Balsall Heath Second Saturday

Free creative festival

Tag: May 2026

  • Craft Design & Technology for under 11’s. 11am-3pm, Upper Gallery, OPW

    Craft Design & Technology for under 11’s. 11am-3pm, Upper Gallery, OPW

    The CDT room has a range of tools for turning, milling, precision cutting, drilling, engraving and pyrography. Projects are designed and led by children, who make musical instruments, vehicles, furniture or whatever they can imagine out of wood, plastic and metal. Children are also encouraged to adapt and repair their tools.

    These sessions are run by Richard Newton who has 30 years of experience teaching craft, design & technology to children.

    90 minute session. £8 per child / £6 per sibling

    Richard Newton is a Studio Partner at The Old Print Works.

  • Activities at The Gap. 11am-4pm, Drawing Room (Courtyard), OPW

    🌞 The GAP’s new venue at The Old Print Works will be open to the public for the first time. Come find us in the Drawing Room to see what we’re up to in this early stage of this new chapter and creatively explore what possibilities lie ahead

    🌞 Free craft activity as part of Believe in Balsall Heath! Create a piece of bunting to add to our collective artwork celebrating and decorating our local neighbourhood.

    🌞Enjoy the sun in the Peace Garden as we open it up for the first time this year! Our Green Spaces Guardian, Jamshaid, will be around doing some planting and maintenance – pop by to say hi! See if you can spot any creatures, and listen to some audio recordings of nature-themed poetry read by Kohinoor.

    The GAP Arts Project is a Studio Partner at The Old Print Works.

    If you’d like to support The Old Print Works please consider making a donation here.

  • The Old Print Works Market. 11am-4pm, Lower Gallery, OPW

    The Old Print Works Market. 11am-4pm, Lower Gallery, OPW

    Bric a brac/clothes/local makers/curios and more

    May stallholders include:

    • AimeeJMakes, selling handmade gifts that are upcycled, foraged and repurposed
    • Anawim, Birmingham’s Centre For Women, selling pre-loved clothes and recruiting volunteers
    • Daily Thread, selling craft kits, tote bags and plants. Also free kits available to make your own shopping bag.
    • Delish Bakery, selling Gluten-Free cupcakes and brownies

    If you would like to be part of the market, please contact us at info@oldprintworks.org or book a stall here (cost £10 or £90 for 12 months).

  • Balsall Heath City Farm Open Day. 11am-4pm, St Paul’s Community Trust

    Visit Balsall Heath City Farm for a family fun day, with stalls, refreshments, sheep shearing, bouncy castle, animals, plant sale and more!

    11am -4pm, £50p donation

    They raising funds to support the Farm and help cover the rising costs of animal feed, bedding and vets’ bills.

  • Risograph Printing with Print and Matter. 11am-4pm, MIAH Gallery, 496 Moseley Road

    Join artist Sofia Niazi from Print and Matter for a Risograph workshop at MIAH Gallery (11am-1pm, £10) or a private print slot (2-4pm, 30 min slots, £10 technician fee + cost of print job).

    Book here.

    Sofia Niazi is a Studio Partner at The Old Print Works.

  • DIY Home Energy Solutions with Community Energy Birmingham. 11am-4pm, Lower Gallery, OPW

    This workshop, led by Community Energy Birmingham, gives people hands on experience installing home energy efficiency measures. Funded by Central Co-Op.

  • The Original Art Club. 11am-4pm, Director’s Office (Courtyard), OPW

    The Original Art Club. 11am-4pm, Director’s Office (Courtyard), OPW

    The Original Art Club is a safe creative space for children to explore, create and develop their artistic skills. This is project-based learning tailored to each individual and their ability. The idea is progress not perfection and with an ‘I can do’ attitude here at the club we want all our budding artists to feel confident and encouraged in their creative journey.

    We teach several 2D and 3D techniques within our projects using a wide range of materials from pencil, acrylic paint and watercolours, to clay and paper mache. Our mixed age and mixed ability classes is a unique way in building self-confidence, independence and social bonding. Those children who have been with us longer will have gained more flexibility in steering their own projects and outcomes. We use mediums such as acrylics, watercolours, oil/soft pastels, inks, fine liners and 3D work with papier mache, clay and paper sculpture. At the club we value art and believe it is a significant component for the holistic education of children.

    This workshop is free, please consider making a donation here.

  • Swiss Darning with Daily Thread. 12-2.30pm, Upper Gallery, OPW

    In this workshop you will master Swiss Darning, a clever way that mimics knitted stitches to make holes and thin patches disappear.

    This session is taught by @knitwithu – a BCU textiles student specialising in knit – arrive as a beginner and leave as a pro!

    You will learn how to repair your knits like an expert, giving you the skills to fight fast fashion by making your clothes last longer. We provide all the needles, colourful yarns, and practice fabric you need, so you can walk out with a more sustainable wardrobe and the confidence to keep your favourite sweaters in great shape for years to come.

    Tickets cost £4 full price / £3 concessions.

    Please book here.

    This workshop takes place in Daily Thread, the community textiles space at The Old Print Works. Please note this space is located on the first floor and only accessible via a number of stairs.

  • Balsall Heath Local History Society. 12-3pm, Lower Gallery, OPW

    Meet members of the Balsall Heath Local History Society and learn about their current project Balsall Heath in Changing Times.

    Balsall Heath Local History Society is a Studio Partner at The Old Print Works.

  • The Big Plastic Count Results 2026. 12-4pm, Lower Gallery, OPW

    THE BIG PLASTIC COUNT 2026 RESULTS ARE IN!

