Events

Vivienne Cawson VPRBSA focuses on pattern, colour, and natural form for her floral watercolour paintings. Also a passionate gardener, her inspiration often comes from what she grows in her garden. Having trained and worked as a textile designer, her love of geometric pattern remains, however as a student, floral subjects were not entertained!

Now, Vivienne’s compositions are derived from a combination of flowers, pattern, and a hoard of fabrics, together with one of the many jugs and vases in her collection. The contrast of natural form with geometric pattern is a strong element in her work and she now enjoys using these two elements together. Vivienne’s response to the information set out before her is fresh and contemporary, not merely a faithful reproduction of the subject. It is an exciting journey which keeps her work alive with fresh, vibrant colour.

Exhibition closes: Saturday 24 May 5.00pm

Image: Vivienne Cawson VPRBSA, Summer Blues

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm

Lynn Jeffery RBSA 1972 went to St Katharine’s College of Education to study Art, there she began printmaking, using her photographic skills to create screen prints.
In the 50 years that Lynn has been teaching, she has been able to react to her students and find new ideas both for herself and them. Angels were a response to a student’s wish to include an angel in his work; overprints and composite prints were developed from a workshop with Michael Rothenstein and Anne Westley.

Incorporating images of local sculptures with maps has helped Lynn to understand The Black Country, an area she moved to in 1984. She was lucky enough to work with Paul Hipkiss RBSA and he encouraged Lynn to explore printing based on her own photographic collection.

Recently Lynn has been working on prints of funfairs and landmark buildings.
Exhibition closes: Saturday 24 May 5.00pm

Image: Lynn Jeffery RBSA, Out Of The RBSA  

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm

Viv Astling is a stone-carver. Over his career he has pursued a number of themes, including natural forms, sculpting waves from every type of stone available. In recent years he has explored the relationship between sculpture and music.

Starting with Bach’s Goldberg Variations, then to a double-sided relief of Mahler’s First Symphony, Beethoven’s third and fifth Symphonies and Holst: the Planets. In this exhibition these themes are represented. His latest work, Double Joy, a double-sided relief, was created following an RBSA Drawing Day at Symphony Hall at the invitation of Emma Stenning, the CBSO Chief Executive. Their 2024/5 season of concerts is entitled Joy.
Viv has studio facilities at Dudley College, is a founder member of the Shapeshifters Sculpture Group and a Member of Birmingham Art Circle. He completes a three year tenure as RBSA President at the end of April.

Exhibition closes: Saturday 24 May 5.00pm

Image: Viv Astling PRBSA, Joy

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm

Every spring, the Gallery hosts the RBSA Candidates Exhibition, a show of work by artists hoping to be elected onto the first step of their journey on the Society Membership ladder.
Artists wishing to be elected as RBSA Associates have two options; being nominated by two full RBSA Members, or self-nomination. In both instances, artists must demonstrate an existing connection with the Gallery, indicating which RBSA exhibitions they have previously been selected for. To become a full Member, artists must have been an RBSA Associate for a minimum of three years before they can put themselves forward.
All candidates are required to submit six pieces of work, all of which must be representative of their current artistic practice, alongside an artists statement about their work.
As well as being open to the public, the RBSA Candidates Exhibition will also be viewed by visiting Members and Associates who will attend to take part in the ballot. To be successfully elected, all candidates must receive 50% +1 of the votes cast.
Existing Society Members are always on the look out for new talent to help in diversifying the Membership. Artists who are interested in joining the RBSA are encouraged to consider purchasing an RBSA Friends subscription.
Applications for the Candidates Exhibition 2026 will be open at the end of the year.
Exhibition ends: Saturday 26 April 5.00pm

Featured image: Guy Chapman ARBSA, The Hideaway Tree

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm

This Improvers 1 level course takes place every Saturday daytime for 3 weeks, starting Saturday 12th April 2025, from 10am to 4pm.

Learn how to make your own stone-set stacking rings in our bright and shiny jewellery making workshop in Birmingham. You will learn to make a set of silver stacking rings with your choice of stones, all set by you! A wonderful and personalised set of rings for you to wear home at the end of the course or to give away as a gift.

