) to share stories, learn and connect with each other. It’s free to join in.
Everyone is welcome and we especially would love to see people from the Windrush communities in Birmingham to come forward and share stories.
Workshop
We have three Saturday sessions coming up June to August which wil take place on Balsall Heath Second Saturday sessions where The Old Print Works and other places nearby hold a monthly creative open day.
The workshop will last two hours and theme of this session is Roots of Love – which explores the Carribean family in Britian. We will mainly look at make cyanotypes using old photographs and used postcards to share stories.
Tianna who is leading the project will tell you about her Nan’s front room who moved to Birmingham in the 1960s from Jamaica. Tracey who is the lead artist on the project will help people to make cyanotypes using lace and dollies on fabric and paper.
Cyanotype is a 19th Century photo process which uses the sun or a UV lamp to make amazing blue images.
We invite people to add work through a cyanotype image to the collaborative tapestry (fabric) that we are making for the project.
It’s free come and all materials provided.
The project is funded by National Lottery Community Fund
Please book via eventbrite link – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/roots-of-love-cyanotype-windrush-75-workshop-tickets-638665213847

18.00 – 21.30, The Old Print Works, free entry
Following on from a writing seminar and poetry workshop on love poems titled: ‘How to Write a Love Jones.’ on Saturday the 8th July there will be a relaxed poetry open mic, with a chance for writers of all abilities, new or seasoned, to share their work and showcase their best love poems at The Old Print Works in Balsall Heath. The open mic ‘An Outpouring of Love (Jones)’ will will lead into a film screening of Love Jones(1997).
An Outpouring of Love open mic and film screening is hosted by Marshea Makosa, who founded Norate & Augustine’s a brand new Midlands based arts and culture platform. She is an earnest Earth Scientist with a love for postcolonial literature and poetry forever and always.

All day, from 11am, 12th August, The Old Print Works
Come along to the launch of the True Form Projects ‘Oriental Star Express’ installation at The Old Print Works. In 1970 Mohammed Ayub founded Oriental Start Agencies in Birmingham. This record store and then label became one of the most influential and important parts of South Asian history and diaspora in the UK and world wide, before the store had to close in 2017. Creating a replica of Oriental Star Agencies at Print Works, will allow you to explore records that defined South Asian Culture and the history of one of the most iconic record stores in Birmingham
Image credit – Ian Reynolds

1 – 5pm at The Gap. All ages. Free. Drop in/No Booking required.
Come along to this public sharing of artworks created by young people as part of The Other~Wise Summer School, exploring ways to reconnect with nature through creativity and culture. Meet the young participants to hear first-hand their ideas and learnings, and contribute towards the exhibition by sharing your own knowledge. Join us throughout the day to make your own seed bombs, and for a youth-led walk around Balsall Heath to distribute ones made during the summer school (exact time tbc).

2pm, The Old Print Works.
Music wellbeing workshop for people of all ages
Everyone welcome – no musical experience required.

11am until 1pm, Drawing Room, Courtyard Entrance, The Old Print Works
Monthly family carving club, all ages welcome, learn how to use a sharp knife to make beautiful things from wood
Donation/ pay what you feel – drop in

2pm – 3.30pm – The GAP
Ages 5 – 8
Free!
Led by The GAP’s youth arts practitioners
A fun and relaxing workshop exploring the act of listening to others. Join us in listening to some children’s story books being read aloud, before crafting your very own ‘listening stick’ using twigs, wool and fabric. Finally, we’ll work together to create our very own story inspired by the prompt ‘listen to children!’
Books we’ll read from include: The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld, Quiet Please, Owen McPhee! by Trudy Ludwig, and the classic Not Now, Bernard by David McKee
Things to note:
*This is not a drop-in workshop. Please arrive at the start time.
*Children must not be left unsupervised at the venue. Parents and guardians are invited to sit in on the workshop, or relax in our cafe area that adjoins the workshop space.
*This session will be audio recorded for the purposes of documentation. No names or identifying features will be associated with recorded voices. If you’d like to know more, please contact us by emailing ella@thegapartsproject.co.uk

