Join us this Balsall Heath Second Saturday for an intimate listening, crafting & conversation circle exploring the importance of passing on knowledge of women’s creative work between generations and within communities.
We will invite you to crochet whilst listening to a recorded interview with artist-crafter Jane Thakoordin, before opening up space to share reflections and stories between ourselves about women’s creative work.
This event launches part two of THREADS: An Interactive Exhibition Untangling The Hidden Work Of Women. The exhibition includes oral history interviews with four local women from different backgrounds about how they learnt their creative skills from other women. The interviews were conducted by Kim Chi, who also created artworks in response which are on display in the exhibition, along with craft objects loaned by the interviewees and various interactive activities.
The session will be facilitated by Isra Kausar (Curator), Kim Chi (Artist) and Ella Marshall (Programme Director).
Exhibition Opening: THREADS: An Interactive Exhibition Untangling the Hidden Work of Women (Part One)
Saturday 8th March, 11am – 4pm
Join us this International Women’s Day as we launch a new exhibition curated by Isra Kausar @israk_art as part of @balsallheathsecondsaturday . Featuring various craft activities and conversational prompts, the exhibition invites you to talk, listen, reflect and learn about the work of women that too often goes unnoticed and unappreciated.
The things you make and thoughts you share will be a part of the community helping to untangle and appreciate the often hidden work of women, and will be included in Part Two of this exhibition, launching in April. This second part will also feature audio interviews with women local to The GAP exploring their personal stories on how skills are passed down through generations of women, as well as objects and mixed media artworks created in response by Kim Chi (a founding member of The Culture Collective and current team member of The MIX Cafe!).
Part One of this exhibition runs throughout March.
More Than Sight An interactive exhibition by Isra Kaur exploring alternative ways of thinking about art for both sighted and visually impaired audiences
WORKSHOP
Try your hand at our sensory Clay Challenges
Sculpting without Seeing Liberate yourself from the judgemental sense of sight and enjoy the freedom of creating only with your sense of TOUCH.
Art That Feels Good Shape, squeeze or stroke a piece of clay into piece to be included in our More Than Sight exhibition for people with visual impairment. What it looks like has no relevance—it’s all about how it FEELS.
Saturday 8th February, 12-1pm, 2-3pm.
Drop-in / All welcome
Taking place as part of @balsallheathsecondsaturday
Peace Garden Open Day 🌄🌺 Sat 8th February 11.30am – 3.30pm
All welcome. Drop-in.Come and enjoy our beautiful Peace Garden this Saturday. 🌱 Explore the plants and wildlife 🌱 Relax and reflect on the changing of the seasons with an optional activity to leave a message in the garden 🌱 Visit the Adil Khalid Remembrance Bench
This exhibition showcases the artworks produced by Sewing Solidarity, a GAP project led by artist Jane Thakoordin that invited young people aged 13 – 18 to create a series of new banners for Balsall Heath and The GAP inspired by the trade union banner tradition.
Over several months, young people took part in a series of sessions at The GAP in which we explored working class stories, local histories and banner art, and experimented with textile design techniques and slogans to co-design and collectively create five beautiful banners.
The final designs bring together traditional and contemporary elements, and are inspired by the diversity and culture of Balsall Heath, and the richness of its community spirit and generosity despite not being monetarily rich. In times of difficulty, people have come together to support one another and show solidarity, despite our differences.
In the trade union tradition, the Sewing Solidarity banners have been created as lasting pieces that can be used at community events, protests, demonstrations and celebrations to represent our solidarity for years to come. Please let us know if you have any suggestions for how or where these banners might be displayed in the local area!
About the artists
Jane Thakoordin is a participatory artist with over 30 years experience of co-creation with groups and organisations both regionally and nationally. Using textiles as the main medium, Jane draws on her background as a mental health professional and tutor to create spaces where people can experiment and express themselves. Follow Jane @janethakoordin_
Project participants – Nimra, Naveera, Ruby, Mohamed, Mohammed, Nasaradin, Mariya, Zahra, Chi, Ezra, Jo, Hala, Mariya, Ayda, and everyone who joined us at Balsall Heath Second Saturday!
