WEST
BROMWICH
West Bromwich is synonymous with its football team, West Bromwich Albion. At an altitude of 551 feet (168m), it’s the highest ground of all of the 92 Premier League and Football League clubs. Not far from the town centre is Oak House, a timber framed building dating from the sixteenth century.
Just outside the town centre is the beautiful Dartmouth Park, which borders Sandwell Valley park and farm where you can feed farm animals and travel around on a quadracycle.
West Bromwich is celebrated for its indoor and outdoor markets where you can buy everything from handbags, fabrics and Caribbean foods whilst meeting the wonderful market traders and enjoy the familiarity of a place that is centred around a human connection. Built in 1874, is the West Bromwich Town Hall of Gothic design, home to a Grand Organ and the Multistory offices.
Exhibitions
Dawinder Bansal, Stephen Burke, The Caravan Gallery, Chantal Rens, Annegien Van Doorn, Girl Gaze, Rob Hewitt, Bethany Kane, Erik Kessels, Jan McCullough, Niall McDiarmid, Sandwell Stories, Czesław Siegieda, Jon Tonks, Nilupa Yasmin
EVENT
BLAST! FESTIVAL GUIDED TOUR
FRI 24 MAY
4PM - 6PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
MEET AT THE TOWN HALL, WEST BROMWICH, B70 8DY
Be guided around the streets of West Bromwich by our amazing volunteers, taking in the many sites of the festival.
BLAST! FESTIVAL LAUNCH EVENT
FRI 24 MAY
6PM - 9PM
FREE EVENT / NO BOOKING
FORMER POUNDLAND, WEST BROMWICH, B70 7NN
Join us to mark the start of The Caravan Gallery’s six week long evolving exhibition the Sandwell Pride of Place Project, celebrating all things Sandwell.
POP-UP ZINE LIBRARY
SAT 25 MAY
10AM - 4PM
FREE EVENT / NO BOOKING
BLAST! SHOP, WEST BROMWICH, B70 6EU
Curator of Brum Zine Fest, Louise Byng, and zine librarian extraordinaire, Hannah Prentice, will host a pop-up zine library for one day only!
POP-UP ZINE WORKSHOP
SAT 25 MAY
2PM - 4PM
FREE EVENT / NO BOOKING
BLAST! SHOP, WEST BROMWICH, B70 6EU
Louise Byng & Hannah Prentice (Brum Zine Library) invite you to experiment with story and language to explore 'youth' and produce your very own zine.
GIRL GAZE EXHIBITION TOUR
SAT 25 MAY
12PM - 1PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
BRITISH MUSLIM SCHOOL, WEST BROMWICH, B70 8NX
Curator of Girl Gaze, Iona Fergusson, introduces the artists behind Girl Gaze and Asian Women & Cars: Road to Independence and will take you on a guided tour.
CENTRALA DISCUSSION FILM CLUB
SAT 25 MAY
1PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
CENTRAL LIBRARY, WEST BROMWICH, B70 8DZ
Join Centrala for their discussion club with the screening of The Last Resort (2000) directed by Pawel Pawlikowski.
BLAST! FESTIVAL GUIDED TOUR
SAT 25 MAY
2PM - 4PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
MEET AT THE TOWN HALL, WEST BROMWICH, B70 8DY
Be guided around the streets of West Bromwich by our amazing volunteers, taking in the many sites of the festival.
ARTIST TALK: JON TONKS & CZESŁAW SIEGIEDA
SAT 25 MAY
3PM - 4.15PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
FORMER POUNDLAND, WEST BROMWICH, B70 7NN
Photographers Jon Tonks and Czesław Siegieda will discuss their exhibitions with guests – writer and film-maker Jane Rogoyska and Founder of EWA CIC, Elizabeth Kardynal.
LAUNCH EVENT: JON TONKS & CZESŁAW SIEGIEDA
SAT 25 MAY
4.30PM - 7.30PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
FORMER POUNDLAND, WEST BROMWICH, B70 7NN
Join us for a preview of the exhibition and a celebration of Central and Eastern European culture with the finest pierogi and folk music.
LAUNCH EVENT: STEPHEN BURKE
SUN 26 MAY
3PM - 5PM
FREE EVENT / NO BOOKING
THE VINE, WEST BROMWICH, B70 6RD
Join Stephen Burke to preview his exhibition of West Bromwich Albion and have a curry whilst you’re there!
CHILDREN’S POETRY WORKSHOP
TUE 28 MAY
2.30PM - 3.30PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
CENTRAL LIBRARY, WEST BROMWICH, B70 8DZ
Have you ever wanted to become a captivating poet and storyteller? Join poet Jasmine Gardosi for a workshop of interactive games and activities. Ages 6 to 13. Book via Central Library: 0121 569 4904.
