Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) has reopened more of its spaces following four years of closure due to essential maintenance works. 
A jewel in the city’s crown, the venue is home to, among other treasures, the world’s finest collection of art by the Pre-Raphaelites and a wealth of non-figurative contemporary British 20th-century paintings...  
And there’s plenty more to recommend BMAG, too. The architecture of the building alone is something at which to marvel, while the iconic tearooms provide the perfect stop-off in which to recharge your batteries and enjoy a cuppa or something more substantial.                                                             
New exhibitions showcasing Birmingham past and present, family-focused areas and a world-renowned touring exhibition mean that there’s now more than ever to see and do at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.    

THE BRIDGE GALLERY
New for 2024, Modern Muse by Arpita Shah is a series of photographic portraits celebrating the identities and experiences of young South Asian women from Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Arpita took the photographs in 2019, and each portrait is paired with snippets from conversations between her and her sitters. Discussing identity, heritage and representation, they answer the question ‘Where do you come from?’
The series was commissioned by GRAIN Projects, with the acquisition funded by a gift in the Will of Tessa Sidey, 2022.
The display also features BMAG’s important miniature portrait of Arjumand Banu Begum (Mumtaz Mahal) - the Taj Mahal was built as her tomb - and modern miniatures in the same style.

INDUSTRIAL GALLERY
This spectacular double height space features striking architectural design and imposing gas lights which serve as a reminder of the museum’s history.
The Industrial Gallery is now home to Made In Birmingham - a new display exploring some of the characteristics of the city. 
The display looks beyond the stereotypes to examine the real Birmingham, providing a snapshot - from the 18th century to the present day - of the people, the places and the manufacturing which have helped make  Birmingham what it is today.
The complicated relationship many people have with Birmingham is also explored, as is the sense of a warm welcome that the city and its inhabitants provide. 
Birmingham as a city of makers - producing everything from HP Sauce to Cadbury’s chocolate, buttons to bicycles, fancy metalwork to industrial metalwork, is also acknowledged.

THE ROUND ROOM
The spectacular Round Room (left image) has showcased Birmingham’s art collection for almost 150 years. It’s also home to Jacob Epstein’s bronze Lucifer and the much-loved penguins Dominicans In Feathers.
One Fresh Take is a new display about how art can be a way to see the world differently. The display features works by numerous renowned artists - from David Cox to Lubaina Himid, and Bridget Riley to Cold War Steve - each showcasing their own fresh take on places which have meaning for them. 

PIXEL STUDIO
A brand-new digital gallery and activity space, the Pixel Studio will facilitate screenings of digital work and provide immersive experiences created by local artists and producers.                     
Collaborations using the collections as an inspiration, digital activities, games and workshops will also feature. Films currently on display - and repeated throughout the day - include The Tiny Spark and Excerpt: Mixed Milk.

The Tiny Spark is Pogus Caesar’s 2023 film reimagining the 1985 Handsworth Riots.
The film - which is on loan from the artist and runs for 16 minutes 44 seconds - includes poetry from Benjamin Zephaniah, a specially composed soundscape by eclectic underground artist Taber-Cayon, emotive performances from spoken-word artists Juice Aleem, Chauntelle Madondo and Samiir Saunders, and artworks by Caesar himself. 
Excerpt: Mixed Milk is the work of Birmingham-based filmmaker, animator & artist Martin McNally. The film showcases selected details from museum objects in Birmingham’s collection, re-sequencing and binding them according to their similarities, while at the same time exposing hidden narratives and shining a light on intimacy and connection.

WILD CITY
Two new galleries dedicated to children and families, Wild City tells stories about nature, wildlife and the natural environment in the past, present and future. It also explores the  city’s historic links to animals, encouraging children to look at and understand the nature we can see on our doorstep today, while also relaying children’s hopes for the future.
The space includes the famous portrait of the Official Rat Catcher to the City of Birmingham by Arthur Charles Shorthouse (1870 - 1953). Children’s artworks and a small soft play and coffee area also feature.

CURTIS HOLDER - DRAWING CARLOS ACOSTA
Curtis Holder, winner of Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist Of The Year competition in 2020, was commissioned to draw Birmingham Royal Ballet’s director, Carlos Acosta.
The display features the Acosta drawing - and Holder’s working sketches - as well as drawings of other familiar figures. 
Holder was inspired by some of the Pre-Raphaelite art in the city collection.
Six of the Briar Rose Series by Edward Burne-Jones (1833 - 1898) are also on display.

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE:

DEVIANCE & DIFFERENCE
Artworks by graduates from Birmingham City University’s School of Art here sit alongside pieces from the museum’s historic art collection, with works by Francis Bacon, Donald Rodney and Barbara Hepworth all featuring.
The display is curated by internationally acclaimed artist Osman Yousefzada, who has created a way for the artworks to talk to each other, combining pieces from Birmingham’s collection with his de-colonial teaching practice. The graduates’ artworks are shown next to pieces from the city’s collection, and together they create new ideas and connections that might not have been noticed. Showing until Sunday 8 December.

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR     
This returning exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, features a wealth of exceptional imagery and showcases photographic skills in a number of different categories, with participants hailing from 117 countries and territories all over the world. Showing until Sunday 20 April 2025. 

Feature by Patsy Moss

For further information about Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, including opening times, exhibitions and associated activities, visit the venue’s website: birminghammuseums.org.uk