What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 2pm - 5pm Thursday 12pm - 5pm Friday 12pm - 5pm Saturday 12pm - 5pm

Grand Union, 19 Minerva Works, Fazeley Street, Birmingham (2026)

09/06/2026

In April, the Minerva Group began a series of printmaking workshops with artist Natasha Taheem, which will continue until early Summer. 🌞

📌 This year, the group are focusing on making new collaborative artworks that will contribute to a future project.

Making together creates connection and understanding creating a shared language of empathy and conversation, thus discovering our commonality and interconnectedness.

Natasha, who is one of our Bruntwood SciTech studio artists, has been teaching the group about woodblock printing, composition, and using natural dyes using plants from in the Minerva Garden, with the help of Growing Project facilitator Jenny. 🌱

🌀 Having Natasha, Jenny, and the Minerva Group work together in the space continues to be rewarding, as we see different strands of our programme converge and cross-pollinate.

🔗 To learn more about The Growing Project and our work with the Minerva Group, click here: https://www.grand-union.org.uk/what-were-doing/the-growing-project

📸 Image: Grand Union, 2026.
taheem

[Image description: Raw hemmed textile samples are carefully laid out along a white, plastic table. Blue, orange and organic white squares of fabric are printed in block colours with bold shapes, including hearts, stars and tessellating patterns.]

04/06/2026

Access Information: 'Matter Out of Place', June Digbeth First Friday 💖⁠
⁠
🗓 Friday, 5 June
⏰ 4-8pm⁠
📍Grand Union, Minerva Works, B5 5RS
⁠
Ahead of 'Matter Out of Place' tomorrow, we’re providing some detailed access information to ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible, and to help you decide if this event is right for you. 🌟⁠

Grand Union is located up two flights of stairs (40 steps), and we do not have a working lift.

There will be masks and hand sanitiser at the entrance to Grand Union available for your use. There is a spacious gender neutral bathroom on site with no mobility aids.

📌 4-6pm:
There will be a quiet opening with no bar and less crowds. We ask people to wear a mask and not wear perfume for this time.

📌 6-8pm:
There will be a pay bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks.

At 6:45pm, there will be a sound performance by Roo Dhissou and Oliver Romoff at the Grand Union canal side steps, by Centrala. Printed music transcripts will be available. 🎶

Photography will be taking place on site for documentation purposes and these images may be used on our social media, website, in reporting, and other places.

💌 Please get in touch via DM, email at [email protected] or phone at 0121 643 9079 for any questions or to discuss access further.

🔗 Find out more about 'Matter Out of Place' via our website: https://www.grand-union.org.uk/whats-on/june-digbeth-first-friday-uob-x-gu-matter-out-of-place-launch

📸 Image: 'Surreal Street' (2025) by Matt Westbrook.

[Image description - A graphic featuring an image of a black and white artwork by Matt Westbrook. The top half of the image is a deep purple with white text overlaid. The text reads 'Access Information: 'Matter Out of Place', June Digbeth First Friday. Friday, 5 June 2026, 4-8pm, Grand Union, Minerva Works. Matt Westbrook's artwork 'Surreal Street' occupies the bottom half of the graphic. The work is a collage of various objects and furniture arranged in an abstract composition.]

27/05/2026

"There's just a few days left to apply for 'Students of Nature' with Exodus Crooks!