Pop down to @oldprintworksbrum on 14th December for a festive fun-filled day out whilst supporting local artists and young people. Expect an exciting array of unique handmade gifts and goodies for sale – all made by local young artists, designers and crafters – in amongst our cosy community cafe The MIX and during the bustling @balsallheathsecondsaturday.
Sat 9 Nov 2024 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM The GAP Arts Project, 498 Moseley Rd, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12 9AH
Join us on November 9th, as we listen to (and learn from) traditional Palestinian songs and hymns of resistance brought to us by Maramiya Band.
Promoting Palestinian heritage and history, our evening will also feature a talented Violin player, and powerful Poetry recitations. ✨
🟢 Appetizers, bite-sized food and hot drinks will be available during the break. 🧆☕
🔴 Proceeds from this evening will go to support the Palestine Action prisoners who sacrificed their freedom for the struggle and liberation of the Palestinian people. You can also support our work by donating an additional amount when purchasing your tickets.
⚫ Please note that tickets are required for this event and anyone without a ticket will be unable to attend. 🎫
⚪ Join us for an evening of supporting Palestinian identity and enriching our community that embraces the Palestinian struggle.
We would love your presence and support, and hope to see you there! 🇵🇸
🕖 Doors open at 6.30 pm, event starts at 7.00 pm
🗓️ 9th of November
📍The GAP Arts Project, Balsall Heath, B12 9AH
“Root yourself in the soil, for you will remain here. The land is your land, young man, this country is our country. They are ignorant, they do not know that your homeland is eternal. So stand firm, persevere, and seek reward, for we are all behind you. How many martyrs have given their lives to achieve certainty. O owner of the land, hold fast, for the land is the honour of the righteous.”
Mahmoud Darwish
🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸
P.S. 1. Please let us know of any food allergies beforehand, 2. Please note this event is suitable for children 7+ and not younger.
Join us this Balsall Heath Second Saturday for the first session of Sewing Solidarity, an exciting creative banner-making project for young people combining textiles, activism, local history and working class customs 🧵✊📢
During this Saturday’s sessions, textile artist and craftivist Jane Thakoordin @janethakoordin_ will introduce you to the use of textiles banners in social movements, and show you a variety of textile and design techniques to try out.
🔴 For ages 13-18
🔴 Two sessions – join one or both! (11am-1pm & 2-4pm)
The GAP invites you to join them this @balsallheathsecondsaturday to create your own visual artwork responding to the theme of ‘CYCLES’ and submit it to be included in an upcoming group exhibition in The GAP Gallery 💫💫💫
A wide variety of art materials will be provided, as well as prompts to inspire imaginative responses to the theme 🎨🖌️✂️✏️🧶🚲🌛🌪️🌱🌻🍂❄️🌀🌍💫🕐
This Balsall Heath Second Saturday, we invite you to our new Peace Garden, created by Bek and a group of young volunteers over the past 8 months. Located just next to The GAP and in-front of The Old Print Works’ house Myrtle Cottage, this small garden is intended as a space for the local community to learn about and connect with nature, and as a space for peace, reflection and the celebration of life. 🕊️ 🌱
It’s looking absolutely beautiful, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
For this open day, you will be able to:
💚 Help us install a wormery, learn about soil and its life-creating goodness, and contribute towards community composting by bringing along your own food waste, greens and browns to add
💚 Decorate a peace stone to add to the Peace Garden (or to take home)
💚 Create a mini pond to attract pollinators
💚 Or simply have a wonder or a sit down to soak it all in
TURNING POINT is a video installation created by Sweet Patootee Arts @sweetpatooteearts Inspired by the oral testimonies of people who lived and worked in the Caribbean in the 1920s, these films combine monologue-style performances, melodrama, comedy, projection, poetry, visual arts, folk songs and 3D sound to convey this momentous moment of history in Britain’s former slave colonies after the First World War – a new era for Black identity and pride ✊🏿
We were honoured to be approached by Sweet Patootee Arts about sharing this work at The GAP as part of their vision to tour TURNING POINT beyond large museums by bringing it directly to local communities across Birmingham and London.
