CSB 20th Birthday - We're Birmingham 2022
And to mark the occasion we've launched a year long event called ‘We Are Birmingham 2022 ‘
A celebration of 20 years of diversity and culture in Birmingham's world music and arts scene - showcasing the work of musicians and artists from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
There will be a roster of live and online events for you to get involved with at some of the city's most iconic venues as we'll be working in partnership with Symphony Hall, Ikon Gallery, Library of Birmingham, Mac and many more.
Follow us on social to make sure you don't miss a beat
First up was The 'We Are Birmingham 2022' launch!
In October we began a series of regular Lunchtime Concerts At Symphony Hall, with the main launch event in December.
We knew it was going to be one to remember so we recorded the live show and streamed a the highlights across our social channels on the 27th March to launch the programme
If you missed the live stream, do not worry, it’s still up on our Facebook page and Youtube channel for you to watch at your leisure.
Here are the details:
Head to our Facebook or Youtube channel and click play for performances from:
- Germa Adan (Haiti)
- Ava (Iran & UK)
- Nifeco Costa & Babock Djazz (Guinea Bissau)
- Kuda Matimba & Harare (Zimbabwe)
- Millicent Chapanda and Sid Peacock (Zimbabwe / Northern Ireland)
Hosted by our very own Sid Peacock and Millicent Chapanda.
Don't forget to turn it up loud!!
Recording edited by: Simon King
Watch on Facebook or YouTube
The programme:
We Are Birmingham 2022 - Self Portraits
In partnership with photographer Brian Homer of the famous ‘Handsworth Self Portrait’ project.
We are Birmingham 2022 - Self Portraits Project started in April, and over 2 months we travelled with Brian Homer to multiple locations across the city inviting people and communities from all backgrounds, to document themselves with self portraits. The aim of the project is to reflect the diversity of Birmingham and give visibility to our refugee and migrant communities.
The photographs were done in the style of Brian’s famous 1979 project ‘Handsworth Self Portrait’, and “Birmingham Self Portraits” held at the Library of Birmingham in 2011. Through a process of passing the shutter release to the person in the frame and giving them the freedom to take a top to toe selfie, with or without friends and family in tow.
We held sessions with: Women With Hope, Centrala, South & City College – Handsworth Campus, Erdington Secret Arts Space, Erdington Six Ways Baptist Church, Symphony Hall and Aston Hall.
Everyone who took part enjoyed taking their pictures and were able to take a copy home with them.
We curated a collection of these self portraits into an exhibition which was launched at the prominent Library of Birmingham on 18th June in conjunction with our 20 Years of Birmingham Refugee Week Festival.