BLM
Birmingham artist lashes back as police ‘probe’ into Palestine mural unveiled in Kings Heath
West Midlands Police have allegedly been in talks with the owners of a business on whose wall a Palestinian solidarity mural was painted last Monday (May 17). Award-winning Birmingham based artist Mohammed Ali has raised concerns about the unwelcome police attention to his art and shared his thoughts on his social media page.
Birmingham artist unveils Malcolm X mural in solidarity with people of Palestine
A striking new mural depicting the historic visit of civil rights activist Malcolm X to Smethwick in 1965, has been unveiled in Birmingham as a show of solidarity with the plight of the Palestinian people. The topical artwork – created by Birmingham based artist Mohammed Ali – reflects on the current escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which has resulted in worldwide protests, including in…
Disabled teen who taught over 80,000 people sign language wins Pride of Birmingham Award
A 16-year-old boy from Birmingham, who helped to get more than 80,000 people learning British Sign Language over the last year, has won the ‘Stephen Sutton Inspiration Award’ at the 2021 Pride of Birmingham Awards. The Pride of Birmingham Awards celebrate the city’s unsung heroes, including those who have come to the fore during the…
BBC launches Wolverhampton radio station to help people through latest lockdown
The BBC is to launch new temporary local output in Wolverhampton as the country continues to deal with the COVID crisis. BBC Radio Wolverhampton and will provide more localised news and information to people living in the West Midlands city. It follows the launch of BBC Radio Bradford, which began broadcasting last month.
Hip-hop dance artists announced for Gallery37 ‘Roaming Dance’ festival commission
A team of Hip-Hop dance artists have been announced for a new ‘Roaming Dance’ commission for Birmingham International Dance Festival 2021. In partnership with DanceXchange and Punch Records, north Birmingham community arts hub Saathi House have commissioned the talented Joseph Toonga, Emma Houston and Bellatrix to deliver two projects for ‘Roaming Dance’, one of six large-scale…
Rugby player from Moseley club writes book tackling mental health struggles in sport
A Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club player has written a book about tackling mental health struggles in relation to the national sport. Winger Aquile Smith has published ‘Rugby Insight: Mental Health to Mental Wealth’, which focuses on raising awareness and countering some of the stigma around mental health in sport and more specifically, rugby.
REVIEW: His House – a different kind of horror film for Halloween
A new horror film arrives on streaming giant Netflix in time for Halloween which explores guilt, grief and alienation. ‘His House’ is the feature film debut of writer-director Remi Weekes and he shows real flair and control of the themes at the core of this horror film.
West Mids mayor Andy Street pledges to adopt new boardroom racial equality scheme
West Midlands mayor Andy Street has pledged to adopt a new scheme tackling boardroom inequality, following the decision by Birmingham City Council to embrace the same initiative to tackle racial prejudice in the workplace. The new scheme – named the RACE code – aims to encourage race equality in the boardroom and is being piloted by the West Midlands…
Wolverhampton woman raising domestic violence awareness through lived experience
An inspiring woman from Wolverhampton is hosting an online event to raise awareness about domestic violence, both towards women and men. Farisai Dzemwa, 48, who herself suffered years of abuse in her homeland, is hoping the virtual workshop will help those struggling with physical and psychological abuse from a spouse, partner or family member.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH | INTERVIEW: Sam Jordanne
Birmingham-based photographer Sam Jordanne has a passion for capturing images with a cinematic quality. Her imaginative and creative style is unique and aims to compliment her work as a videographer. Having captured stunning portraits of professional musicians and artists, she discusses her passion for photography and why representation is important.