Black History Month events in Birmingham to celebrate the city’s diversity - full schedule, tickets & more

Asmita Sarkar
By Asmita Sarkar

Digital Journalist

Published 5th Oct 2023, 12:14 BST
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Several events, including musical performances, exhibitions, workshops and more, are taking place across the city in October for Black History Month - here’s the full schedule

Black History Month, which runs all of October, celebrates the cultural heritage and contributions of the community throughout the UK, including in Birmingham.

Several events, including musical performances, exhibitions, workshops and more, are taking place across the city in October. The event launched officially on September 30 in Birmingham and the schedule of events taking place this month is perfect for anyone who is curious to learn more about the community.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It will feature empowering stories about individuals who for decades have continued to advocate Black Heritage & Culture in respect of social justice, economics, education, health, welfare, and business. This year is also the 75th anniversary of the HMT Empire Windrush arriving in Britain on 22 June 1948 and celebrations for it took place in June 2023.

For next year’s celebration, the Blackstory Partnership CIC - which has produced Birmingham City Council’s Black History Month Brochure for eight years - is looking for the Windrush Carnival Queen 2024. The auditions will take place in January 2024 and you can find more information on the Birmingham Black History Month website.

A guided tour of Birmingham’s last surviving court of back to backs. (Photo - National Trust) A guided tour of Birmingham’s last surviving court of back to backs. (Photo - National Trust)
A guided tour of Birmingham’s last surviving court of back to backs. (Photo - National Trust) | National Trust

Full schedule of events taking place in October for Black History Month in Birmingham:

Friday, October 6

  1. Old Time Story Come Back Again - Artists from Siera Leone, Nigeria, Jamaica and the UK will be performing a night of storytelling at Aston Inn from 6-11pm. Tickets £20/ £25 including food.
  2. Disobedient Bodies with Emma Dabiri from 6.30-7.30pm at The Rep Theatre. Tickets £10/£8 (concession)
  3. Dispatches from the Diaspora with Gary Younge from 8pm to 9pm at The Rep Theatre. Tickets £10/£8 (concession)

Saturday, October 7

  1. Black Pound Day - Roots and Culture at Legacy Centre of Excellence, Aston from 12-6pm. Tickets free.
  2. This place called home by Colin Grant and Aasmah Mir at Birmingham Rep from 3-4pm. Tickets £10/£8 (concession).
  3. Aston Art Club from 12-3pm at Aston Hall. Free entry.
  4. The Black Owned Birmingham Awards from 5-11pm at Aston Villa Football Club. Tickets £55.
  5. The Roots Festival: The Musical Journey of Brown Sugar - Shezzie from 8-11.30pm at Legacy Centre of Excellence. Tickets £15-25.
This is the elegant home of industrial pioneer Matthew Boulton, who lived in Soho House from 1766 to 1809. Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) is one of the most important historic figures associated with the city of Birmingham. During his lifetime Boulton was a world-famous figure, but since the twentieth century his name has been largely overshadowed by that of his business partner, James Watt. But without Boulton’s entrepreneurial vision, drive and ambition it is unlikely that Watt would have fulfilled his potential as an engineer and inventor. Boulton’s work as well as Watt’s pushed the technological boundaries of his time and led directly to Britain occupying centre-stage as the world’s first industrial nation, something which has shaped our lives ever since.This is the elegant home of industrial pioneer Matthew Boulton, who lived in Soho House from 1766 to 1809. Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) is one of the most important historic figures associated with the city of Birmingham. During his lifetime Boulton was a world-famous figure, but since the twentieth century his name has been largely overshadowed by that of his business partner, James Watt. But without Boulton’s entrepreneurial vision, drive and ambition it is unlikely that Watt would have fulfilled his potential as an engineer and inventor. Boulton’s work as well as Watt’s pushed the technological boundaries of his time and led directly to Britain occupying centre-stage as the world’s first industrial nation, something which has shaped our lives ever since.
This is the elegant home of industrial pioneer Matthew Boulton, who lived in Soho House from 1766 to 1809. Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) is one of the most important historic figures associated with the city of Birmingham. During his lifetime Boulton was a world-famous figure, but since the twentieth century his name has been largely overshadowed by that of his business partner, James Watt. But without Boulton’s entrepreneurial vision, drive and ambition it is unlikely that Watt would have fulfilled his potential as an engineer and inventor. Boulton’s work as well as Watt’s pushed the technological boundaries of his time and led directly to Britain occupying centre-stage as the world’s first industrial nation, something which has shaped our lives ever since. | Wehwalt/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Sunday, October 8

  1. The Roots Festival: Screening of The Story of Lovers Rock from 6-8pm at Legacy Centre of Excellence. Tickets £5.
  2. United We Stand Parade by VOWS Community from 12.30-8pm at 24 Brearley Street, Newtown. Free entry.