FILM: DIY DRIVE IN / COLOUR BOX
THU 30 MAY
11AM - 1PM
BOOKING ESSENTIAL/ £2.50PP
TOWN HALL, WEST BROMWICH, B70 8DY
Families, come and join us for a DIY Drive-in! Build your own cars from scrap materials and park yourself in our drive-in movie theatre to watch a selection of short films.
ARTIST TALK: LAURA PANNACK
THU 30 MAY
6PM - 8PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
FORMER POUNDLAND, WEST BROMWICH, B70 7NN
Laura Pannack talks about her project The Cracker, followed by discussion with Bethany Kane and Inès Elsa Dalal about working with young people and the ethics of consent.
FILM & ARTIST TALK: PIGEON PARTY
WED 5 JUNE
6PM
BOOKING ESSENTIAL/ £5PP
FORMER POUNDLAND, WEST BROMWICH, B70 7NN
Martin Parr joins us for a screening of his film Mark Goes to Mongolia feat. Black Country pigeon breeder, Mark Evans. Includes a pigeon masterclass with two of Mark’s top birds!
CEE ARTIST NETWORK EVENT
THU 6 JUNE
6PM - 8.30PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
FORMER POUNDLAND, WEST BROMWICH, B70 7NN
Centrala host a space for Central and Eastern European artists and curators to present their work and network with peers and photographer, Jon Tonks.
ARTIST TALK & FILM: JANINE WIEDEL
FRI 21 JUNE
1PM - 3PM
BOOKING ESSENTIAL / £3PP
FORMER POUNDLAND, WEST BROMWICH, B70 7NN
A screening of Camera in the Streets, a documentary about Janine Wiedel’s work photographing West Midlands industry, followed by a discussion between Janine Wiedel and curator, Craig Ashley.
TALK: DAWINDER BANSAL
WED 26 JUNE
6PM - 8PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
TOWN HALL, WEST BROMWICH, B70 8DY
Join Dawinder Bansal 'in conversation' with a dynamic guest panel of South Asian women who are passionate about cars, driving and influencing social change for South Asian girls and women in the UK and India.
CELEBRATE SANDWELL
FRI 28 JUNE
11AM - 3PM
FREE EVENT / NO BOOKING
TOWN HALL, WEST BROMWICH, B70 8DY
A free, fun event showcasing a wide range of local organisations and community groups in Sandwell. For Blast! Festival, local students will run a pop-up photo booth.
PHOTOGRAPHY FOR WHOM?
FRI 28 JUNE
6PM - 8PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
FORMER POUNDLAND, WEST BROMWICH, B70 7NN
Join Anthony Luvera (artist, writer and educator), Janice McLaren (The Photographers’ Gallery) and Brian Homer (artist) for a panel discussion in celebration of the launch of Photography For Whom? – a new periodical focused on socially-engaged photography. Published biannually, Photography For Whom? seeks to shine light on significant yet overlooked work of the past and to generate debate about contemporary practice. Photography For Whom? is edited by Anthony Luvera, supported by Grain and Multistory.
PORTFOLIO REVIEW
SAT 29 JUNE
10AM - 5PM
BOOKING ESSENTIAL / VARIOUS £PP
WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH, WEST BROMWICH, B70 8ND
An opportunity for emerging artists to gain advice from a selection of photographers, curators and reviewers on how to develop their photography career. In association with GRAIN.
See website for application details.
CENTRALA DISCUSSION FILM CLUB
SAT 29 JUNE
1PM - 3PM
FREE EVENT / NO BOOKING
CENTRAL LIBRARY, WEST BROMWICH, B70 8DZ
Join Centrala for their discussion club with the screening of Dziennik z podróży (A Diary of a Journey) from 2013, directed by Piotr Stasik.
BLAST! FESTIVAL GUIDED TOUR
SAT 25 MAY
4.30PM - 6PM
FREE EVENT / BOOKING ESSENTIAL
MEET AT THE TOWN HALL, WEST BROMWICH, B70 8DY
Be guided around the streets of West Bromwich by our amazing volunteers, taking in the many sites of the festival.
CLOSING PARTY: THE CARAVAN GALLERY
SAT 29 JUNE
6PM - 9PM
FREE EVENT / NO BOOKING
FORMER POUNDLAND, WEST BROMWICH, B70 7NN
A final chance to make your mark on The People's Map of Sandwell and admire the finished exhibition in a festive atmosphere! Refreshments and entertainment provided; all welcome!