Sweet Patootee also invited us to programme a series of interactive events that relate to the films in the exhibition, which members of our youth forum The Culture Collective helped us to shape. We’ll be sharing more information about these very soon 👀✨
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AT THE EXHIBITION?
🔴 Free entry, as always
🔴 The films will be played on loop in our gallery space, with headphones provided
🔴 Total running time 40 minutes (4 segments of 10 minutes each)
🔴 Please note, these films contain content which some visitors may find upsetting or distressing. Information on relevant support services will be displayed
🔴 A complimentary mini-exhibition on the political history of the period – curated by Nirad Abrol and Isra Kausar – will also be on display in the cafe area
Join The GAP on Saturday 9th March, 11.30am – 12.30pm for The Storyteller of Jerusalem, an intimate & interactive event sharing stories from Palestine 🇵🇸
The stories and songs will focus on learning about and celebrating Palestinian culture, and have been especially selected by Sherazade (spoken word) and Abid (live music) with family audiences in mind 🎶📚
They’ll be interactive sensory elements, including: ✨percussion instruments to play ✨projected images of significant sites in Palestine ✨fresh mint tea to drink ✨pomegranate, figs and olives to taste ✨frankincense to smell ✨comfy cushions & rugs
Free. No need to book.
Please arrive at 11.30am – this is not a drop-in event
Identity, connection, nature, power – these are the themes explored through Jaden’s artwork in this exhibition, highlighting the importance of representation in carving your own identity. ‘From the Same Cup’ asks questions, encouraging visitors to see themselves in the painted faces before considering how the personal can also be universal. Through detailed portraits of familiar and unfamiliar faces, morphed with natural elements and animal features, this exhibition highlights how power is found in our shared traits. A power that can be harnessed to improve and heal the fractures our world suffers.
About the artist:
‘Art is my life, my joy, my passion and my superpower.’
Jaden Brown is a young Balsall Heath-based artist who specialises in portraits. His work has been exhibited at the Birmingham Hippodrome and he has been involved in BBC One’s Children in Need. Inspired by Hyperrealism and Surrealism, Jaden has worked tirelessly to create an expansive and powerful body of work that explores identity, community and culture. ‘From the Same Cup’ showcases his ability to handle his materials to capture the inner spirit of his subjects, aiming to inspire viewers to think about their own identity and creativity. @jadenartist
About the curator:
Isra Kausar is a Birmingham-based creative studying History of Art and Classical Studies. Alongside her studies, she experiments with her own artworks – most recently in Islamic patterns – and writes regular blog posts and reviews of exhibitions and art events around the city. She has also run creative workshops and curated exhibitions at The Old Print Works. @israk_art
10th Feb – Share & swap – 12 – 2pm At the Mix cafe If you’ve got any surplus vegetable seeds still in date bring them along, grab a coffee, meet other growers in the community as well as myself…pick some seeds up for yourself and save a little money!
Join young artist Jaden Brown for a portrait painting workshop! 👨🏿🎨🎨
Limited places – Booking required – Link below
Free. Ages 14+
Taking place within his first solo exhibition ‘From The Same Cup’, the workshop will draw upon the themes of identity and connection present within his own artworks on display.
The workshop will begin with an exclusive tour and talk about the exhibition from the artist himself, inspiring ideas for how portraits can be so much more than just a representative image of a person’s face.✨
You will then get into pairs and sit opposite each other, using acrylic paint and pencil to create a portrait of your partner. All the while, you’ll be encouraged to get to know the other person through conversation, uncovering their true identity and building connections between you. You’ll be encouraged to think creatively about how to incorporate patterns, motifs, colour, and imagery into your portrait based on what you learn about your partner through your conversation!
