Balsall Heath Second Saturday

Hell Bus Tour 2023

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.
Celebrate Local Heroes with Friction Arts at Moseley Road Baths

We are celebrating your local heroes…

Please join us 2 to 5pm, 9th September in the foyer to Moseley Road Baths.

Young people will exchange flowers and our stories for your stories of local heroes at Moseley Road Baths and locally as part of ‘Balsall Heath Second Saturday’ 9th September 2023.

Please join us 2 to 5pm in the foyer to Moseley Road Baths.
The GAP Youth Theatre Free Taster Session

YOUTH THEATRE

FREE TASTER SESSION

Saturday 9 Sept 1-4pm The GAP

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.

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED

FREE MEMBERSHIP

TRY BEFORE YOU COMMIT
Roots of Love: Cyanotype Windrush 75 free Workshop September

2pm 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

Book below

Register on Eventbrite
Sundragon Community Pottery Workshop

12 – 4pm The Old Print Works

Sundragon Community Pottery will be hosting a FREE soap dish making workshop.

Come and make a simple soap dish.

For an additional cost of £5, you can choose to have your soap dish glazed and fired, to collect at the next Second Saturday, in October, when we shall be hosting a “clay pumpkin lantern“ making workshop.
Musical Wellbeing Workshop with Arianna

2pm – 3.30pm The Old Print Works Music workshop with Arianna

we will play, sing, make some noise and have fun.

Just bring yourself – no experience necessary

See you there!
Oriental Star Party

Come and join us to celebrate the opening of Oriental Star Express exhibition in collaboration with @oldprintworksbrum. The celebration includes artist talk by @faishussainism, showing of our film ‘Request Line’, great music by @rizmi_____ , and food. This is a free event and everyone is welcomed. Booking below

Register on Eventbrite
Aluminium embossing workshop with Art Metallix

2pm -4pm The Old Print Works upper gallery

Birmingham Heritage week starts at The Old Print Works with a unique workshop for embossing on aluminium with Art Metallix. Get creative and transform ordinary aluminium into something extraordinary with this hands-on workshop. Perfect for all skill levels, you’ll receive guidance from Mel to learn and practice embossing techniques.

Only 10 spots available, be sure to book your place – special concessionary rates available, please email info@secondsaturday.org.uk and we will send you a code.

Register on Eventbrite
Blackout Poetry and illustrations with Nurture and Heal

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
Evening events – keep checking for more details
Kitchen Lithography Workshop with Isra

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.

Register on Eventbrite
Writing for Children with Kereen Getten and The Emma Press

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

Register on Eventbrite

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.
Repair Cafe – September

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
Family woodcarving with Pathcarvers -September 9th from 11am

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

pathcarvers.co.uk
Climate Nans Caravan 10-1 The Old Print Works

‘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
The Crafty Social august 12th

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
The Old Print Works market August

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.
BHTV curated by Flatpack Festival at moseley road baths

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.

More about Flatpack here
Big Fatt pool party at moseley road baths
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
- Rear fire exit double blue doors: 2 meter width by 2.08 meter height
- Disabled toilet door: 2.29 meter height by 1.48 meter width
- From front of toilet bowl to furthest wall: 1.25 meters
- From toilet door to poolside: 3.5 meters
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.

Book here
tapestry and weaving with Art Metallix

From 12pm, all ages welcome

Tapestry and weaving with Art Metallix, in the Upper Gallery at The Old Print Works
Roots of Love: Cyanotype Windrush 75 free Workshop

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
‘An Outpouring of Love’ – Poetry Open mic and film screening with Marshea Makosa

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.

https://www.nandaugustines.com/
True Form Projects Oriental Star Express

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
What if we learnt to reconnect with nature? Exhibition Launch & Seed Bomb Workshop

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).
Music wellbeing workshop – Lets Make Some More Noise with arianna

2pm, The Old Print Works.

Music wellbeing workshop for people of all ages

Everyone welcome – no musical experience required.
Family woodcarving with Pathcarvers august 12th from 11am

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

pathcarvers.co.uk
August 12th
Children’s Craft & Storytelling Workshop at The GAP

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
Vision Board Workshop with Nurture and Heal

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
‘An Outpouring of Love’ – Poetry Open mic with Marshea Makosa

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.

https://www.nandaugustines.com/