King of Egypt Exhibition at Gas Hall Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Where is Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery?

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is at Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH. Also a side archway on Edmund Street. Formerly an entrance on Great Charles Street Queensway (airtight to the public since 2015).

In brief

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery offset opened to the public at Chamberlain Foursquare in 1885 higher up the Council Firm. An extension began around 1911 and was completed by 1919. Also dwelling house to the Gas Hall. The Birmingham History Galleries opened in 2012. The museum closed during the pandemic in 2020 (partial reopening Autumn 2020 then closed again by second lockdown). They should reopen by belatedly April 2022 (partially).

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery from Chamberlain Square (July 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

History of the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

The museum first opened in 1885, higher up the Council House at the Chamberlain Square site. The building was designed past Yeoville Thomason.

Fine art Gallery, Birmingham from Bricklayer College, 1890. Public domain. Historic England drove

The Council House Extension towards Great Charles Street (and between Congreve Street and Margaret Street) was opened in 1911. This included more galleries. The gallery was bombed in 1940 during WW2, and several of them had to be rebuilt later on the war. Immediately above the Chamberlain Square entrance at the Edmund Street corner, is the clocktower known as Big Brum. The Gas Hall gallery is located in the Council House Extension. There is also the H2o Hall, but this has been airtight for years. The Birmingham History Galleries was installed in some of the galleries in the extension during 2011 to 2012. The Birmingham Museums Trust took over the running of the museum (and the other customs museums) from Birmingham City Quango in 2012.

BM & AG from Chamberlain Square (Nov 2009). Photography by Elliott Dark-brown

The Museum & Fine art Gallery airtight in March 2020 (due to the commencement lockdown of the pandemic). Just briefly reopened in the autumn of 2020 (free timed ticketed entrances). But closed again by the 2nd lockdown. During 2021 both BM & AG and the Quango House were closed for renovation and rewiring works. The building was jet washed externally early on in 2022. It is planned to partially reopen the Museum & Art Gallery at the terminate of Apr 2022.

BM & AG from Chamberlain Square (March 2022). Photography by Elliott Chocolate-brown

Chamberlain Square entrance

You enter through the double doors from Chamberlain Square, and head correct so up the staircase, which goes effectually to the left upwards to the principal foyer. There is also a lift that tin can be used from the Edmund Street entrance.

BM & AG main entrance up the stairs (April 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

The Round Room

Beneath the big dome is the Round Room. Information technology has walls painted in nighttime cerise, with paintings all around. In the middle is Sir Jabob Epstein's Lucifer. One entranceway leads to the souvenir shop, Industrial Gallery and the Edwardian Tearoom. You lot tin can also head over the BM & AG link bridge to the Fine art Gallery Extension and Feeney Galleries. This opened in 1912. Or take the go out to Chamberlain Foursquare via the foyer and downwards the stairs.

The Circular Room at BM & AG (March 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

Industrial Gallery

I of the oldest galleries at the museum dating dorsum to 1885. At that place is a pair of staircases leading up to Ruskin Pottery. Upwardly here y'all can find pottery and ceramics.  There is two entrance ways that takes you to the gallery that goes effectually the Edwardian Tearoom, with medal objects fabricated out of atomic number 26, brass and steel.

The Industrial Gallery at BM & AG (April 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

Edwardian Tearoom

Somewhere to stop for a bite of lunch and a beverage, on your visit to the Museum & Fine art Gallery is the Edwardian Tearoom. It can also exist seen from the cantilevered Iron Gallery above. The tearoom was refurbished in 2014.

Edwardian Tearoom at BM & AG (April 2012). Photography by Elliott Brownish

Aboriginal Galleries

Galleries with objects from Ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome in the Council House extension. Mounted to the long sides of the balconies is the Frieze of the Mausoleum, c 350 BC.  On the brusk sides is the Frieze of the Nereid Monument, c 380 BC. They were both plaster casts of the originals at the British Museum. They can be seen in the African Gallery.

African Gallery at BM & AG (March 2012). Photography past Elliott Brown

Staffordshire Hoard Gallery

The Staffordshire Hoard Gallery was moved into the gallery below the Aboriginal Egypt Gallery in 2014. Having previously been in a dissimilar gallery in the museum from when it was discovered in 2009 to 2014. Anglo Saxon objects  (from the Kingdom of Mercia) that were found in a field in Staffordshire in 2009, were bought by Birmingham Museum & Fine art Gallery and the Stoke-on-Trent Potteries Museum.

