Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery - A Birmingham Gem!

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is situated in Chamberlain Square, and first opened in 1885. The gallery was extended in 1911, and is above the Council House. Home of Big Brum clocktower.


Where is Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery?

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is at Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH. Also a side entrance on Edmund Street. Formerly an entrance on Great Charles Street Queensway (closed to the public since 2015).

 

In brief

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery first opened to the public at Chamberlain Square in 1885 above the Council House. An extension began around 1911 and was completed by 1919. Also home to the Gas Hall. The Birmingham History Galleries opened in 2012. The museum closed during the pandemic in 2020 (partial reopening Autumn 2020 then closed again by second lockdown). They partially reopened five galleries at the end of April 2022, in time for the Commonwealth Games. Closed again in 2023, due to fully reopen by 2024.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery from Chamberlain Square (July 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

History of the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

The museum first opened in 1885, above the Council House at the Chamberlain Square site. The building was designed by Yeoville Thomason.

Birmingham Museum & Art GalleryArt Gallery, Birmingham from Mason College, 1890. Public domain. Historic England collection

 

The Council House Extension towards Great Charles Street (and between Congreve Street and Margaret Street) was opened in 1911. This included more galleries. The gallery was bombed in 1940 during WW2, and several of them had to be rebuilt after the war. Immediately above the Chamberlain Square entrance at the Edmund Street corner, is the clocktower known as Big Brum. The Gas Hall gallery is located in the Council House Extension. There is also the Water Hall, but this has been closed for years. The Birmingham History Galleries was installed in some of the galleries in the extension during 2011 to 2012. The Birmingham Museums Trust took over the running of the museum (and the other community museums) from Birmingham City Council in 2012.

BM & AGBM & AG from Chamberlain Square (November 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Museum & Art Gallery closed in March 2020 (due to the first lockdown of the pandemic). But briefly reopened in the autumn of 2020 (free timed ticketed entrances). But closed again by the second lockdown. During 2021 both BM & AG and the Council House were closed for renovation and rewiring works. The building was jet washed externally early in 2022. It is planned to partially reopen the Museum & Art Gallery at the end of April 2022.

BM & AGBM & AG from Chamberlain Square (March 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Chamberlain Square entrance

You enter through the double doors from Chamberlain Square, and head right then up the staircase, which goes around to the left up to the main foyer. There is also a lift that can be used from the Edmund Street entrance.

BM & AG

BM & AG main entrance up the stairs (April 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Round Room

Below the large dome is the Round Room. It has walls painted in dark red, with paintings all around. In the middle is Sir Jabob Epstein's Lucifer. One entranceway leads to the gift shop, Industrial Gallery and the Edwardian Tearoom. You can also head over the BM & AG link bridge to the Art Gallery Extension and Feeney Galleries. This opened in 1912. Or take the exit to Chamberlain Square via the foyer and down the stairs.

BM & AG

The Round Room at BM & AG (March 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Industrial Gallery

One of the oldest galleries at the museum dating back to 1885. There is a pair of staircases leading up to Ruskin Pottery. Up here you can find pottery and ceramics.  There is two entrance ways that takes you to the gallery that goes around the Edwardian Tearoom, with medal objects made out of iron, brass and steel.

BM & AG

The Industrial Gallery at BM & AG (April 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Edwardian Tearoom

Somewhere to stop for a bite of lunch and a drink, on your visit to the Museum & Art Gallery is the Edwardian Tearoom. It can also be seen from the cantilevered Iron Gallery above. The tearoom was refurbished in 2014.

BM & AG

Edwardian Tearoom at BM & AG (April 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Ancient Galleries

Galleries with objects from Ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome in the Council House extension. Mounted to the long sides of the balconies is the Frieze of the Mausoleum, c 350 BC.  On the short sides is the Frieze of the Nereid Monument, c 380 BC. They were both plaster casts of the originals at the British Museum. They can be seen in the African Gallery.

BM & AG

African Gallery at BM & AG (March 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Staffordshire Hoard Gallery

The Staffordshire Hoard Gallery was moved into the gallery below the Ancient Egypt Gallery in 2014. Having previously been in a different gallery in the museum from when it was discovered in 2009 to 2014. Anglo Saxon objects  (from the Kingdom of Mercia) that were found in a field in Staffordshire in 2009, were bought by Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Stoke-on-Trent Potteries Museum.

BM & AG

Staffordshire Hoard at BM & AG (October 2014). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

School Room

Located to the left of the Great Charles Street Queensway entrance is a School Room, where visiting school children can be educated about objects at the museum.

BM & AG

School Room at BM & AG (April 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Gas Hall

Touring exhibitions, either free or paid for with tickets are usually in the Gas Hall. Entrance from Edmund Street. From an exhibition on Ancient Egypt (from the British Museum) in 2012, to Dippy on Tour (from the Natural History Museum) in 2018, to Home of Metal presents Black Sabbath 50 Years in 2019. This and more has been at the Gas Hall. It was formerly the municipal Gas Department of the Council House.