Come along to our vision board workshop!
Some of you may be wondering, what is a vision board?
A vision board is usually a collage of images that represent your goals and dreams. It can include cut-out pictures from magazines or new papers and words that inspire you to truly believe in your dreams☁️💖
Nurture and Heal are passionate about creating a safe space for people to be encouraged to dream big. They want to support you to make things come into fruition and most importantly, believe that your dreams are reachable.
No experience is required (there is no right or wrong way here, this workshop is for relaxation purposes and welcome anyone eager to learn and develop their creativity skills), all materials will be provided!
Look at some types of goals that you may want to include in a vision board:
Career
Money
Love
Health
Travel
Social Goals
Faith
This is an amazing opportunity for you to create a collage for your hopes and dreams and meet new people in a warm and welcoming space!
Link to the tickets here

Following on from a writing seminar and poetry workshop on love poems titled: ‘How to Write a Love Jones.’ on Saturday the 8th July there will be a relaxed poetry open mic, with a chance for writers of all abilities, new or seasoned, to share their work and showcase their best love poems at The Old Print Works in Balsall Heath. The open mic ‘An Outpouring of Love (Jones)’ will start at 18:30. The ‘Outpouring of Love’ open mic will lead into a film screening of Love Jones(1997) starting at 19:30.
An Outpouring of Love open mic and film screening is hosted by Marshea Makosa, who founded Norate & Augustine’s a brand new Midlands based arts and culture platform. She is an earnest Earth Scientist with a love for postcolonial literature and poetry forever and always.

Moseley Road Baths invites you ‘Back to Ours’. The Gala Pool has been designed by Friction Arts to create a gentle space with and for local residents where visitors can relax, engage and converse. Playful installations, made by our contributors, are inside and outside the building invite us to examine and celebrate our communal and individual heritage, as well as the rich, complex history of the Baths and of Balsall Heath, and to strengthen the future that we will create together.
This is made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
CODA Workshop: Ask an Architect/ Living Furniture 10:00 – 16:00
Through the three months of Balsall Heath’s Living Room local architects CODA Workshop will be resident in the space, inviting us to share memories of our most treasured pieces of furniture, exploring what and who makes these items so special to us and creating models and designs of furniture in response to our memories.
CODA will also be giving you a chance to Ask an Architect anything! What are your design queries or building woes? Wondering how you can best use the space in your home, or how it can be more energy efficient? Your local neighbourhood architects are here to help…
CODA Workshop are Birmingham-based architects interested in the interaction of art, landscape, history and the built environment. CODA are guided by natural and sustainable principles and the aim to create spaces that improve the quality of our lives.
Edible Garden Workshops 11:00 – 16:00
Fruit and Nut Village will be adding a temporary orchard to our courtyard, which has been transformed into Balsall Heath’s Play Kitchen and Pocket Garden. We’ll become custodians of their edible plants and fruit trees for the duration of Balsall Heath’s Living Room.
Join us on 8th July to grow your own edible plants with Fruit and Nut Village.
Mini Athletics 14-14:30 (4-7 year olds) 14.30-15pm (1-3 year olds)
As part of Balsall Heath’s Living Room Mini Athletics South Birmingham are here!
At Mini Athletics we take what children love to do the most (running super fast, jumping high and throwing far) and mix it with imaginative themes, learning to follow instructions, making friends and developing gross motor skills. It’s the magical combination of imaginative play sports and burning energy!
Free, 30min, limited capacity – Please book here >



2pm, The Old Print Works.
Music wellbeing workshop for people of all ages
Everyone welcome – no musical experience required.

