Things to do in May
Reading Time: 3 minutes
May is a busy month in the Jewellery Quarter and across Birmingham with Flatpack Festival and the beginning of 100 Days of Creativity.
RBSA Gallery
The RBSA Portrait Prize exhibition runs from May 7th – June 9th. The RBSA Portrait Prize exhibition gives artists working in any medium the opportunity to exhibit their work and win prizes. This year, the RBSA was delighted to extend the scope of the exhibition to include photography and digital artwork.
There are also two other exhibitions running at the gallery during May. From May 7th to 26th, Enamel Matters, showcasing work by members of the British Society of Enamellers. The exhibition seeks to promote and celebrate the work of BSE members who work in vitreous enamel. From May 28th – 9th June, Nature and Nuture showcases work by the late sculptor Tom Millard RBSA and practising artist Melanie Keevil.
The Hive
Ending April on a high, with Brum Zine Fest on 27th April, May is a busy month at The Hive. The Book Club is back on the 17th May as is the fantastic monthly creative workshop HABITS on Friday 21st May. They are also running a brilliant ‘poetry from prompts‘ workshop on 21st May.
Stryx Gallery
Stryx are going from strength to strength with their new commercial Gallery in the JQ now open. They have also started a Kids Stay and Play every Friday from 1.30pm till 3pm in the Café – which we know will be extremely popular with parents whose children are aged 5 and under. The end of April sees collaboration with The Blossom Project for events on the 26th and 27th April, and in May there is a unique workshop for adults – All Seeing Eye Jewellery Workshop with Katherine Howes on Saturday 18th May.
The Coffin Works
As well as their regular tours and self-guided experiences, The Coffin Works are celebrating the early May bank holiday by bringing back their popular A Right Royal Funeral Tours on Monday 6th May. They are also partnering with BrumYODO to run a Death Cafe on May 9th, and rounding out the month with the May-kers Market with local arts and crafts on Monday 27th May.
The Pen Museum
The Pen Museum continue with their mission to teach everyone beautiful penmanship with calligraphy workshops on the 19th and 26th May.
The Friends of Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries
In honour of VE Day, the Friends are running an open day with stalls and interior catacomb tours on Saturday 4th May – these are not to be missed and always sell out so BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL!
Monthly tours of Key Hill and Warstone Lane are always popular, and they look especially pretty with carpets of crocuses and sunny daffodils. There is also a volunteer litter pick every month if you want to help keep them looking beautiful. The lighter evenings also mean that evening tours are back!
Assay Office
The Birmingham Assay Office has been hallmarking and assaying for 250 years. There’s now a chance for your to explore every month during their Discovery Day and they are also bringing back their ever popular Afternoon Teas on the 15th May.
Gulp
Gulp is a one-of-a-kind meeting, dining and creative space for curious appetites with a taste for the extraordinary. In May, Matt O’Callaghan is back with Pasta! Pasta! workshops at lunchtime on Saturday 4th May and for dinner on Tuesday 14th May.
Blue Orange Theatre
Blue Orange Theatre have The Witching Hour returning to Birmingham for ONE WEEK ONLY from May 23rd – 26th before it’s National Tour and London run.
She died. Her curse lives on. Do you dare join us for the most terrifying tale yet? Tickets on sale now.
St Pauls Church JQ
St Paul’s FREE lunchtime concert series with students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, continues on Thursday 16th May with pianist Irinaa Chagunava and Thursday 24th May with pianist Xinyuan Jiang. There are some wonderful evening events coming up too. On Thursday 9th May TØKIO M¥ERS: Awake but Dreaming – his debut solo classical piano tour and on Tuesday 21st May, Voice Recital: Vaughan Williams and Chinese Art Songs.