BM & AG

Dippy on Tour in the Gas Hall at BM & AG (June 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Birmingham History Galleries

An entire floor in the Art Gallery Extension was converted during 2011 to 2012, opening in November 2012. The galleries are all about Birmingham's it's People and it's History. Discover the people and events that have shaped our city. From Peter de Birmingham in the 12th Century, to Thomas Attwood in the 1830s to Joseph Chamberlain in the late 19th Century. To more recent history of individuals in the 20th and 21st Centuries. Including the fall of MG Rover in 2005, to the visit of the Pope in 2010.

BM & AG

Birmingham Politcal Union rally held by Thomas Attwood in the 1830s, painting at the Birmingham History Galleries at BM & AG (November 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Temporary Exhibitions

Various temporary exhibitions have been and gone to BM & AG over the years, such as Turning to See in 2016, to Leonardo 500 in 2019 (from the Royal Collection). More locally the trails of the Big Hoot (in 2015) and Big Sleuth (in 2017) has been around the museum.

 

New Art West Midlands

This is a regularly returning exhibition to BM & AG called New Art West Midlands. Modern art made by local or International artists over the last few years or decades. It started in 2013, and was going on annually until at least 2018.

Man and his Sheep (1989) by Ana Maria Pacheco. Made of wood, paint, teeth. The artist is from Brazil. Seven figures huddle around an almost naked man holding a sheep's head on a pole.

New Art West Midlands BM & AG

New Art West Midlands at BM & AG (April 2013). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Birmingham and the British Empire

This exhibition was on during January 2018. Birmingham's historical involement in the British Empire by it's extent up to 1922. But some objects dates to later than that. The museum has a habit of moving objects from elsewhere in the museum into temporary exhibitions like this one, or take objects out of storage from the Birmingham Museum Collection Centre. Or get temporary loans from elsewhere.

Birmingham and the British Empire at BM & AG

Birmingham and the British Empire at BM & AG (January 2018) Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Big Hoot Birmingham 2015

From the summer of 2015, for 10 weeks, there was a trail of painted owls around Birmingham. At BM & AG there was one big owl, plus a room full of The Big Hoot's Little Hoot. After it ended, they were auctioned off for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.

At the far end of the BM & AG link bridge to the extension galleries was G'owl'd, by the artist Temper. The sponsor was Edward’s Trust. It was supported by Wild in Art.

The Big Hoot BM & AG

G'owl'd (by artist Temper) at BM & AG (July 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Big Sleuth Birmingham 2017

From the summer of 2017, for 10 weeks, there was a trail of painted bears around Birmingham. At BM & AG there was at least two big bears (but one was small). The rest to be found were from the The Big Sleuth presents the Little Bear's Detective Club. After it ended, they were auctioned off for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.

At the far end of the BM & AG link bridge to the extension galleries was Xt was by the artist Reuben Colley. The sponsor was Harrow Green.

Big Sleuth BM & AG

Xt (by artist Reuben Colley) at BM & AG (July 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Contact details

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Chamberlain Square

Birmingham

B3 3DH

0121 348 8032

Twitter: @BM_AG

Project dates

31 Aug 2019 - On-going

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History & heritage, Civic pride, Squares and public spaces
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11 May 2022 - Elliott Brown 		Inspiration

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is (partially) open again - the visit of 7th May 2022

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It has been closed for a long time. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery partially reopened (five galleries) on the 28th April 2022. It closed during the pandemic, briefly reopened October 2020, then again (lockdowns etc). Then re-wiring works. The Round Room has We Are Birmingham, Industrial Gallery has Black history and nightclub history. Also one room on local cinema history.

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Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is (partially) open again - the visit of 7th May 2022





It has been closed for a long time. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery partially reopened (five galleries) on the 28th April 2022. It closed during the pandemic, briefly reopened October 2020, then again (lockdowns etc). Then re-wiring works. The Round Room has We Are Birmingham, Industrial Gallery has Black history and nightclub history. Also one room on local cinema history.


Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery reopened on the 28th April 2022. I didn't visit over the May Day Bank Holiday Weekend, but instead popped in a weekend later on Saturday 7th May 2022 (coming back from Cineworld and the Library of Birmingham).

The approach from Centenary Way into Chamberlain Square, at Paradise Birmingham (103 Colmore Row behind). Entrance of course to BM & AG from Chamberlain Square.

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We Are Open. Heading to the double doors of BM & AG, the Chamberlain Square entrance.

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The ground floor entrance room is empty, but has 'Welcome to Museum & Art Gallery Birmingham' signs on panels around it. Seen here from the stairs heading down to the Chamberlain Square exit.

