Current exhibition - Moving Stories - the next chapter in social housing
The Birmingham Back to Backs have been telling the stories of working-class housing and people in Birmingham for the last 20 years. Our story ends in the late 60s, when these houses were deemed unfit for human habitation, and residents were moved to tower blocks and council houses across the city. The Moving Stories exhibition shares the next chapter in Birmingham's social housing story.
Together with Artist Jayne Murray from Place Prospectors, this community co-curated exhibition shares the story of residents being rehomed from tower blocks in Druids Heath as part of a regeneration programme; highlighting its emotional, health & social impact.
What's the exhibition about?
The exhibition, Moving Stories, share the story of social housing in Druids Heath and the experiences of those living through it. Expressed in a mixture of visual artwork, contextual photographs and portraits of those who have been involved in the project.
You'll see and hear stories from residents such as Sandra, who moved to the estate in 1966 and has lived there ever since; Sue, who lived there for 41 years and was heartbroken at having to move; Ezekeil, who lived alone in a tower block for over a year, while being desperate to move somewhere with his children; Tamika, who advocated for a fair regeneration and for people to be treated with respect and Jean, who wanted to stay where she knew – to name but a few.
These residents have same mixed feelings felt by the Birmingham Back to Backs residents as they were moved out of back-to-back housing almost 50 years ago.
FAQs
When does the exhibition open?
The exhibition is open from Friday 14th June.
When does the exhibition close?
The exhibition closes at the end of February.
Do I need to have been on a tour to see it?
No, you don’t need to have been on a tour to view the exhibition. It’s free to enter, and you can access the space via our second-hand bookshop on Hurst Street.
Are there any events/talks about the exhibition?
There are two new events with a focus on social housing Saturday 25th January.
Moving Stories: Screening of The Great British Housing Disaster
Building on the Moving Stories Exhibition, this film screening looks at the housing boom of the 60s and beyond. The Great British Housing Disaster is a 49-minute film documenting the UK’s system-built housing boom of the 1960s and its aftermath. Please note that this screening takes place at the Outpost Arts Centre Druids Heath, B14 5SB.
Druids Heath Walking Tour
This walking tour will take in the sites and heritage of Druids Heath, an estate on the edge of South Birmingham. The estate was originally built as council housing for slum clearance and is home to over 2000 people. It has changed a lot since 1965 when it officially opened; this tour will highlight some of those changes. The tour includes a postcard pack of photographs and artworks relevant to the tour.
If you'd like to find out more or book, click here.
I have a story I’d like to share, how can I get involved?
Thank you for offering to share your story. Unfortunately, we can't take any more stories at this point. If you'd like to share your story with Place Prospectors, please visit their website.
This exhibition is supported by The John Feeney Trust.