Ages 14+
Please arrive promptly at 2pm.
This will be a relaxed, gentle and no-pressure workshop.
No art experience is needed. All abilities are welcome!
An exhibition of poetry, film, music, and sculpture by local young artists Ray, Samiir, and Nafeesa 💫
Exploring the theme of land justice from the perspective of queer Black and brown young people living in the country’s second city, their work seeks to challenge out-dated assumptions and narratives around who belongs in the natural landscape of England – a nation with a long history of excluding and displacing people from their lands, whether in England itself or in other parts of the world.
Developed as part of Write To Roam – an creative writing residency programme hosted by The GAP in partnership with The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust – the artists’ work responds to their experiences walking, wandering and writing within SBT’s heritage sites and land surrounding Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon.
Taking a playful, political and personal approach, the artists ask the questions ~
🌳 Who belongs in the English countryside, and who does the English countryside belong to?
🌄 How can we take up space in places that don’t feel safe?
⛰️What does it mean for our identities and relationship to land to be defined by legislation?
🌱How can we experiment with the act of trespassing – on land, through time, across identity?
🍀How can we heal and rewild ourselves through being in nature?
This exhibition invites you to engage with these questions and explore the intersection of identity, belonging, nature and land.
“Displacement makes a home of the world. I refuse to erase myself from English/European countrysides, even when I don’t feel welcome… If I’m here to stay, I might as well slay it and live as audaciously and authentically as possible. That’s the attitude I felt we all brought whilst being on this residency.” – Nafeesa
We want to develop an urban oasis that reflects the heart and history of Balsall Heath and its vibrant communities and cultures.
We hope that as the garden grows it will provide a place and space to nurture our collective wellbeing and help us to deepen our connections to the more-than-human life that surrounds us.
During the workshop sessions, our young people will work alongside a professional gardener and artist, Rebekah, to learn key skills needed to build and maintain a sustainable garden. Come prepared to get your hands dirty and touch some soil!
🌳KEY DETAILS:
☀️This Project is for anyone between the ages of 16-25
Pop down to on 9th December for a festive fun-filled day out whilst supporting local artists and young people. Expect an exciting array of unique handmade gifts and goodies for sale – all made by local young artists, designers and crafters – in amongst our cosy community cafe and during the bustling – in The GAP
To celebrate the opening of the ATHAC Creative Artists exhibition join Ort Gallery for this drop in pottery workshop exploring pattern and texture, using a range of mark making tools and air drying clay.
Create a unique selection of nature inspired tiles that you can take home and paint.
The workshop will be assisted by one of our ATHAC Creative Artists.
Join us this Saturday between 12-3pm to find out all about our new garden project and how you can get involved! ✨🌱
You will be able to….
👀 …have a rare opportunity to look around the charming front garden of Myrtle Cottage, the oldest house in Balsall Heath and the former home of The Old Print Works director
👋🏽 …meet Rebekah Warmington, Nature Pedagogue and Environmental Educator, who is collaborating with The GAP and young people to regenerate the garden
💡…share your ideas for how the garden can be transformed into an urban oasis which reflects the heart and history of Balsall Heath and its vibrant communities and cultures
🍂 …get crafty with some Autumnal Activities to get your ideas flowing!
Be sure to pop by, have a little browse, let your imagination wander and share your ideas and inspiration to support the project 💫
The ‘Hell Bus’ is an exciting interactive art installation by artist Darren Cullen (@SpellingMistakesCostLives) exposing the dirty tactics polluting industries employ to green their public image. Joined by campaign group Adfree Cities and environmental organisation Switch It Green, people of all ages will be welcomed aboard the exhibition to be entertained, educated, and encouraged to get involved.