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The stairs leads up to Level 2. There is a new Directory of what is open now, and what will be in Gas Hall (when it reopens on the 14th May 2022).

Round Room - Don't Settle: We Are Birmingham

1. Shop

2. Industrial Gallery - Birmingham Music Archive: In The Que

Fierce: SaVage K'Lub Va Tamatea

Kalaboration Arts: Blacklash: Racism and the Struggle for Self-Defence

3. Gallery
Flatpack Projects: Wonderland

4. Edwardian Tearooms

8. Bridge Gallery - Collection Stories

10. Gallery
Unprecedented Times

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Round Room - Don't Settle: We Are Birmingham

Sir Jacob Epstein's Lucifer statue is the only original piece to return to the Round Room. The walls have been painted a cream colour, and their is an exhibition on called We Are Birmingham.

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We Are Birmingham: Our Journeys - The Past is Now.

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An image of Selfridges on the right.

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We Are Birmingham: Our City. As well as Cold War Steve's Birmingham collage, their is black & white photos on the wall of Indian families.

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We Are Birmingham: Our Joy. Indian related objects and a bicycle.

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Heading back into the Round Room from the Bridge Gallery.

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1. Shop

From the Round Room to the Industrial Gallery. Plenty of gifts to buy here.

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The walkway above the Industrial Gallery was open, and found this view through a grill to the shop below (and Round Room beyond that).

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2. Industrial Gallery: Birmingham Music Archive and Blacklash

There is several exhibitions located in the Industrial Gallery. Coming in from the Round Room, on the left is: 'Birmingham Music Archive: In The Que'. On the right is: 'Fierce: SaVage K'Lub Va Tamatea' and 'Kalaboration Arts: Blacklash: Racism and the Struggle for Self-Defence'.

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You can head up the stairs to the upper level, but there is no objects upstairs, but there is tables to sit down on, study etc. The African exhibits including Blacklash are on the left, while In The Que (nightclubs) is on the right. This view towards the Shop and Round Room.

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Some of the tables with benches that you can sit on. There used to be Ruskin pottery up here (or it used to be on the side near the stairs). I'm sure it will all be back one day in the future.

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This view towards Wonderland in Gallery 3. With In The Que (left) and Blacklash (right) below.

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Birmingham Music Archive: In The Que

The exhibit on the left hand side of the Industrial Gallery is currated by Birmingham Music Archive, and is called 'In the Que'. Que Club posters from the 1990s.

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Heading in, there is a display of magazine articles. Que Here - Lifestyle.

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QUE in big colourful letters, plus some black and white photos from the nighclub.

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Kalaboration Arts: Blacklash: Racism and the Struggle for Self-Defence

In the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter movement during 2020. A history of Black protests and marches. Some posters as you head into the Industrial Gallery.

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No Justice No Peace! The visit of Malcolm X to Smethwick in the 1960s. Black People Alliance. Also the Asian Youth Movement in the 1980s.

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African drums and spears. Some objects used at demonstrations. 'No Justice - Just Us!'

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There was more posters under the stairs.

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Fierce: SaVage K'Lub Va Tamatea

The second Afro themed exhibition. This bit about the Empire Korero on May 25th 1918. Various costumes and something about Good Captain Cook Day.

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The entrance to the SaVage K'Lub Va Tamatea seen from above.

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The stairs between the SaVage K'Lub Va Tamatea and Blacklash exhibitions.

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A quick look at the SaVage K'Lub Va Tamatea exhibition on passing it by.

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Gallery 3: Flatpack Projects: Wonderland

Located in the gallery between the Industrial Gallery and the Edwardian Tearoom is a Birmingham Cinema's themed exhibit called Wonderland, run by Flatpack Projects.

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Wonderland is Birmingham's Cinema Stories. Sign seen from the Industrial Gallery.

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Cinemas closed for months during 2020, briefly reopened in the summer, then closed again, bookended by two lockdowns, and then the tiered restrictions. They only reopened without closing again during Spring 2021 last year.

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Cinema related objects in glass cases to the left, and near the Edwardian Tearoom entrance.

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Pictures on the wall of Birmingham cinema's including some that have closed a long time ago.

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This section below focuses on The Electric Cinema on Station Street.

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The Xmas Crackers sign. I remember seeing it on a visit to The Electric, early in 2020 (few months before the first lockdown).

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Three red cinema seats. Was only an hour or so after I'd left Cineworld on Broad Street before I go to this exhibition.

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4. Edwardian Tearooms

After well over two years, you can now pop into the Edwardian Tearooms again. Buy your food and drink, cash or card is accepted. Plenty of tables like before. Access through Gallery 3 (currently Wonderland) via the large doors on the left (or right).

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The galleries above are closed, with no objects on display.

