Thanks for checking out our post about art in Birmingham, UK. Galleries, museums, supplies, schools, shows, events and more will all be discussed in detail right here.
This intro will be short and sweet because we know your time is valuable. We will begin by discussing the best Birmingham Art Galleries and Museums where you can see some of the finest exhibitions and collections the city has to offer.
You may want to know about the best art stores in town where you can find all the supplies and materials you desire so they will be listed. We also don’t want to forget about the best shows and events this area has to offer.
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If you get a sunny day enjoy it by going on a local art walking tour or by seeing some of the most unique statues and sculptures around town. Taking group classes or private lessons at one of the nicer art schools in your area can be a great way to improve your skills quickly.
Renting out an art studio near you when the time is right to get the ball rolling on your next project could improve your odds of success. Appraisers, dealers, and framing shops will also be covered.
You can look through more of our posts on art in the United Kingdom at that link.
Best Art Galleries & Museums In Birmingham
The best art galleries and museums in Birmingham would be:
- Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery at Chamberlain Sq
- Barber Institute of Fine Arts at University of Birmingham B15
- Ikon Gallery at 1 Oozells Sq
- Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Gallery at 4 Brook St
- Eastside Projects at 86 Heath Mill Lane
- Midlands Arts Centre at Cannon Hill Park
- Grand Union at 19 Minerva Works Fazeley St
- Vivid Projects at 158 Fazeley St
- Woodbridge Gallery at 47 Woodbridge Rd
Believe it or not there are around 800,000 objects in the collection at Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery. Included in this would be one of the finest collections of Pre-Raphaelite art in the world.
They provide services like consultations and conservations, plus they also do training in conservations and advisory. You can also find education programs and many hands-on activities around the museum.
The great collection at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts includes unique pieces by Monet, Botticelli, Rubens, Degas, Gainsborough, and many other major names in the Western art scene. Throughout the year they host their popular Tuesday Talks with Artists events plus other concerts and other demonstrations of performing arts.
Everyone is free to enter the Ikon Gallery plus they host lectures and seminars in addition to having local workshops and lessons for all ages. The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Gallery is also free to enter and their Photography Prize Exhibition includes cash prizes of up to 1,000 euros for the winner and a solo exhibition at the RBSA Gallery.
Every year more than a million people check out the collection at the Midlands Arts Centre and the numerous performing arts shows they put on. Their instructors also teach practical lessons in a wide variety of creative media.
Grand Union hosts free public exhibitions, programs, and other events plus they are a good place to rent out high-quality art studio space near you. Emerging artists may want to look into the Black Hole Club Program at Vivid Projects which is a free program to offer a supportive space for newer creators to get together with more well established practitioners.
Materials & Supplies Near You
The best stores to buy art supplies and materials in your area are:
- Harris Moore at 158 Fazeley St
- Web Craftshop at 37 Spencer St
- Ae Southgate Limited at 31 Coleshill Industrial Estate Station Rd
- Wh Smith at 31-33 Union St
- Cess Art at 19 Corporation St
- The Works at 128 High St
- Paperchase at 31 Stephenson Pl
At Harris Moore you will find a wide selection of handmade oil and acrylic paints and some of their other specialties include producing artists’ canvases and stretcher bars or services like canvas stretching and custom framing.
There are materials and supplies for all kinds of artists and craftsmen at Web Craftshop.
Shows & Events
Some of the best art shows and events near you are:
- Birmingham Weekender in October
- High Vis Street Culture Festival in September
- Fierce Festival every other October
- Moseley Folk & Arts Festival in September
Birmingham Weekender is a great free arts festival that goes down in the creative quarter of Digbeth every October. You will find live music, dance, art, and plenty of other cool stuff.
High Vis Street Culture Festival is another great free event that is held every September which mostly focuses on street art, graffiti, and illustration. Fierce Festival is a bi-annual event that takes place every other October.
There will be all kinds of interesting things going on like theatre, dance, performance art, music, installations, and more. Moseley Park is where you will find the Moseley Folk & Arts Festival every September.
It is a celebration of folk music, comedy, art, crafts, and fun.
