Reimagining our Programmes
Reimagining the Barber, our major transformation project that has necessitated the closure of our galleries, has enabled us to reflect and build on our engaging programmes.
Our spaces may be closed for improvements but we are still active in our local community and working on behind-the-scenes projects. Over the next year, the team will focus on long-term residencies in local schools, collaborations across the University of Birmingham campus, and expanding our sector-leading Barber Health initiatives.
Barber Schools
We're taking up residence in local schools of South-West Birmingham.
Alongside a team of Birmingham-based artists we’re creating diverse, exploratory in-school programmes which share our art collection and reach schools we have yet to work with.
You can expect to see some of the brilliant, creative outputs produced by young people on our digital platforms.
Our partner schools will be some of the first to consult on our transformation and will also help us to produce new offers for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and primary schools for when we reopen in 2026.
Secondary schools can also engage with our collection while we're closed by accessing our digital classroom resources to aid learning.
Exploring campus
Events and workshops are being held offsite across campus at The Exchange, The Lapworth Museum of Geology and The Bramall Concert Hall – enabling us to collaborate with other cultural venues at the University and continue to connect with our local community.
University of Birmingham students can to join us on wellbeing Walk and Draw sessions in nature and take part in Queer Life Drawing in new and unusual spaces.
Families can boogie along to a musical Barber Baby at The Bramall, and get stuck into half-term fun with Barber Family at The Exchange.
Our popular evening event, Barber Late, will also be popping up in new location – so watch this space!
Throughout closure we will continue to offer elements of our much-loved programmes venturing beyond the Barber's building to showcase the many gems of our campus.
Barber Health
Barber Health is our ground-breaking initiative, working to support research and activities that connect people through arts, health and wellbeing.
Placements are being offered to students from the College of Medicine and Health, which for the first time will look at Creative Health across the region.
Expanding on our work around grief and death for future health workers we will be taking our Momento Mori workshops, which use our collection to support these difficult conversations, to other Birmingham universities.
Research is also a key part of Barber Health and we are working with academics and researchers who are using our collection to advocate for and inform the public on live health issues. Two brand new projects will launch in 2025.
Art for Wellbeing, our age-friendly, sociable creative workshop series continues on campus, with sessions kindly supported by The Lapworth Museum of Geology and Winterbourne House and Gardens.
Digital
You can also engage with our collection online throughout the closure period.
Take a look at our Online Talks, each delving into an artwork or topic in just 10 minutes. Plus, you can find other talks and resources on our Take Part - At Home webpage, which includes activity packs for families!
Looking for an academic take? Our recent study day on the Museum and the Senses was recorded and is now available to watch online.
More digital resources will be added throughout the next year, so you can keep being inspired by our internationally recognised collection.