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8. Bridge Gallery - Collection Stories

You can either head into the Industrial Gallery first, or into the Bridge Gallery. Where they have objects from the Birmingham Museum Collection Centre under the title 'Collection Stories'. Just past through under the 'ART GALLERY EXTENSION AND FEENEY GALLERIS A.D. 1912' sign, and the blue plaque (for Bertha Ryland, unveiled back in 2018 by the Birmingham Civic Society).

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Art on the walls of the Bridge Gallery, some objects in glass cases.

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No entry to the Birmingham History Galleries upstairs, as it's closed, and the objects are still in storage, as the re-wiring works hasn't finished yet.

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In front of the stairs, and near the small cafe, is Souvenir 9 (Queen Victoria). Was made in 2019 by Hew Locke, and acquired for the City by the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

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Gallery 10: Unprecedented Times

Since the Museum & Art Gallery had been closed from 2020, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, various local artists had painted or created the art on display here. Art in response to being on lockdown. During the two lost years of the museum being closed.

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This small gallery is just beyond the Bridge Gallery to the right, and nothing else beyond here is open at the moment.

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The red shutter at the end was closed, as BM & AG still has a lot of work to do to re-wire the whole building.

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The steps to the Gas Hall & Exit was closed also. But I suspect it will reopen on the 14th May 2022, when an exhibit at the Gas Hall called 'Found Cities, Lost Objects, Women in the City' opens.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

 

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26 Aug 2019 - Elliott Brown 		News & Updates

Home of Metal at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery presents Black Sabbath 50 Years - Elliott went to visit

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This Black Sabbath exhibition at the Gas Hall in the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery opened on the 26th June 2019, running until 29th September 2019. I finally booked my ticket online and went on the morning of 23rd August 2019. The museum opens at 10:30am on Friday's, so had to wait until they unlocked the doors. Spent around half an hour looking round the exhibition.

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Home of Metal at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery presents Black Sabbath 50 Years - Elliott went to visit





This Black Sabbath exhibition at the Gas Hall in the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery opened on the 26th June 2019, running until 29th September 2019. I finally booked my ticket online and went on the morning of 23rd August 2019. The museum opens at 10:30am on Friday's, so had to wait until they unlocked the doors. Spent around half an hour looking round the exhibition.


My full gallery of photos is now on my Flickr here Home of Metal: Black Sabbath 50 Years. The official website for Home of Metal relating to this exhibition and for booking your ticket online is here Home of Metal: Black Sabbath 50 Years a Major Exhibition.

While the usual route to Chamberlain Square is blocked off due to the Paradise Birmingham works, you can go round the back via Eden Place and Edmund Street. When the doors are open you can go in via the Edmund Street entrance for the Gas Hall. Just show your QR code in the email or PDF, and head through the revolving doors. Ticket was £12 plus £1.57 fee (£13.57 in total).

 

First thing you would see is this Black Sabbath sign. Take a selfie here. Only a year ago this view would have been on Dippy the dinosaur!

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Buy your Black Sabbath merchandise from here. T-shirts were £20 when I had a proper look. Was other items such as mugs and coasters. You can also buy Black Sabbath items from the main museum shop.

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Later saw this sign in the Black Sabbath merchandise shop area. They invented Heavy Metal. And it led to all other forms of metal music around the world.

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Behind the shop was a collection of Black Sabbath t-shirts that the fans could buy or have bought in the past. "It's the people's music, it always has been" - Bill Ward.

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Harley Davidson motorbike from 2006. Courtesty of Ric Lovett. It has been heavily customised displaying the owner's love of Black Sabbath.

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In the centre was this darkened area. At the back was Ozzy and Tony. Later went back in here to find Geezer and Bill at the other side.

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Back of display cases. This side stars with Ozzy in period photos from the 1970s probably.

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The other end of the back of those display cases. Ozzy Osbourne the main singer, Geezer Butler was the bassist, Tony Iommi on the guitar and Bill Ward on the drums.

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A recreation of Tony Iommi's home recording studio.

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A recreation of the Black Sabbath stage with some of the costumes that they may have worn. They played at venues all over the world.

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One corner had a display about Ozzy Osbourne, as well as a drawing of him! Known the world over as the "Prince of Darkness".

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A Black Sabbath fans living room, belonging to Stephen Knowles. Quite a collection of Black Sabbath memorabilia here.

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I'd seen photos of this on Social Media. Where are you from? A map of the world. Of course I took off a red sticker and placed it over Birmingham! Fans mostly from the West Midlands and around Europe. Some from the America's, China and Australia / New Zealand as well.

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In the far right hand corner of the Gas Hall was these guitars. Apparently you can try and play them. Was also another selfie spot! Around here showing all the albums that Black Sabbath released.

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The other side of the guitars and world map. This end of the museum is usually for kids to play or draw. Just behind here is kid tables for colouring in Black Sabbath pictures.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

For more posts and a great gallery of photos go HERE.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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