Creative Workspaces Public Forums

Creative Workspaces Public Forum
Thursday 5 November 2026, 2–4.30PM
GAP Arts Project, The Old Print Works, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12 9AH

OR

Creative Workspaces Public Forum (online)
Thursday 12 November, 5-6.30PM
Online

Join us either in-person or online to explore the future of visual arts workspace in Birmingham.

Event overview: What does Birmingham need to ensure that artists can continue to find and sustain affordable, accessible and appropriate workspace across the city?

We will share emerging findings from Creative Workspaces: A Research Project & Action-led Report for Birmingham, exploring the current landscape of visual arts workspace across the city, the challenges and pressures facing artists and spaces, and opportunities to create a more sustainable and resilient creative workspace ecology.

A full event agenda, including breaks will follow. Refreshments will be provided during the in-person session.

Event aims: The aim is to develop a shared set of ‘How might we?’ questions to help identify potential solutions and recommendations. Together we will build a fuller picture of what is needed to support a more sustainable, affordable and accessible visual arts workspace ecosystem in Birmingham and begin to explore what different stakeholders can do to help make that possible.

Who is this event for?The forum is intended to bring a range of perspectives into the conversation. We particularly welcome:

• artists and workspace providers
• representatives from Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Combined Authority
• developers and property stakeholders/owners
• funders
• local councillors
• representatives from higher education, galleries and independent arts organisations
• anyone with an interest in Birmingham’s creative infrastructure.
  
  You do not need to have been involved in the research so far to take part.

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Creative Workspace events: You can attend this forum alongside the Creative Workspace Providers Roundtable. The two events have different purposes: the public forums bring together a broad range of perspectives to explore the future of visual arts workspace in Birmingham, while the separate workspace provider roundtable will focus specifically on the current needs and experiences of existing workspace providers.

About the research: Affordable, accessible and sustainable creative workspace is becoming increasingly difficult to find and maintain.

Creative Workspaces: A Research Project & Action-led Report for Birmingham is an 18-month project led by Contemporary Visual Arts Network West Midlands (CVAN WM) and hosted by DASH, examining the current landscape of creative workspace across the city and identifying practical actions to support its future.

The research brings together data, lived experience and sector knowledge to identify gaps, challenges and opportunities. Its findings will inform an action-led report, with recommendations intended to support future policy, investment, planning and provision, helping to protect existing spaces and support a more resilient creative infrastructure for Birmingham.

The project is supported by Arts Council England through public funding from the National Lottery, with additional support from Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority. Research is being delivered by Meaningfully Ltd (Ellen O’Hara and Deepa Naik).

Event access:

The online event will take place via Zoom. Closed captions will be available throughout along with a running transcript.

The in-person event will take place at GAP Arts Project, The Old Print Works, 498 Moseley Road Balsall Heath, Birmingham B129AH.

The GAP is located within The Old Print Works, a listed building in Balsall Heath. The main space is level accessible through the Courtyard Entrance which will be signposted and a member of staff will meet you and assist you with any access needs.

Due to the nature of the building, physical accessibility is somewhat limited. it is a little uneven, but step-free and once inside, most parts of the ground floor are accessible. There is an accessible ground floor toilet which is located to the rear of the building and access is on the level.

We will be using a basement for an additional breakout space for overflow as/if necessary. This space has steps and so unfortunately is not accessible to everyone.

Documentation:

We will be photographing and filming this event for our documentation. There will be an opportunity to be interviewed about the issues if you so wish. If you do not wish to be filmed please let a member of staff know.

How To Get Here:

The GAP Arts Project is located inside The Old Print Works at 498-500 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, B12 9AH.

A link to the Google Maps page : https://goo.gl/maps/XiUXhMz4XumqYrxm6

Walk: It's about a 35min walk from New Street, or a 10 minute ride on the number 50 bus.

Bus: The number 50 bus (timetable can be found here) stops very close by and runs very frequently.

Train: The closest train station is in Birmingham City Centre.

Cycling: There is ample cycle parking outside the building and in the courtyard of The Old Print Works (don’t forget your bike lock!)

Car: There is no designated general parking for The Old Print Works, only space for disabled parking, so anyone coming by car is advised to park on a nearby street (our suggestion is Edward Road just opposite). The traffic on Moseley Road is quite heavy, so we advise other forms of transport if possible

Please contact Project Manager Anne Forgan at anne@dasharts.org with questions about the event or access requests.