Join us for the opening weekend in West Bromwich – it’s going to be a Blast!
Stories of Home © Jon Tonks
The opening weekend (24 & 25 May, 2019) will shine a light on West Bromwich through events, talks, walks and opening events. We’ve put together a handy guide for those thinking of joining us.
Be sure to check out the full list of artists exhibiting in market halls, historic buildings, shops and pubs.
All events are free but please book a place using the links below.
FRIDAY 24 MAY, 2019
Guided tour around the streets, market halls and buildings of West Bromwich taking in the many sites of the festival including: Comeback by Erik Kessels; Looking for Sandwell by Niall McDiarmid; and Where can I find this? by Nilupa Yasmin.
Time: 4 pm to 6 pm
Location: meet at 4 pm at West Bromwich Town Hall, Lodge Road, B70 8DY.
The Sandwell Pride of Place Project opening event hosted by The Caravan Gallery marks the start of their six week, long-evolving, exhibition that celebrates all things Sandwell, featuring the premier of a Multistory specially commissioned poem 'With a Blast! Upon the Whistle' performed by Brendan Hawthorne.
Time: 6 pm to 9 pm
Location: former Poundland shop, Unit 3, Kings Square Shopping Centre, West Bromwich, B70 7NN.
No need to book; just turn up.
SATURDAY 25 MAY, 2019
Girl Gaze: Journeys Through The Punjab & The Black Country, UK - Jocelyn Allen (UK), Jennifer Pattison (UK), Andrea Fernandes (India) and Uzma Mohsin (India) and Asian Women & Cars: Road to Independence by Dawinder Bansal. Girl Gaze curator Iona Fergusson will talk about the exhibitions and introduce the artists.
Time: 12 noon to 1 pm
Location: The British Muslim School, Lodge Road, West Bromwich, B70 8NX.
Zine Library and workshop - curator of Brum Zine Fest, Louise Byng and zine librarian extraordinare, Hannah Prentice, will host a pop-up zine library for one day only and invite you to experiment with story and language to explore ‘youth’ and produce your very own zine from 2pm to 4pm.
Time: 10am to 4pm
Location: Blast Shop, 15-17 Bull Street, West Bromwich, B70 6EU.
No need to book; just turn up.
Guided tour around the streets of West Bromwich taking in the many sites of the festival including Comeback by Erik Kessels, Looking for Sandwell by Niall McDiarmid and Where can I find this? By Nilupa Yasmin.
Time: 2 pm to 4 pm
Location: meet at 4 pm at West Bromwich Town Hall, Lodge Road, B70 8DY.
Stories of Home by Jon Tonks and Polska Britannica by Czesław Siegieda bring together two bodies of work of the Polish and Central Eastern European communities in the West Midlands, from the 1970s to the present day.
Time: 3 pm to 4.15 pm – Jon Tonks and Czesław Siegieda will be in conversation along with guests - writer and filmmaker Jane Rogoyska and Director of EWA CIC, Elizabeth Kardynal.
4.30 pm – join us for a celebration of Central and Eastern European culture at the preview of the exhibitions by Jon Tonks and Czesław Siegieda, with the finest pierogi and folk music.
Location: former Poundland shop, Unit 3, Kings Square Shopping Centre, West Bromwich, B70 7NN.
Stephen Burke’s exhibition The Lord’s My Shepherd can be seen at The Vine, during opening hours, where you can also get a great curry!
The exhibitions in the other five towns are also ‘open for business’ so please feel free to explore. Highlights from other towns include: Black Country Living; Five Decades of Self Portrait; Mitti Di Khushboo – The Smell of the Land by Jaskirt Boora; Estate Returns by Rob Clayton; Faye Claridge's Parody Pies; and Black Country Sikhs.
If you’re making a weekend of it and not local, our recommendations about eating and drinking can be found here and the Premier Inn on the High Street in West Bromwich is the closest accommodation to the festival activities.