This Improver Level 1 jewellery making course is suitable for students who have completed our Beginners course. It takes place over three consecutive Saturday daytimes from 10.00am-4.00pm. Adding to the skills that you have already learnt as a beginner, on this course you will start by making several simple band rings all of the same size. Once you’ve chosen your stone combination, you will learn to sweat-solder the settings into place, and learn stone setting to secure your stones in your rings. The tutor will make the silver stacking ring set alongside you and use their pieces to demonstrate each step. You will be provided with a printed handout in case you need a little reminder along the way, and to refer back to if you’d like to make another set! Each class takes you through the next stage of the process, so please make sure you can attend all the dates.

You will need to bring your reading glasses, if you wear them, and a notebook and pen. You must know how to solder silver jewellery unassisted as a pre-requisite to attend this course (which you can learn on the Beginners course).

THE EASTER PANTOMIME TALE AS OLD AS TIME

Learn a new skill this spring and join us at the Jewellery bench each Wednesday evening on our Learn to Make Jewellery course.
You will learn the basics of jewellery making and discover many techniques to start creating your own jewellery pieces. We provide all the necessary tools, technical know-how, expert tuition, a beautiful studio, and unlimited cups of tea. During the course, you will learn the fundamentals of jewellery and silversmithing and create a range of finished silver pieces to take home. Our expert guidance and support will help you design your own bespoke piece, and we’ll share our tips and tricks to help you perfect your craft.

This course is suitable for all levels and is the perfect opportunity to unlock your potential and unleash your inner artist!

“I absolutely loved my 8 week course!!
we had
such a wonderful teacher, perfectly balanced, letting us explore on our own and being there to help us when we needed it. I still wear the jewellery I made everyday, and would definitely be interested in doing another course :)”

Our poet in residence Olga Dermott-Bond will be leading a new workshop, where you will be inspired to explore some hidden voices of the Coffin Works and discover your own voice through writing.

In this friendly, supportive and informal workshop you will have the opportunity to explore some poems, roam the museum to find inspiration from the amazing objects and artefacts, and be led through writing exercises in order to create some exciting new writing.

To give an introduction to the history of the Newman Brothers’ Victorian factory, you will enjoy a guided tour of the ground floor of our museum. Then will be able explore the rest throughout the workshop with Olga and volunteer enablers to answer any questions.

Included in the workshop: resources created by Olga, access to the museum, tea coffee and refreshments.

This workshop is suitable for anyone – everyone is welcome! Whether you are new to writing, already writing poetry or someone who enjoys history or museums, you will love the experience of writing in such a unique setting.

Biography: Olga Dermott-Bond FRSA

Olga is originally from Northern Ireland, and lives in Warwickshire. She has published two pamphlets: apple, fallen (Against the Grain Press, 2020) and A Sky full of strange specimens (Nine Pens Press, 2021). Her first full collection Frieze was recently featured in The Guardian. She has won competitions including the BBC Proms poetry competition, Welshpool and Poetry on Loan poetry competitions. She is currently a managing editor for Irish poetry journal Dodging the Rain. She works as a teacher and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Learning Calligraphy
Italic Script
An introduction to the art of italic script using an ‘edged’ metal dip pen.
Held at the Pen Museum classes are designed for both beginners and more experienced calligraphers. Learn the key elements of calligraphy and take information away to continue developing your style at home. Some materials will be provided, and calligraphy products can be purchased from the Museum shop.
12 Spaces are available for each session:
Session 1: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Session 2: 2:00pm – 3:30pm
£12.50 per session.
No requirement to book both sessions.
Museum admission is not included
Course suitable for adults only.

Celebrating 25 Years Of The RBSA Gallery In The Jewellery Quarter

Having inhabited the same site on New Street, though in three different buildings, for almost 180 years, the RBSA Gallery moved to 4 Brook Street, just off St. Paul’s Square, in 2000.

This exhibition celebrates 25 years of the RBSA Gallery in the Jewellery Quarter, and draws on the strong connections between members of the RBSA community and the Society’s permanent collection of artworks.