Art Dealers & Appraisers
When you are trying to find a new piece for your collection or to figure out the true value of something visit one of these local art dealers and appraisers:
- Castle Fine Art at 5 Wharfside St
- Reuben Colley Fine Art at 85-89 Colmore Row
- Whitewall Galleries at 9 Colmore Row
- St Pauls Gallery at 108 Northwood St
Castle Fine Art is a great place to go for consultations plus you can submit your art for sale and they have free shipping all throughout the UK. You can also get free delivery throughout the UK or try out the bespoke consultations from Whitewall Galleries.
Local auctions are held at St Pauls Gallery plus they do high quality custom framing.
Walking Tours
We mentioned the Digbeth creative quarter just a minute ago, well the Graffiti Art of Digbeth Walk tour will show you why. The walk starts and ends at the Moor Street Train Station and is 4 kilometers long.
Sculptures & Statues
You may also want to take some photos of these sculptures and statues:
- Boulton, Watt and Murdoch at 300 Centenary Sq
- Faraday Statue at University Rd W
- King Edward VII Memorial at 2 Centenary Sq
- Queen Victoria at 38 Paradise St
- Joseph Sturge Memorial at Harborne Rd
The House of Sport on Broad Street is where you can find Boulton, Watt and Murdoch which was created by William Bloye and sculpted by Raymond Forbes-Kings in the 1950’s. Sir Eduardo Paolozzi created the Faraday Statue around the turn of the last century which sits at the West Gate of the University of Birmingham.
In 1913 Albert Toft created the King Edward VII Memorial that has been in Highgate Park since the early 50’s. Victoria Square is the home of the Queen Victoria statue in your area which was a creation of Thomas Brock.
12,000 people gathered to watch the unveiling of the Joseph Sturge Memorial all the way back in 1862.
Birmingham Art Classes
Whether you are trying to find private lessons or group classes for kids, teens, or adults the best art schools in Birmingham would be:
- Birmingham School of Art at 3 Margaret St
- Art Courses Birmingham at 9 Margaret St
- The Seasons Art Class at 40 Woodview Dr
- Sundragon Community Pottery at 506 Moseley Rd
- Pavlov Ceramics Studio at 36 Hall St
Birmingham School of Art is the UK’s largest regional center for art, architecture and design. They also have classes in other media and it is believed to have one of the largest jewelry schools in Europe.
You can try the group classes or the one-on-one classes from the instructors at Art Courses Birmingham. They have weekend classes, night classes, and they even do life drawing with real models.
The lessons at The Seasons Art Class are only for adults who have beginner or intermediate level skills. Pottery lovers will enjoy the classes and workshops at Sundragon Community Pottery which are available to kids and adults of all ages.
Ikon Gallery and Midlands Arts Centre from the best museums near you list also offers art classes.
Studios For Rent Near You
You can try to rent art studio space in your area at:
- The Old Print Works at 498-506 Moseley Rd
- Iron House Studios at 170-174 Great Hampton Row
- Melting Pot at Smithfield Garage, Meriden St
- Custard Factory at Gibb St
Grand Union from our main list also has art studio space for rent.
Framing
For art framing services in Birmingham try out:
- Picture Master at 9 Mount St Business Park
- The Framers at The Custard Factory Gibb St
- Elba Designs at 85 Spencer St
- Gale & Co Ltd at 41-49 High St
- Fine Art Picture Framing at 130 Pershore Rd
- Whitworths Picture Framing at 1795 Coventry Rd
You can buy all kinds of canvas or try the canvas stretching services at The Framers who also can help with art delivery and installation. At Elba Designs they do all the framing services you could need like canvas stretching, embroidery stretching, and restorations.
For 170 years Gale & Co has been providing high level frame-making and restoration services in your area. St Pauls Gallery from the dealers list also does custom framing.
Some other cities around the UK we have discussed are:
Have Fun Enjoying The Birmingham Art Scene
We shared as much as we know about the best galleries, museums, events, shows, supply stores, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, sculptures, classes, studios, and framers that you may want to check out.
If you made it this far you might just know quite a bit about the local art scene yourself. Feel free to share your own tips, or to let us know if we may have gotten anything wrong in the comments.
We hope you enjoy your time at the best Birmingham, UK Art Galleries, Museums, Supply Stores or doing whatever it else you plan to do with the info.