🗓 Apply by: Monday, 1 June 2026⁠

We're looking for four early career/emerging artists based in the West Midlands to take part in this newly developed education programme. Alongside Exodus, the group will use the city as resource and starting point to experiment with how we can use elements such as earth, water, wind and sun within nature as teachers, to develop new ways of learning together. ☀️⁠
⁠
To apply please send us: An overview of you and your practice, and why you would benefit from involvement in this project (approx. 300 words), confirmation that you are able to attend all of the paid sessions in the programme, and a weblink or up to 5 images of your practice.🌱⁠
⁠
Selected artists will be paid 5 days at £200 per day for contributing to the programme, £1000 in total 💚⁠
⁠
Find out more via our website 🔗⁠ https://www.grand-union.org.uk/whats-on/open-call-students-of-nature-the-city-as-a-classroom-with-exodus-crooks
⁠
📸 ‘Untitled’, 2022, commissioned by Grain Projects. Image courtesy of Exodus Crooks.⁠

⁠

[Image description - A portrait graphic which is half composed of a landscape image taken on the bank of a large pond, and half a block mossy green with white text overlaid. The image has a filmic quality, with bright saturated colours in places, such as the red flotation device installed on the bank and the rust-coloured vegetation in the foreground. The silouhettes of trees are visible across the calm water. The white text at the top of the image reads 'Last Chance to Apply: 'Students of Nature - The City as a Classroom' with Exodus Crooks. Apply by: Monday, 1 June 2026']"

21/05/2026

⭐️ Open Call: Co-Chair of Trustees ⭐️

Grand Union is seeking an artist to join the Board and work collaboratively with staff and trustees to support the organisation’s important work and help us imagine our future. 🌈

We are looking for an artist to join Co-Chair Dr. George Vasey (curator, writer academic), to bring new knowledge and experience to our Board of Trustees. 🌱

⏰ Deadline for applications: Friday, 26 June 2026

🔗 To find out more and apply, click here: https://www.grand-union.org.uk/whats-on/open-call-co-chair-of-trustees

📸: Tegen Kimbley, 2026.

[ID: A huddle of people are together in pleasant conversation. Some are seated at a table, while others are standing. The room is bright and naturally lit, with a large motif on a wall to the right of the room. A pink banner covers the bottom half of the graphic and reads, in black text, ‘Open Call: Co-Chair of Trustees’.]

20/05/2026

🌟 Exhibition announcement: 'Matter Out of Place', Grand Union Studio Artists curated by UoB 🌟

Launching:

🗓 Friday, 5 June 2026
⏰ 6-8 pm
📍 Grand Union

Join us for June’s Digbeth First Friday to celebrate the launch of ‘Matter Out of Place’, an exhibition curated in collaboration with the University of Birmingham’s 2026 MA Art History and Curating Cohort, marking Grand Union’s eighth year working with UoB. 💚

‘Matter Out of Place’ gathers 12 Grand Union studio artists who recover the discarded, inviting them to respond to ideas of waste in relation to their own practices and the context they work in. Guided by the assertion that ‘waste is matter out of place’, this exhibition seeks to expand understandings of how the neighbourhood, materiality, and artistic practice shape, subvert, and reimagine understandings of waste and re-use. 🏙️

The exhibition will continue until Saturday 13 June, open daily from 12-5pm (excluding Sundays). 🗓

ACCESS INFORMATION:

Grand Union is located up two flights of stairs with no lift access.

There is a spacious, gender neutral bathroom on site with no mobility aids.

There will be a pay bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks.

Exact timings for the evening will be shared here in due course.

There will be masks and hand sanitiser at the entrance to Grand Union available for your use.

Photography will be taking place on site for documentation purposes and these images may be used on our social media, website, in reporting, and other places.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss access further. 💖

You can find out more about 'Matter Out of Place' via our website 🔗 https://www.grand-union.org.uk/whats-on/june-digbeth-first-friday-uob-x-gu-matter-out-of-place-launch

📸 Image credits. 1) Image courtesy of Natasha Taheem, 2025. 2) Image courtesy of David Rowan, 2026. 3) Image Courtesy of Matt Westbrook, 2025. 4) Image courtesy of Farwa Moledina, 2024. 5) Image ourtesy of Joanne Masding, 2026.

[Image descriptions -

Image one - A portrait image of an artwork by Natasha Taheem against a pale grey wall. The artwork is monochromatic ink on cream cotton rag paper, and features two arms and the words 'Running on my time' in capital letters. The left arm is clenched in a fist and is adorned with bangles, whith the right points towards the opposite wrist. Both arms sport hairs.

