Free Autumn events at The Exchange Birmingham
Cosy up this autumn at The Exchange, the University of Birmingham’s newly refurbished landmark building on Broad Street, with a series of free events for all ages that explore the idea of ‘home’.
Free events during half-term in Birmingham (Wednesday 26-Friday 28 October) including the Giant Home Draw, a chance to take part in a giant drawing inspired by the idea of home. Make Diya lamps for Diwali, where you can learn about traditional Indian pattern design, or have a go making a colourful Rangoli pattern using everyday objects. Insects also need a home, so maybe join the Bug hotel workshop and make a landbird lodge using natural materials.
The Exchange marks Black History Month by welcoming Professor Paulette Ramsay on 21 October as she discusses her books Aunt Jen and Letters Home. Telling the story of Jen, who migrated to England as part of the Windrush generation and her young daughter Sunshine, who remains in Jamaica, the books reveal the day-to-day experiences of immigrants and the far reaching effects of moving home on lives and relationships.
Here to Stay, on 27 October, explores the experiences of Black, Asian and Minoritised Ethnic people working within the NHS, as we mark the 70th anniversary of the birth of the NHS and the arrival of HMS Empire Windrush.
As the weather chills, we turn to homes for comfort, but more and more of us are experiencing both food and fuel poverty. In the Weekend Workshop: Food and home on 5 November, community partners from across Birmingham lead a hands-on event about food, cooking and healthy eating. Then on 30 November the Birmingham Energy Institute lead a practical workshop Energy saving in your home, exploring ways to reduce our gas and electricity use, and reduce our carbon footprint.
Richard O’Gorman, also known as @househomo, is a Birmingham-based interior stylist and mural artist. His Instagram account reflects his aesthetic of joyful colour and playful paint concepts. Join Richard for Designing for joy on 17 November where you’ll hear about his inspirations and have a go at designing your own magical murals.
Making home: A place to be, running 22 October-30 November, is a free drop-in activity in the Vaults at The Exchange. The University of Birmingham is collecting people’s thoughts about home, and is asking what does home mean to you? Write an answer, make a recording and vote using a sticker. The results will inform a new exhibition, opening February 2023.
To find out more and book, visit www.birmingham.ac.uk/the-exchange
