Why Birmingham?
I decided to relocate from my hometown of Glasgow to the UK’s second-largest city, Birmingham, 18 months ago. Since then, I have been asked the same question over and over again: Why Birmingham?
I have encountered this enquiry while chatting with acquaintances on trips back home to Scotland and tipsy relatives at family reunions who are all genuinely curious about what prompted my move. The question has also been posed by some of my new Birmingham-born-and-bred friends who are far too familiar with the city to find it alluring and, as a result, ask with a slightly more confused and/or judgemental tone.
By now, I have mastered the art of delivering a concise yet informative response: because Birmingham is a super friendly and creative city - I love it! Having lived here for fair wee while now, I think it’s time to expand on this answer...
Birmingham’s thriving creative scene is my favourite thing about living here. It is crammed with talented artists, designers and makers. Plus, there are plenty of welcoming venues which are constantly buzzing with artistic entertainment.
Here are a few of my favourite creative places and happenings…
Midlands Arts Centre
My favourite building to visit in Birmingham is the Midlands Art Centre (often referred to as The Mac) which houses two galleries, a cinema, a theatre, a bar, a cafe and heaps of workshop space. I’ve previously visited to see exhibitions on environmentalism, motherhood and life in prison; theatre shows inspired by true stories from LGBTQ+ call centres in the 1970s; and film festivals celebrating Black talent in the British film industry. I feel extremely lucky to live within walking distance of this cultural goldmine.
Ikon
My second favourite venue (partly because it is further away from my home and doesn’t have a bar), is Ikon Gallery. The modern, multi-storey building contains sizeable gallery spaces and a super stylish gift shop (always important), and it has the charming Yorks Cafe attached to it. Inside, I’ve seen interpretive dance videos, Wizard-of-Oz-style ruby slippers, and waxworks of Prince Harry in exhibitions commenting on topics such as the working-class experience and the complexities of friendship. You always leave Ikon with something new to think about.
Birmingham Design Festival
Taking place every second year, Birmingham Design Festival is a celebration of the local, national and international design industry. I’ve attended the festival a couple of times including the latest instalment which took place this Summer with the likes of Elizabeth Goodspeed, Sonny Ross and Emilie Chen taking centre stage to share their wisdom. BDF also organise a bi-annual design conference (to keep us out of trouble during the years that the festival is on hiatus), markets and social events.
Picnic
Picnic is Birmingham’s meet-up for illustrators. Supported by the Association of Illustrators, it’s a chance to meet other people who make pictures for a living, gossip about the industry and have a giggle together. I am a little biased because I’m pals with all the people who run it but Picnic events genuinely are heaps of fun.
Collage Club
Hosted bi-monthly by local artist Jenny Lundmark, Collage Club is a relaxing place to spend a weekday evening. While at the club, I have collaged everything from a cowboy wearing a skirt made of birds to a giant owl wearing a leopard-print furry hat (quirky clothing seems to be my collage niche). Spending a couple of hours cutting and sticking is good for the mind - I can’t recommend it enough.
Boxer Short Films
There is a constant stream of film screenings, festivals and events taking place in Birmingham. First up, Boxer Short Films screens some of the best short films from creators around the world. I attended the ‘In Their Feelings’ themed showcase and saw a wide array of inspiring moving images, include witty comedies, bizarre adverts and issue-driven animations.
BFI London Film Festival
Most of the exclusive, early-access movie screenings at BFI London Film Festival take place, as you might expect, in London. However, several are also shown in the Midlands Art Centre (which you know I am a fan of). Last year, this LFF allowed me to cry my gay little eyes out at All Of Us Strangers long before any of my friends had the opportunity to. This year, I went to see Conclave (which you can read about here) and A Real Pain (which I haven’t written about but was also good).
S.O.U.L. Fest
For the first time in it’s six-year run, S.O.U.L. Fest hit the road in 2024. The festival which celebrates Black film and television talent both behind and in front of the camera takes place mostly in London but hosted their annual short film screening in Birmingham’s Midlands Art Centre (it’s a very popular spot) this year. The evening showcased 9 short films made by Black British filmmakers. My top picks were i and i, Claudia and Cab Ride.
& Many More…
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Birmingham’s creative scenes. There are so many more local events and venues which deserve a shout-out including Flatpack Festival, Fierce Festival, Birmingham Literature Festival, Moseley Folk & Arts Festival, Sun Dragon Pottery, The Old Print Works, Stirchley Printworks, Gather, Red Brick Markets and Overlap. You all help make Birmingham a super inspiring place to live.
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You don't have to be from
Birmingham to be a Brummie.
The second favourite thing about living in Birmingham is how friendly the city feels but that’s trickier to present evidence for. How do you prove a city is friendly? It’s worth mentioning how diverse Birmingham is as inclusivity goes hand-in-hand with friendliness. 50% of the population is made of people from ethnic minority backgrounds and there is a thriving queer social scene headed up by Birmingham LGBT Centre.
The vibe of a city can’t be described through facts and figures. To the same extent, I can only speak to my own experience - so that’s what I will do…
I felt welcomed as soon I arrived in Birmingham. This felt like a place I was not only allowed but encouraged to call home. I was at a party shortly after I moved when a stranger said: You don’t have to be from Birmingham to be a Brummie. These words have always stuck in my head because believe they are so true. I will, of course, always be a proud Scot first and foremost but I’m happy to be an honourary Brummie too.
To be frank, a lot of the conversations in which I have been asked Why Birmingham? involved people either subtly implying or outright stating negative opinions about the city. Birmingham has a reputation which proceeds it and not always in a good way. Because Birmingham isn’t best known for one singular thing - it’s not as famous as London or as gay as Brighton - I have found that people often don’t know what to expect so assume the worst.
Give Birmingham a chance and it might just surprise you with how big, fun, creative, multicultural and queer it is. There are so many reasons I chose to move to Birmingham - and even more reasons why I am so glad I did.