Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) has announced it is to partially reopen in April 2022, ahead of its goal to open doors for the Commonwealth Games which take place in July next year.
Based inside a Grade II* listed city centre landmark building, it is currently closed while electrical upgrade work of Birmingham’s Council House complex takes place.
From April 28th 2022 its Round Room, Industrial Gallery, Edwardian Tearooms, Bridge Gallery, Gallery 10 and BMAG shop will be open.
To mark the reopening, BMAG is being handed over to Birmingham’s creatives.
While the rest of BMAG remains closed for work, it will play host to Birmingham Music Archive, Fierce Festival, Flatpack Projects, Kalaboration Arts and – working in collaboration with Birmingham Museums – Don’t Settle in partnership with Beatfreeks.
BMAG said visitors can expect an “exquisite collision” of new exhibitions and live events inspired by the theme of ‘This Is Birmingham’, as well as space to join in and contribute.
Birmingham City Council’s essential electrical works programme will continue into 2023/4, and over 36,000 items of Birmingham’s collections have been moved into safe storage to prepare for the process.
As well as the reopening events, a special exhibition will also launch in the Gas Hall in May 2022, further details of which are yet to be revealed.
The museum will reopen seven days a week, from 10am – 5pm, from April 28 next year.
BMAG is part of Birmingham Museums Trust. Sara Wajid, its Co-CEO, has joined the panel of judges at this year’s Museums + Heritage Awards.
Wajid and Zak Mensah, Co-CEOs of Birmingham Museums Trust said: “We’ve invited some of the city’s leading creatives and arts organisations to animate the Round Room and Industrial Gallery with vibrant new displays that feel much more immediate. We’ll be touching on themes like popular culture, identity and community and there will be a very warm welcome inviting everyone to join in. We can’t wait!”
