Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is particularly admired for its Pre- Raphaelite paintings and drawings. As well as fine art collections from the 14th Century onwards, the collection also encompasses applied arts such as ceramics and metalwork and historic collections, including everything from Egyptian mummies to local history. Other highlights include a magnificent Edwardian Tea Room and the Round Room, part of the original art gallery, opened in 1885.

During ArtsFest the Round Room, the Industrial Gallery, Gallery 20 and Gallery 33 will host a mixed programme of performances and workshop activities.

Venue Specific Information

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
(Chamberlain Square, B3 3HQ)

Availability:

Saturday 8th September: 11.00 – 16.00
Sunday 9th September: 13.00 – 16.30

(Please note that these times are provisional at this stage and may be subject to change).

Spaces Available:

The Round Room:

This is the large circular room that visitors are first brought to when entering the Museum from its main entrance on Chamberlain Square. The floor of the room is tiled and the performance area is level with the rest of the room. Performances do not require amplification to be loud enough in this space although a small PA will be provided.

The Industrial Gallery:

This is a long oblong gallery with tiled floor and beautiful iron staircase leading to a balcony running around the top of the room. The staircase provides an ideal platform for choral performances. Performances do not require amplification to be loud enough in this space.

Gallery 20:

The floor of the gallery is wooden and the performance area is level with the rest of the room. Performances do not require amplification to be loud enough in this space.

Gallery 33:

The floor of the gallery is wooden and performances do not require amplification to be loud enough in this space. A raised three tiered carpeted platform, approximately two metres high, is located in this gallery for seating for performances. This platform has three steps onto it and is not wheelchair accessible.

(Please note that the exact layout and size of performance or workshop areas will be dependent on the layout of exhibits in the galleries at the time of ArtsFest).

Audience Capacity:

30 – 100 depending on the gallery

Equipment / Facilities Available

- 120 watt mixer amplifier with speakers

- 8 microphone / line input channels

- Bass, mid, treble and master control

- 2 microphones, XLR leads and stands

- CD player

- Tables & chairs

(The above equipment will be located in the Round Room. The other galleries are small in size and performances do not require amplification for sound to be projected adequately for the audience. Artists can still provide a small portable PA system if they wish to however and power sockets are positioned around the spaces for this).

(Please note that a backline will be provided with the PA system. Groups requiring a backline that wish to perform at the Museum and Art Gallery must be able to provide their own. Groups providing their own backline or PA system may need to be prepared to drop this off before the first performance of the day and collect it after the last performance of the day, depending on the how long the equipment takes to set up and break down).

(Please also note that this venue does not have a piano, music stands, or projection or screening facilities).

Lighting:

- Standard gallery lighting

Staffing:

In addition to the Museum’s usual weekend staff, an ArtsFest Volunteer Venue Officer will be in charge of each gallery on behalf of ArtsFest and will liaise with all artists before the event and on the day.

Additional Notes:

Changing facilities are not available at this venue.

Please note that the Museum and Art Gallery is an open public space. Members of the public not watching performances or participating in workshops will also be in the venue during performance and workshop times.

Dance Applicants:

Dance performances and workshops will be programmed into the Round Room where artists will have access to the small PA system to amplify backing tracks.

Venue Access:

For artists bringing equipment or instruments with them that they wish to drop off by vehicle, they will be given access to drive through the barrier at the corner of Edmund Street and Margaret Street to unload at the lift entrance of the Museum next to the Gas Hall. Space here is limited and artists will be asked to remove their vehicle as soon as they have unloaded. The exception to this is for blue badge holders who will be able to remain parked here for the duration of their performance or workshop subject to sufficient space. The Museum is fully accessible for artists with mobility disabilities using the lift at the Gas Hall entrance.