Two groups of 25 individuals, including the President, Vice Presidents, Members, Associates, Graduate Artists, Gallery staff, and volunteers, have each selected an artwork or artefact from the collection; the brief being to choose something with which they felt a personal connection. Explanations of the selectors’ choices can be seen with the artworks on display, alongside portraits and text introducing the people behind the RBSA and its Gallery to visitors.

As well as works by well-known artists including William Bloye (1890 – 1975), Frederick Thomas Lines (1808 – 1898), and John Salt (1937 – 2021), artworks by current Members including Rob Perry (1944 -) and Wayne Attwood (1970 -) have also been selected.

Documents from the archive also feature in the show, including letters from, surprisingly, Buffalo Bill and, Birmingham born creator of St Philips Cathedral’s famed stained-glass windows, Sir Edward Burne Jones (1833 – 1898).

Private View: Thursday 29 April 6.00pm – 8.00pm

Exhibition Talks: Saturday 10 May 2.00pm – 3.00pm

Exhibition closes: Saturday 24 May 5.00pm

Featured image: James Priddey PPRBSA, Christchurch Passage, c.1972, chosen by Anne Irby Crews RBSA

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm

Two Friends From Moseley School Of Art.

Having first met at Moseley School of Art during the 1950s, Peter Shread and Colin Simmonds have remained close friends ever since.

This exhibition of paintings and original prints celebrates the friendship between the two artists, both of whom have been Members of the Society for well over 20 years.
Peter Shread is exhibiting a collection of paintings, woodcut and linocut prints. Through these works, Peter explores the decorative and topographical aspects of landscape to create strong, simplified, and bold images.

Colin Simmonds’ collection comprises paintings, mostly featuring landscapes, which act as the vehicle for exploring the full range of his painterly ideas and questions his emotional responses to atmosphere, colour, and composition.

The exhibition will be opened at the Private View by long time friend and supporter of both artists, Clive Beardsmore.

Private View: Saturday 3 May 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Exhibition closes: Saturday 10 May 5.00pm

Featured image: Peter Shread RBSA, Elan Valley & Colin Simmonds RBSA, September

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm

Presented by The Brenda Productions.

Since the age of 12, Lisa has never been without Brenda, and Brenda has never been without Lisa. But when Brenda gets too much, Lisa has no choice but to take drastic action.

But who is Brenda? And why do we need to talk about her?

Based on a true story, this one-woman show is a brilliant, funny, and tart black comedy that highlights the struggles of many women in today’s society.

Running Time
Approx. 1 hour
Followed by a 1-hour post-show Q&A session.

Age Guidance
Recommended for ages 18+.

Content Warnings
This performance contains strong language, sexual references, and discussions of suicide, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm.

Special Collaboration
The Brenda Productions are proud to collaborate with the International Association of Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD), who will co-host a post-show Q&A session after the performance.

Disclaimer
‘We Need to Talk About Brenda’ is an independent production by The Brenda Productions and reflects the creative interpretation and personal experiences of its creator, Nichole Brown. Nichole is a long-standing member of the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD), and we are proud to collaborate with the production. However, the IAPMD is not liable for any representations, interpretations, or opinions expressed in the play or by its creators. The play should not be construed as an official statement or position of IAPMD on any matter related to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) or other premenstrual disorders.

Learn a new skill this spring and join us at the Jewellery bench each Wednesday evening on our Learn to Make Jewellery course.
You will learn the basics of jewellery making and discover many techniques to start creating your own jewellery pieces. We provide all the necessary tools, technical know-how, expert tuition, a beautiful studio, and unlimited cups of tea. During the course, you will learn the fundamentals of jewellery and silversmithing and create a range of finished silver pieces to take home. Our expert guidance and support will help you design your own bespoke piece, and we’ll share our tips and tricks to help you perfect your craft.

This course is suitable for all levels and is the perfect opportunity to unlock your potential and unleash your inner artist!

“I absolutely loved my 8 week course!!
we had
such a wonderful teacher, perfectly balanced, letting us explore on our own and being there to help us when we needed it. I still wear the jewellery I made everyday, and would definitely be interested in doing another course :)”