11-1 The Old Print Works organised by 0121 Collective CIC
This is an inter generational project that aims to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Windrush generation. To do this we are running free workshops where we will use cyanotypes photo process (blue prints) to share stories, learn and connect with each other. It’s free to join in.
Everyone is welcome and we especially would love to see people from the Windrush communities in Birmingham to come forward and share stories.
Workshop
We have three Saturday sessions coming up June to August which wil take place on Balsall Heath Second Saturday sessions where The Old Print Works and other places nearby hold a monthly creative open day.
The workshop will last two hours and theme of this session is The Front Room – which explores the African-Carribean front room and how migrant families set up home in Britain. We will mainly look at how lace and dollies were a big part of these spaces. We will use lace and dollies to make cyanotypes and share stories.
Tianna who is leading the project will tell you about her Nan’s front room who moved to Birmingham in the 1960s from Jamaica. Tracey who is the lead artist on the project will help people to make cyanotypes using lace and dollies on fabric and paper.
Cyanotype is a 19th Century photo process which uses the sun or a UV lamp to make amazing blue images.
We invite people to add work through a cyanotype image to the collaborative tapestry (fabric) that we are making for the project.
It’s free come and all materials provided.
The project is funded by National Lottery Community Fund
Please book via eventbrite link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-front-room-cyanotype-windrush-75-tapestry-workshop-tickets-607324192007?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

July 8th 2023 2 – 5pm Drawing room, The Old Print Works, Courtyard entrance
Balsall Heath Repair Cafe is back again at Balsall Heath Second Saturday. Repairers include woodwork ,brass polishing, general repairs, textiles, knife sharpening, bike repair, scrapstore, mechanical electrics, textiles. Check balsallheathrepaircafe.org for repairers closer to the day

11am until 1pm, Drawing Room, Courtyard Entrance, The Old Print Works
Monthly family carving club, all ages welcome, learn how to use a sharp knife to make beautiful things from wood
Donation/ pay what you feel – drop in

4pm onwards, Drawing room, The Old Print Works, Courtyard Entrance
A little bit of food, music and drink. Pay as you feel, chilled music, a delicious plant-based meal, good company and craft activities
Pay what you can/free

10am – 4pm The Old Print Works, Lower Gallery
Art and crafts from the people at The Old Print Works community and beyond including pottery, art, jewellery, postcards, crafts, and lots lots more.

Retrofit Balsall Heath is planning a day of tours, talks and teas to
mark our one year anniversary and celebrate our Retrofit journey
so far.
In June 2022, drawing inspiration from Balsall Heath’s unique
legacy of grassroots local democracy and the strength of positive
relationships between local faith communities, Retrofit Balsall
Heath secured agreement from Birmingham City Council for the
local community in Balsall Heath to tap LADS 3 funding to retrofit
700 local homes.
So far, nearly 200 homes have had work done to make them more
energy efficient, helping to tackle fuel poverty, health disparities,
and the climate crisis.
We have learned that “Retrofit” is more than a technical term for
insulating existing homes to make them fit for purpose and fit for
the future. It is a transformative concept for whole communities;
for community neighbourhoods and landscapes, and for individual
hearts and minds.
We hope to share our stories, lessons learned, joys and
tribulations.
We welcome practical, financial, spiritual accompaniment and
assistance for our next steps.
https://zerocarbonhousebirmingham.org.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/RetrofitBalsallHeath
Please join us for our
Retrofit Open Day 2-6pm
Friday 30th June 2023
hosted by
zerocarbonhouse Birmingham – you can book here

2pm – 4pm, The Old Print Works
Create an acrylic painting of a photo of your choice.
Why not paint a scenic landscape? Or a portrait of someone you love? Or paint a cartoon that you loved when you were younger?
This is a mindful art workshop, so all we ask is for you to bring positive vibes. For this workshop can you please print out your picture so it fills an A4 piece of paper and we’ll do the rest! If you don’t have access to a print, please email hello@nurtureandheal.co.uk