One of Birmingham’s architectural gems, Moseley Road Baths, in Balsall Heath, is reopening the doors of the Gala Pool to the community to showcase its first ever art exhibition.

From Thursday 5th March to Saturday 28th March, the Gala Pool (with a newly restored roof) will host the free-to-attend ‘Specular Reflecular’, an immersive art installation which is part of Trust New Art, the National Trust’s Arts Council England-funded programme of contemporary art.

Moseley Road Baths has been the centre of the Balsall Heath community, and surrounding areas, for more than a century. The building is an incredible feat of architectural design and engineering and is Grade II listed. In recent years the building came close to closure on several occasions but was saved by the local community.

The disused Gala Pool received a grant for urgent repairs to the roof and the space will now host an exciting new art exhibition.

Rangzeb Hussain | I Am Birmingham
The interior of Moseley Road Baths is a marvel of architectural design and engineering

The exhibition celebrates the collective meaning the 112-year-old baths have had to many different people in the local community, in a spectacular and unique heritage space.

Throughout the month, visitors are invited to celebrate the stories and memories of swimmers, schools and local community groups in Balsall Heath, all curated by artistic duo Ben Sadler and Philip Duckworth from Juneau Projects.

To create it, Juneau Projects worked in partnership with nearly 500 swimmers, school pupils and Balsall Heath community members by asking them to paint over a series of individual frames taken from live action footage of the second swimming pool, which remains open for swimming.

Moseley Road Baths
One of the individual frames painted over by the Balsall Heath community for the Specular Reflecular exhibition

Visitors will also be able to soak up the atmosphere sitting comfortably on the specially-created wave furniture which will be placed on the floor of the empty Gala Pool.

Swimmers still have the opportunity to practice their breast stroke and front crawl at Moseley Road Baths. Whilst the Gala Pool hosts the exhibition, ‘pool two’ still offers swimming – so guests are encouraged to bring their swimsuits along and enjoy a swimming session and the artwork under one roof.

The baths were under threat of closure for many years, until local people joined together to keep the pool as a community-run swimming facility. The Gala Pool has been closed for swimming since 2003, as it fell into disrepair. Thanks to investment from Historic England and Birmingham City Council, the restoration of the Gala Pool roof was recently completed, enabling it to be used for the first time as a space for Specular Reflecular.

Rangzeb Hussain | I Am Birmingham
Moseley Road Baths came close to closure on several occasions due to damage

A unique partnership involving the Moseley Road Baths CIO, the National Trust, Birmingham City Council, Historic England, the Friends of Moseley Road Baths, and World Monuments Fund are working together to reimagine a new future for the baths.

Lucy Reid, Assistant Director at National Trust, said:

“Through pioneering partnerships and working with communities the National Trust is playing our part in supporting places, like Moseley Road Baths, that matter to local people.

“The baths are of international heritage significance and we’re really excited that people will be able to see ‘Specular Reflecular’, a visually stunning artwork which is part of our Trust New Art programme, in the Gala Pool space.”

Rangzeb Hussain | I Am Birmingham
The dry Gala Pool space will be used to host the art exhibition

Kat Pearson, Trustee of Moseley Road Baths CIO, said:

“Since opening in 1907, Moseley Road Baths have been at the heart of Balsall Heath life – generations of local people have learned to swim here. In recent years local people have campaigned to keep their pool open and although there’s still a long way to go, we’re proud with the progress that has been made.

“The baths offer a unique setting for ‘Specular Reflecular’ – a chance to acknowledge the past of this special place, the memories people have made here and to celebrate the future.

“We love that Juneau Projects placed swimming at the heart of the artwork and that they worked with so many people within our community to create it.”

Rangzeb Hussain | I Am Birmingham
Moseley Road Baths boasts beautiful Edwardian architecture

Ben Sadler and Philip Duckworth (Juneau Projects) said:

“We’re thrilled to launch ‘Specular Reflecular’ at Moseley Road Baths.

“Over the last year we have met hundreds of people who have helped create and shape the final animation and installation – it has been a brilliant journey.

“We hope that ‘Specular Reflecular’ will reflect the warmth and friendliness we have received from the wonderfully diverse community that use the baths, and celebrate the building’s historic and current importance as a place to swim.

“We were incredibly excited at the prospect of making a piece of art work for the baths – Ben swam at the baths as a child and his memories of floating in the pool, taking in the beautiful architecture and the raking light from the windows, are something that have always stayed with him.”

Rangzeb Hussain | I Am Birmingham
Moseley Road Baths will host the Specular Reflecular exhibition inside the Gala Pool space

The FREE exhibition will open from Thursday 5th March to Saturday 28th March 2020.

Wednesdays – Midday – 6pm
Thursdays – Midday – 6pm
Fridays – Midday – 6pm
Saturdays – 10am – 4pm
Sundays – 10am – 2pm

Location: Gala Pool, Moseley Road Baths, 497 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, B12 9BX

Please note: there is no step-free access to Moseley Road Baths and the Gala Pool has not yet been adapted for wheelchair users. If you have impaired mobility and wish to visit the exhibition space, please be prepared to navigate steps without a handrail on entrance to the baths.

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