All aboard the No.11 bus in Birmingham for free family fun on summer Sundays

The Birmingham Local Arts Forums will be running free activities every Sunday across the popular number 11 bus route.
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The No.11 Arts Bus will be offering free, family arts activities as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival.

Birmingham Local Arts Forums will be running a variety of fun-filled activities on five Sundays up to 24 July.

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Activities will run in areas along the popular number 11 bus route that is operated by National Express West Midlands.

The free events will range from music to gardening activities, as well as performances to processions, including mask making and blossom tree decorating.

The No.11 Arts bus activities will have something for all the family and all events will be free of charge.

Tom Jones and Gurminder Sehint from Number 11 Arts said: “We’re really excited to be connecting up all the local arts forums in one project together, to celebrate all the wonderful arts work they do in their local communities.

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“The number 11 arts bus is also a great opportunity to reach more audiences and transform one of Birmingham’s much loved bus routes!”

Here’s everything you need to know about the remaining events.

No 11 bus in BirminghamNo 11 bus in Birmingham
No 11 bus in Birmingham

What dates are left to see the No.11 bus?

The remaining dates to see the arts bus are Sunday 10 July between 12pm and 3pm.

You can also visit the bus on Sunday 17 July between 12pm and 4pm and Sunday 24 July between 10am and 3pm.

Where are the remaining No.11 Arts Bus events taking place?

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On Sunday 10 July the event will take place in Kings Heath, with the following weekend’s event happening at the Edgbaston Forum, Ladywood Forum and Perry Barr Forum.

Sunday 24 July will see the No.11 bus visit Northfield Community Garden, Acocks Green Baptist Church and Colebourne Primary School.

Full information on the exact location the arts events will be taking place can be found on the 10 to 11 website.

What activities are happening at the No.11 arts bus events?

Sunday July 10

Although the No.11 bus won’t be in attendance the event will still be taking place at All Saints Church Square in Kings Heath.

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The event will run Blossom workshops with Kinmos, as well as decorating wicker hearts with handmade blossoms.

Local forum, Art Works Hall Green will be promoting and connecting artists, community groups and people who are passionate about the arts in the Hall Green Constituency.

Sunday 17July

Jack Trow will be in attendance over the course of the day as he single-handedly commentates the entire number 11 bus route.

The No.11 Arts bus will visit Selwyn Playing Fields and Grosvenor Road Studios. At Selwyn Playing Fields, Cultures in Common will be celebrating the many cultures, identities and stories of people living in the area.

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Local artists will be attending the event to help explore how they share stories and culture in their work. When the No.11 bus moves over to Grosvenor Road Studios, visitors can participate in the Music Exposed event.

Doors open at 3pm with live music, an open mic and food, including performances from Mabowunje and The Family Band who will be performing a set of African and Reggae songs.

Also in attendance is Vicki MacWinyers aka Pixievic, who is a musician and poet who writes about her personal, human experiences in a funny and poignant way.

The final performer will be Mr Wright who produces riff based blues with a hip hop twist.

Janice Connolly as Barbara NiceJanice Connolly as Barbara Nice
Janice Connolly as Barbara Nice

Sunday 24 July

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Janice Connolly will be on the No.11 bus performing her comedy character Barbara Nice. Stockport housewife and Britain’s Got Talent Star, Barbara Nice, will be chatting to people on the bus, telling stories and having singalong with riders.

The first stop at 10am is the Northfield Community Garden at 10am and will be running bee bomb and lavendar bag making workshops.

At 12pm the events will begin at the Acock’s Green Baptist Church, where an exhibition on geometric blossom will be taking place as well as a drop-in workshop with artist Hasret Brown and Yardley LAF Arts In The Yard.

Events will also begin at 12pm at Colebourne Primary School with an exhibition of visual art work. The National Trust will also be running a workshop on minibeasts.

What’s so special about the No.11 Bus?

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Operated by National Express West Midlands, the iconic number 11 bus route loops its way around Birmingham’s outer circle. The bus route connects communities in Acocks Green, Bearwood, Erdington, Harborne, Kings Heath, Perry Bar and Selly Oak.

The Number 11 Arts was an organisation that was created to support, enrich and advocate for a city-wide network of neighbourhood arts forums. Funded by Arts Council England, the 10 to 11 project is also in partnership with National Express West Midlands and the National Trust.

The number 11 bus route once held the title of Europe’s Longest Urban Bus Route with a 27-mile loop. No.11 has reportedly 50,000 riders a day on the route that takes around 3 hours and travels past 266 stops.

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