Image two - A portrait photograph taken by David Rowan. The image is a composition made up of tools and wires, such as spanners, saws, and pliers. The tools are hung on a rough red wall, smeared with grime and oil. Further tools are spread on a dirty work bench that is against the wall.

Image three - A portrait image of a monochromatic composition by Matt Westbrook. The portrait composition is bordered by plain white, and featured wooden and fabric shapes arranged in an abstract manner.

Image four - A landscape image of the detail of an installation by Farwa Moledina. A patchwork playmat lies on the floor, covered with different coloured cushions adoned with varied but omplimentary geometric prints. Wooden block toys are strewn on the playmat.

Image five - A portrait image of a ceramic work by Joanne Masding placed against a plain white background. The ceramic object takes the form of a twisting stem, with strands twining around eachother. The stem has a cracked texture across its surface wihich evokes dried earth. Tones of blue, brown, grey, and white subtly colour the object.]

07/05/2026

Thank you to all who attended ‘HORSES!’, as part of this month’s Digbeth First Friday. 🎉

🎬 With that, we’re delighted to announce our second iteration of ‘HORSES!’ with Linda Stupart and Flatpack Festival, screening this Sunday at Mockingbird Cinema.

🗓 Sunday, 10 May 2026
⏰ 2-4pm
📍 Screen 2, Mockingbird Cinema, Custard Factory, B9 4AA

Please note this event is ticketed, with limited free tickets available. 🎟

Exploring representations of horses in relation to class, queerness and anti-colonial contexts, Mockingbird Cinema will be screening:

📌 2pm: ‘Stepney Western’ (2025), Harry Lawson
📌 2:40pm: ‘Never Stop Riding’ (2017), Iwantja Arts
📌 2:50pm: ‘HORSES!’ (2026), Linda Stupart

These screenings will be followed by a 45-minute ‘in conversation’ event with Harry Lawson, Linda Stupart and special guests Ella Daley and Griffinn Jameson. 🐎

🔗 To find out more and book your ticket, click here: https://www.grand-union.org.uk/whats-on/flatpack-festival-horses-with-linda-stupart

📸 Image credits: ‘Stepney Western’ (2025) by Harry Lawson, ‘Never Stop Riding’ (2017) by Iwantja Arts and ‘HORSES!’ (2026) by Linda Stupart.

[ID 1: A girl with brunette plaited hair sits in a sunflower field. Wearing a blue denim jacket and red checked shirt, her head is turned to face a sight out of shot. Her hair is slightly windswept, as grey clouds roll overhead.]

[ID 2: A group of six cowboys stand together in a dry, open field. Short, dry tufts of grass poke through the dusty, red dirt. They are wearing shirts, denim jeans and overcoats in natural, earthy colours. The sky is blue and cloudy.]

[ID 3: A white horse stands with its head bowed, in front of a lilac sky and a distant hillside. Mauve and yellow markings decorate this grainy, speckled film still.]

06/05/2026

⭐️ Call for Volunteers: ‘Open for Business’ by Infinite Opera ⭐️

🗓 Sunday, 30 August 2026
⏰ 1-6pm
📍 Various locations across Digbeth, Birmingham

This summer will see an ambitious, multi-site operatic community performance by Infinite Opera unfold on the streets of Digbeth, and we need your help to make it happen. 🤹

🎭 ‘Open for Business’ imagines Digbeth’s histories and speculative futures, informed by the lives of its workers and residents.

Volunteer support will make performance possible through vital activities including:

📌 Stewarding local venues
📌 Providing audience assistance
📌 Wayfinding along the performance route

By volunteering with us, we can offer practical experience and understanding of how large-scale public arts events happen. Join us and contribute to the delivery of a landmark performance in the heart of Digbeth’s vibrant arts community. 🌈

🔗 To learn more and get involved, click here: https://www.grand-union.org.uk/whats-on/call-for-volunteers-open-for-business-by-infinite-opera

📸 Image: Grand Union, 2024.

[ID: A group of people are stood encircled in song. One person, gesturing to the group, holds up a music sheet. The room is dimly lit, with natural light pouring through a tall window.]

30/04/2026

Access Information: ‘HORSES!’, May Digbeth First Friday ⭐️

🗓 Friday, 1 May
⏰ 6-8pm
📍 Grand Union, Minerva Works, B5 5RS

📌 Ahead of ‘HORSES!’ tomorrow evening, we’re providing some detailed access information to ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible, and to help you decide if this event is right for you.

Grand Union is located up two flights of stairs (40 steps), and we do not have a working lift. Visitors can arrive from 6pm, and there will be a pay bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks. 🥤

🎬 6:15pm: ’Stepney Western’ (2025) by Harry Lawson (approx. 40 mins). There will then be a 15-minute break while we set up the following film.

📽 7:10pm: ’HORSES!’ (2026) by Linda Stupart (approx. 15 mins). Please note that ‘HORSES!’ contains scenes which may trigger photosensitive epilepsy.

We then encourage visitors to head downstairs to the Grand Union Canal, by Centrala. ☔️

🐎 7:40pm: Linda will be delivering a live performance by the Canal. Please note that this 20-minute performance will feature a horse.

Please get in touch via email at [email protected], or by phone at 0121 643 9079 for any questions or to discuss access further.

🔗 To view our access information in full, please click here: https://www.grand-union.org.uk/whats-on/may-digbeth-first-friday-horses

📸 Image: ‘Stepney Western’ (2025) dir. Harry Lawson. Image courtesy of Harry Lawson.

[Image description: A silhouette of a cowboy on a horse, stood to attention against a warm, orange sunset. In the distance is an electrical tower, erected in the centre of a tumbling, grassy field. The sky is umber, with rolling clouds overhead.]

28/04/2026

🌱 OPPORRTUNITY: We're looking for four early career/ emerging artists based in the West Midlands to join our alternative/otherwise learning programme - 'Students of Nature - The City as a Classroom' with Exodus Crooks! 🌱

🗓 Apply by: Monday, 1 June 2026

Do you have some experience and lots of interest in working in social contexts within participatory, engaged, community and educational practices? Then we want to hear from you!🌀

Alongside Exodus, the group will use the city as resource and starting point to experiment with how we can use elements such as earth, water, wind and sun within nature as teachers, to develop new ways of learning together. ☀️

The project will formulate through a series of learning days using different educational techniques, readings, and practices in different locations across Birmingham. The group will then develop a series of public lesson plans that will be shared publicly. 🌱

Selected artists will be paid 5 days at £200 per day for contributing to the programme, £1000 in total. Apply by Monday 1 June with a short statement including an overview of you and your practice, and why you would benefit from involvement in this project. 💚

Find out more via our website 🔗 https://www.grand-union.org.uk/whats-on/open-call-students-of-nature-the-city-as-a-classroom-with-exodus-crooks

📸 ‘Untitled’, 2022, commissioned by Grain Projects. Image courtesy of Exodus Crooks.

[Image description - A portrait graphic which is half composed of a landscape image taken on the bank of a large pond, and half a block mossy green with white text overlaid. The image has a filmic quality, with bright saturated colours in places, such as the red flotation device installed on the bank and the rust-coloured vegetation in the foreground. The silouhettes of trees are visible across the calm water. The white text at the top of the image reads 'ooportunity: 'Students of Nature - The City as a Classroom' with Exodus Crooks. Apply by: Monday, 1 June 2026']

21/04/2026

We're so pleased to share these gorgeous images of last Digbeth First Friday's 'Endangered Pudding', taken by Tegen Kimbley! 💖

A huge thank you to everyone who came down to share the evening with us! We really loved having everyone back in the space and enjoying the First Friday energy once again. 🌇

It was such a joy to see both Faye Matloub and Harmanpreet Randhawa respond to the idea of 'Endangered Pudding' - exploring food heritage and culture at risk of being forgotten - through 'Ode to the Date' and 'Atte di Chiri (Sparrow of dough)'. We also want to say a massive thank you to both artists for their time, generosity, and care in sharing these very special performances with us. 🍽️⁠🌾

If you want to read more about 'Endangered Pudding', you can visit our website here 🔗 ⁠https://www.grand-union.org.uk/whats-on/april-digbeth-first-friday-endangered-pudding-with-faye-matloub-and-harmanpreet-randhawa

[image descriptions -

Image one - A landscape image of Harmanpreet Randhawa performing 'Atte di Chiri (Sparrow of dough)' at Grand Union. Harman lies on the ground with their eyes closed, the light is dim and flour can be seen scattered on the floor behind them. Someone leans over Harman, using a match to light the dough diya (lamp) on their chest. The light from the flame reflects off Harman's Ghee-covered skin.

Image two - A landscape image of Faye Matloub performing 'Ode to the Date'. Faye is dressed in a white slip dress with a red sheer scarf tied into her dark hair. Spread on the table in front of her is a small meat grinder, a wooden chopping board, and a large silver dish of date and tahini mixture. Faye's hands are in the dish working the mixture, and people watch on as she cooks.

Image three - A landscape image of Harmanpreet Randhawa performing 'Atte di Chiri (Sparrow of dough)' at Grand Union. Harman crawls forward on the flour-scattered ground, mouth agape and tongue extending outwards as someone places a dried corn stalk into their mouth. Harman wears white shorts and their skin glistens as it is covered in ghee. An orange orb light and people observing can bee seen behind the two figures.

Image four - A landscape image of the set up for 'Ode to the Date' by Faye Matloub at Grand Union. A table covered with a white cloth is laid with food stuffs and culinary ephemera. To the left, a wooden board holds a pile of dates and in the centre there is an open jar of tahini with a spoon inside. There are also plates holding sesame seeds, small pots of spices, and a simple waiters note pad with handwriting on it.

Image five - A landscape image of Faye Matloub performing 'Ode to the Date'. Faye has her back to the camera, a sheer red scarf with golden metallic embellishments is tied in her hair and hangs down her back. Faye holds a platter of dates and hands them to two people stood in front of her.

Image six - A landscape image of Harmanpreet Randhawa performing 'Atte di Chiri (Sparrow of dough)' at Grand Union. Harman bends close to the grey concrete ground, which is dusted with flour. Their face is turned in profile and a dry corn stalk extends from their mouth. The bare skin of their back glistens as it is covered in ghee. Hand and feet prints are seen in the dusting of flour on the ground.

Image seven - A landscape image of Faye Matloub performing 'Ode to the Date'. The image is taken over Faye's shoulder as she methodically pits a pile of dried dates with a small knife. The pitted dates are piled on a wooden chopping board laid on a table covered with a white cloth. On the table there is also a meat grinder, a silver dish, and a cardboard box of disposed date pits. Faye wears a white slip dress and lots of gold bangles.

Image eight - A landscape image of Harmanpreet Randhawa performing 'Atte di Chiri (Sparrow of dough)' at Grand Union. Harman stands in the centre of the gallery. The ground around them is scattered with flour and dried corn stalk stand up from the ground, there is also an orange orb light to the left of the image. Harman wears white shorts and their skin glistens as it is covered in ghee. A crowd of people sit on the ground against the wall, watching the performance.

Grand Union

09/06/2026

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27/05/2026

21/05/2026

20/05/2026

07/05/2026

06/05/2026

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Wednesday	2pm - 5pm
Thursday	12pm - 5pm
Friday	12pm - 5pm
Saturday	12pm - 5pm