The Blast! Festival of Photography, Talks and Walks is like no other festival because it has been produced with, and for, local people. The festival invites 40 outstanding photographers and artists and curators to showcase work, develop projects and collaborate with communities to present stories about everyday life.

With exhibitions, film screenings, events, talks and walks, Blast! will be presented on the streets, the Metro line, in shops, libraries and pubs, on historic buildings and in community halls. The festival takes place over six weeks in each of Sandwell’s six distinct towns: West Bromwich, Tipton, Rowley Regis, Oldbury, Smethwick and Wednesbury; it’s open to everyone and is free. Come and join us!

Download the Blast! Festival brochure here. See the news section for a weekly roundup of events.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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‘Black Country Wonder Woman’ by Kuli Kohli is a long-form poem, commissioned as part of our Sandwell Stories podcast series. ⠀ “I wrote Black Country Wonder Woman as a response to the Multistory commission. I thought that my experi
Over the last couple of months, like many arts organisations we’ve continued to engage local communities through online talks and workshops. We also launched a digital programme of newly commissioned work, to support artists and writers living
1 week left to purchase a print of Susan Meiselas' work, in support of the #HavenCOVIDRelief fund!⠀ ⠀ We're running a limited-edition print sale of 3 of Susan’s images for one month only during June 2020. This is in order to raise vital funds f
Today is the last day of showcasing Herbert Walter’s @herbertwalters5970 #StoriesinIsolation project but there are lots more images to see! Head over to the Stories in Isolation page on our website for more. . . . Herbert’s Stories in Iso
Herbert Walter’s @herbertwalters5970 Stories in Isolation project ‘Where People Once Gathered’ presents empty spaces around Birmingham through a series of photographs that were taken throughout March 2020. Waking up at 4am to ventur
 
 
 

NEWS 

Featured
Weekly events and exhibitions - 24 - 29 June
Weekly events and exhibitions - 24 - 29 June

We can’t believe that we’re already nearly at the end of Blast! Festival! It’s been a fantastic journey, and we’re looking forward to this last week’s programme of events. There’s still time to visit exhibitions across the six towns of Sandwell, with exhibitions open until 29 June 2019. For a full list of artists exhibiting work throughout the Festival, you can download the brochure or visit the artist pages.

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Weekly Events and Exhibitions: 17 - 23 June
Weekly Events and Exhibitions: 17 - 23 June

This week Blast! Festival of Photography, Talk and Walks goes to Smethwick, with artist talks, exhibition launches, community events and sound walks to go to!

Exhibitions to visit while you’re there are: The Exiles by Billy Dosanjh and Black Country Siks at Smethwick Heritage Centre, Mitti Di Kushboo - The Smell of the Land by Jaskirt Boora at Lightwoods House and Homemade in Smethwick by Liz Hingley outside Thimblemill Library. 

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Weekly Events and Exhibitions: 10 - 16 June
Weekly Events and Exhibitions: 10 - 16 June

This week, Blast! Festival highlights the Sandwell town of Oldbury. Exhibitions taking place are 'Estate Return' by Robert Clayton at Rounds Green Library, Kate Jackson’s 'The Village' at Langley Park Lodge and Family Portraits by Inka & Niclas Lindergard at Oldbury Council House. Check website for opening times or attend one of the events.

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