    Join us for a drop-in discussion and creative activity to celebrate the completion of this year’s Big Plastic Count and hear about the actions we can take to minimise plastic pollution.

    Back in March, thousands of people from schools, households, community groups and workplaces across the UK counted their plastic waste for one week as part of the UK’s biggest people-powered investigation into plastic waste.

    Now, we’ve crunched the numbers and processed the data, and our results reveal the shocking scale of the UK’s big plastic problem…

    This is a free drop-in with no need to book. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly happens to your plastic waste, what actions we think our government should be taking, or simply want to chat, then come along!

  • Food from Sam’s Vegan Delights. 12-8pm, The MIX Cafe

    Food from Sam’s Vegan Delights. 12-8pm, The MIX Cafe

    Sam’s Vegan Delights is a family based Caribbean vegan food business based in Birmingham.

    Sam became vegan as a child and raised both of her children as vegan too (which they continued with their children). Fast forward a generation there have been over 3 generations of vegan in Sam’s immediate family. Sam and her children make up the quirky Sams Vegan Delights team. Being of Jamaican and mixed heritage decent, they offer home cooked naughty Jamaican & Asian infused vegan food every Friday and Saturday at The Mix Community Cafe (ran by The Gap Arts Project) 12-8pm. Sam’s flavours were inspired by her father’s dishes growing up as a child and was later inspired by the spices of the Asian diaspora due to them having so many vegetarian dishes, this experience inspired Sam to infuse both flavours together to create something delicious and unique.

    Sam’s Vegan Delights aims to offer mouth watering delicious food, that is both full of flavour and packed with nutrition. Sam offers traditional Jamaican meat curry flavours using soy-based substitutes. Sam also specialises in non-soy-based dishes such as her famous Original Dumpling Patties, Original Ras Request & Original dinner dumplings. From her vegan sexy juice to curries, dall & vegan hot dogs, there is something for the whole family to enjoy.

  • Woodwork with MAKE & TADA! 12.30-2.30pm, Lower Gallery, OPW

    In this session with MAKE & TADA!, participants can make a beautiful flying bird decoration.

    This is a relaxed, welcoming free community workshop, suitable for all abilities. All materials are provided, along with guidance throughout. *Children under the age of 10 must be supervised by an accompanying adult*

    This workshop is free, please consider making a donation here.

    MAKE & TADA! is a Studio Partner at The Old Print Works.

  • Balsall Heath Repair Cafe, 12.30-4pm. The Mix Cafe, OPW

    Balsall Heath Repair Cafe is back again at Balsall Heath Second Saturday. Repairers include textiles and knife sharpening.

    Check balsallheathrepaircafe.org for repairers closer to the day.

    This session is free, please consider making a donation here.

  • Play with Clay with Sundragon Pottery. 1-3pm, Lower Gallery, OPW

    Come and play with clay with Sundragon Pottery. Try some simple techniques and experiment with form making – just drop in, stay as long as you like.

    This session is free, please consider making a donation here.

    Sundragon Pottery are a Studio Partner at The Old Print Works.

  • Seeing in Colour with Community Energy Birmingham. 2-4pm, Lower Gallery, OPW

    Community Energy Birmingham (CEB) is running the Seeing in Colour project (funded by the University of Birmingham) to host free thermal imaging workshops and evening walks in your
    neighbourhood. These events will help local residents grow their understanding of heat loss in homes.

    CEB are a non-profit organisation who have experience since 2012 in delivering projects which improve the city of Birmingham’s relationship with energy.

    Our thermal camera classes will show you:

    • Sources of heat loss and humidity from homes – which could potentially make your home more comfortable, healthier AND cheaper to run (subject to the practicality of implementing
      solutions).
    • To ‘See in Colour’ by learning how to use a handheld thermal camera from one of our expert demonstrators. You would have the opportunity to use this camera on your house
      during a neighbourhood walk.
    • Our team can then advise you on:
    • ‘Do it yourself’ solutions (like changing heating schedules or draught proofing)
    • Funding available for home efficiency improvements (e.g. loft insulation, wall insulation, solar panels).
      Take this opportunity to help you and your neighbours in the journey to comfortable and healthy homes. For more info contact Joe from the University of Birmingham or Beate from CEB, by e-mailing j.k.day@bham.ac.uk or info@communityenergybirmingham.coop

    This is an excellent educational opportunity for families with complimentary snacks and hot/soft drinks provided.

  • Paint Your Own Ottoman Design Plate. 2-4pm, MIAH Gallery, 496 Moseley Road

    Join MIAH Gallery for this workshop which is being delivered as supportive programming for their upcoming in-house exhibition ‘Under the Sultan’s Shadow’. In the workshop you will paint a plate in the style of classical-era Ottoman pottery.

    All materials are provided.

    Age: Suitable for adults and children aged 12+ years.

    For safeguarding reasons, the accompanying adult for under 18’s must remain in the building and be available and accessible throughout the session.

    Tickets: To guarantee your place, please book your tickets in advance.

    Standard Ticket: £15.00 (+ ticket fees)

    Concessions (students, low-income, over 65s): £12.50 (+ ticket fees)

    Please present proof of concessionary status with your ticket upon arrival, where applicable.

  • Rhythms for Life – Percussion and Dance Workshop. 3-5pm, Upper Gallery, OPW

    Re-evolutionary percussion and dance workshop for the mind and body. This session is suitable for those with little or no experience.

    Sessions run by Richard Sealy, a percussionist of 40+ years’ experience. Rhythms learned will be based around the Afro diasporas, including Brazil, South America and the Caribbean.

    This session is free, please consider making a donation here.

    Rhythms for Life runs weekly sessions at The Old Print Works. Find out more here.