Staffordshire Hoard at BM & AG (October 2014). Photography by Elliott Dark-brown

Schoolhouse Room

Located to the left of the Great Charles Street Queensway entrance is a School Room, where visiting school children can be educated about objects at the museum.

School Room at BM & AG (April 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

Gas Hall

Touring exhibitions, either complimentary or paid for with tickets are ordinarily in the Gas Hall. Archway from Edmund Street. From an exhibition on Ancient Egypt (from the British Museum) in 2012, to Dippy on Tour (from the Natural History Museum) in 2018, to Domicile of Metal presents Black Sabbath 50 Years in 2019. This and more has been at the Gas Hall. It was formerly the municipal Gas Section of the Quango House.

Dippy on Tour in the Gas Hall at BM & AG (June 2018). Photography past Elliott Brown

Birmingham History Galleries

An unabridged flooring in the Art Gallery Extension was converted during 2011 to 2012, opening in Nov 2012. The galleries are all about Birmingham's it's People and it's History. Find the people and events that have shaped our city. From Peter de Birmingham in the 12th Century, to Thomas Attwood in the 1830s to Joseph Chamberlain in the late 19th Century. To more recent history of individuals in the 20th and 21st Centuries. Including the fall of MG Rover in 2005, to the visit of the Pope in 2010.

Birmingham Politcal Matrimony rally held by Thomas Attwood in the 1830s, painting at the Birmingham History Galleries at BM & AG (Nov 2012). Photography by Elliott Brownish

Temporary Exhibitions

Various temporary exhibitions have been and gone to BM & AG over the years, such as Turning to See in 2016, to Leonardo 500 in 2019 (from the Royal Drove). More locally the trails of the Large Hoot (in 2015) and Large Sleuth (in 2017) has been around the museum.

New Art West Midlands

This is a regularly returning exhibition to BM & AG called New Art West Midlands. Modern art made by local or International artists over the last few years or decades. Information technology started in 2013, and was going on annually until at least 2018.

Man and his Sheep (1989) by Ana Maria Pacheco. Made of wood, pigment, teeth. The artist is from Brazil. Seven figures huddle around an well-nigh naked homo property a sheep's caput on a pole.

New Fine art W Midlands at BM & AG (April 2013). Photography by Elliott Brownish

Birmingham and the British Empire

This exhibition was on during January 2018. Birmingham's historical involement in the British Empire by it's extent up to 1922. Merely some objects dates to later than that. The museum has a habit of moving objects from elsewhere in the museum into temporary exhibitions like this one, or have objects out of storage from the Birmingham Museum Collection Centre. Or get temporary loans from elsewhere.

Birmingham and the British Empire at BM & AG (January 2018) Photography by Elliott Brown

The Large Hoot Birmingham 2015

From the summer of 2015, for 10 weeks, there was a trail of painted owls effectually Birmingham. At BM & AG there was ane big owl, plus a room full of The Big Hoot'southward Little Hoot. After it ended, they were auctioned off for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.

At the far end of the BM & AG link bridge to the extension galleries was 1000'owl'd, past the artist Temper. The sponsor was Edward'southward Trust. It was supported by Wild in Art.

Chiliad'owl'd (by artist Temper) at BM & AG (July 2015). Photography past Elliott Brown

The Large Sleuth Birmingham 2017

From the summertime of 2017, for 10 weeks, there was a trail of painted bears effectually Birmingham. At BM & AG in that location was at least two big bears (but ane was small). The remainder to be found were from the The Big Sleuth presents the Little Bear'southward Detective Club. Later it concluded, they were auctioned off for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.

At the far end of the BM & AG link bridge to the extension galleries was Xt was by the artist Reuben Colley. The sponsor was Harrow Green.

Xt (by artist Reuben Colley) at BM & AG (July 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

Contact details

Birmingham Museum & Fine art Gallery

Chamberlain Square

Birmingham

B3 3DH

0121 348 8032

Twitter: @BM_AG

welchdingdowas67.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.birminghamgems.com/kms/dmart.aspx?strTab=ProjectTimeline&PageType=item&filter_SurveyId=105808

Share this post