The bus has already made appearances at COP26, Glastonbury Festival and Boomtown, and featured in comedian Joe Lycett’s Channel 4 documentary ‘Joe Lycett vs The Oil Giant’. It is sure to catch some eyes in Birmingham.
The exhibition’s tour is timely, as public concern surrounding planet-harming activities and fossil fuel expansion is high while greenwashing by large corporations is leaving individuals feeling unsure of the solutions. The ‘Hell Bus’ tells this story in a fun and accessible way, while Adfree Cities and Switch It Green are on hand to provide people with simple, effective ways to take positive action against oil and gas companies like Shell.
An exciting opportunity for creative, curious, local young people 12-16 yrs, who love to explore, imagine, tell stories & step into other people’s shoes. This is taster session for regular, weekly youth theatre sessions on Saturday afternoons. From Sept – March we will be exploring the theme ‘The Island’ What’s it all about? What does it mean to live on an island? How does it shape who we are, and who we are not? What does it mean to be “castaway’? And what is it like to be colonised? Islands have a gripping hold on our imaginations, offering conflicting possibilities: a paradise or a prison? refuge or danger? community or complete isolation?
Give it a go…
Don’t worry if you’re not sure this is your thing… Come along and try it out this Saturday and see what you think. You can also find out more about the other exciting plans and amazing opportunities being a member of The GAP Youth Theatre has to offer!
What’s involved?
We will use all kinds of drama techniques to get inside the hearts and minds of islanders, design theatre sets, make amazing masks and learn how to tell stories collectively for an audience through performance.
Who’s leading it?
The GAP has an excellent track record of giving young people meaningful and transformational arts experiences. It has highly experienced staff who are expert at facilitating the development of creativity, critical thinking, a confident sense of self and personal values, through the social practice of making theatre.
What will it cost?
There is NO CHARGE to belong to the GAP Youth Theatre. We just ask that you contribute your commitment. As well as having loads of fun on this project you will also need to be prepared to work hard as a reliable member of the team.
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).
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
Mee.3Meet Greenie, JJ and Dottie. 3 best friends from different walks of life. They met at a freshers event during their first year of uni and have been inseparable ever since. They laugh together, live together and cry together. They’re trying to navigate their way through the crazy world of dating, it involves what feels like endless swiping left on tinder and too many one time dinner dates. But at least they have each other, for now.
Serpent’s Gaze Hush Hush
A Serpent’s Gaze is an unconventional twist on the Greek mythological story of Medusa and her tale of misfortune. This piece uses comedic elements such as satire, breaking the fourth wall and melodrama to capture our audiences. We will also be creating original music and exploring themes of injustice and discrimination against women.
Both Sides Now The Other Shoe
The Other Shoe theatre company welcomes you to Both Sides Now. A story following a young black career and her elderly patient and their turbulent journey of friendship which comes with trials and tribulations of finding common ground.
Escapism
Introspective Productions
Escapism immersively explores the effects on LSD on two impressionable first year students after coming out of lockdown. Through using personal lived experiences and stories, this piece aims to provide a real experience for its audience and to help break the stigmas around LSD and drug usage, whilst also allowing them to make more informed decisions in the future. TW: Strobe Lighting, Loud Sounds, Drug Use
Through The Dark Atlas Theatre
Through the dark is a twisted and sometimes familiar tale exploring what happens in the nighttime.
New Visions
Welcome to the community cafe, where the stories are even warmer than the coffee. In this small, immersive play, where, two women whose lives are changing quickly as the world changes around them, they’ll have to rely on their unbreakable bond to get through the challenges ahead. A moving, immersive play that explores the depths of friendship, growth, and the power of connection.
Club Clique Clique Culture
Club Clique invites you to join us for this, our goodbye bash. To you, our misfits and queerdos alike, we bring you our biggest party to date with a chaotic cast of drag excellence to really let your authentic self-shine under the lights. Trust us, we’re going out with a bang!