Monday, October 9

  1. George Saunders and The Art of Caribbean Tailoring from 2pm-3:30pm at Birmingham Back to Backs. Tickets £7.

Wednesday, October 11

  1. Staying Power - Unity Through Community (Film) at The Exchange from 6-7.30pm. Tickets are free but please book in advance.
  2. MyBookBasket Oware Club hosts a session teaching a new and interesting game at the Legacy Centre of Excellence from October 11-25 at 4-5pm. Tickets are £4/person or £12 per family.
George Saunders Reimagined Exhibition (Credit- Tegen Kimbley) George Saunders Reimagined Exhibition (Credit- Tegen Kimbley)
George Saunders Reimagined Exhibition (Credit- Tegen Kimbley) | National Trust

Thursday, October 12

  1. MyBookBasket Parent and Toddler Storytime at Legacy Centre of Excellence from 3.45-4.45pm. Tickets are £4/person or £12 per family.
  2. You, Me & Our History - Wallace Lawler Centre at 9.30am-3pm. Free entry.
  3. The Legacy of Merle McKenzie at Midlands Arts Centre from 7-9.30pm. Tickets are £7.
  4. Centring Black Lives: The People Enslaved by Lady Sarah Holte - An evening talk with Dr Miranda Kaufmann, featuring poet Aaliyah McLaughlin, for Black History Month. The event will take place at Aston Hall from 6.30pm. Tickets are £10 for adults.

Friday, October 13

  1. Legacy Laughs - Autumn Comedy Special at Legacy Centre of Excellence from 7pm. Tickets are £15 (early bird) and £20 (Standard).
  2. Association of Jamaican Nationals (Birmingham) annuala gala night at Aston Villa FC from 6.30pm-2am. Tickets are from £65.

Saturday, October 14

  1. Birmingham Black Business Conference at Legacy Centre of Excellence from 9am to 7pm. Tickets are free.
  2. Family African Carribean stories and arts from 11am to 4pm at Soho House Museum.
  3. StereoHype Festival at Midlands Arts Centre from 6:00pm. StereoHype is an arts festival celebrating the mental health and wellbeing of African and Caribbean communities. All daytime events are free and include an arts market, information stalls, a pampering zone offering nail treatments, massage and haircuts and six workshops exploring creative wellbeing through music, poetry, dance and drama. Price: From £10.50
  4. A taste of Handsworth Walking Tour - From Georgian treats to flavours from around the world, tickle your taste buds and learn about Handsworth’s fascinating food history. Starts at 11.30am from Soho House and priced at £25 adult (16 and over) and £15 child (age 12-15).
  5. British Black History Bus Tour - Starts at 1pm from Soho House. Tickets from £6.
  6. How can we sing in a strange land? An intergenerational perspective at Nechells Outreach Centre from 5.30pm. Free entry.
Black History Month events (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Black History Month events (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Black History Month events (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sunday, October 15

  1. COBO Comedy of Black Origin - a night of laughs at The Glee Club from 6pm. Tickets are £18.
  2. Stand up for Felix Dexter - a tribute show for Felix Dexter at the Birmingham Rep from 7.30pm. Tickets are £25.

Monday, October 16

  1. Black Tudors - New Narratives - Artist submission by October 16 at Selly Manor Museums.

Tuesday, October 17 & October 18

1. History in the Making - Black History Special - Family-friendly production of Black History timeline at Birmingham Hippodrome at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are from £7.50.

Wednesday October 18

1. The Tiny Spark - Film Screening & discussion - Filmic intervention reimagining the Handsworth riots of 1985. Taking place at the Thinktank from 6pm. Tickets are free.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thursday, October 19

1. Tour of the George Saunders Collection from 5:30pm – 6:30pm, 6pm-7pm, 6:30pm – 7:30pm at Birmingham Back to Backs.

George generously gave the contents of his business and a series of oral history recordings to the National Trust when the Back to Backs became a museum, ensuring that his story could be enjoyed and understood by future generations. On this special tour, you’ll get more time to explore George’s collection, listening to stories about his extraordinary life and standing in his shop and workspace. If you’d like to know more about either event, or to book tickets, visit National Trust website .

2. Barrel Children Screening celebrating 75th year Windrush anniversary - The screening of the documentary will take place from 2-4pm at Blakesley Hall.

Friday, October 20

  1. Film screening of Super Sam - Soho House Museum at 2pm and the tickets are free.

Saturday, October 21

  1. Sacred Funk 4Tet play Sounds of High Life - Tickets are free and the event is taking place at Soho House from 12pm.
  2. COBO Comedy Shutdown - Black History Month Special - Birmingham Rep is hosting a night of comedy for the Black History Month from 6.45pm. Tickets are from £20.
  3. Family History and the Windrush Generation - A family history workshop is set to take place at 10am - 2pm at St Martin’s Church, Perry Common. Tickets are free.

Sunday, October 22

  1. Uprising: Origins of the Black Art Movement in the West Midlands at the RBSA Gallery from 11am. Tickets are £5.
  2. Black History Bus Tour - 1pm at Soho House.Tickets from £6.

Monday, October 23

  1. Inaugral carers support talk - 2-4pm at the Exchange.

Thursday, October 26

  1. Empower poetry at 17-18 Lower Trinity Street from 7-10pm. Tickets at £8.

Friday, October 27

  1. The Windrush International Conference & Gala Dinner from 9am at the Edgbaston Park Hotel. Tickets from £10.

Saturday, October 28

  1. The Gathering - Evening of African Hollistic Dance at The Pavillion, Aston Park from 5.30pm. Tickets from 40.

Sunday, October 29

1. Black STEAM 10 showcase - Awards show for excellence in Science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics from 12.30pm at ThinkTank.

For booking information and more details, visit Birmingham Black History Month website.

Related topics:heritageCommunity

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice