Ort Gallery (Balsall Heath, Birmingham) - Creativity across our community

Ort Gallery is an artist-led exhibition space in Balsall Heath, Birmingham with the social mission to facilitate dialogue in the community. From 2019 located in the School of Art building.


How to find Ort Gallery

Ort Gallery is located within the Moseley Community Hub at 496 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath B12 9AH.

It is opposite Moseley Road Baths. It is on the no 50 bus route. Catch your bus anywhere between Druids Heath, Kings Heath and Moseley to Balsall Heath, or from outside Selfridges on Moor Street to Balsall Heath.

Ort Gallery School of ArtOrt Gallery at the School of Art - Moseley Road, Balsall Heath (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

About the Gallery

The gallery uses its exhibition space to provide community with art focused events, activities and volunteering opportunities.

In those who run Ort Gallery:

"We believe that art holds transformative power for mental wellbeing, bridging community gaps and increasing employability. We believe that you are never too young, too old or too different to learn a new skill or engage with art.

We always compensate artists and staff for their work and contribution to our space – no matter the stage of their careers and aim to provide paid opportunities from entry level positions to governing roles. We strive to provide further earning opportunities through extending artists networks and offering opportunities for them to sell their work.

We want our staff to reflect the diversity of our audiences and exhibitors. By holding training opportunities as well as open and compassionate conversations, we aim to remove any barriers that restrict marginalised persons from applying for and carrying out job roles.

We place warmth at the heart of all our work. We celebrate differences and strive to find commonality between our diverse audiences, in hopes of transforming our city and industry.

This is a space where everyone is welcomed and showcased. Difference is a starting point to create something special."

 

School of Art

The School of Art was built on the Moseley Road in Balsall Heath in the year 1899. It was designed by W H Bidlake in the Wrenaissance style, combined with Birmingham Arts and Crafts. Built of red brick with Bath stone dressings. It has Fluted Roman Doric columns. The school closed in 1981, and suffered a period of decay until the MMCA bought the building in 1984 from Birmingham City Council. Since that time the building has functioned as a centre for community activities. The building was fully restored in 2018, and became home to the Moseley Community Centre (former Moseley School of Art). The Ort Gallery moved from The Old Print Works next door. It is  Grade II* listed building.

Moseley School of ArtMoseley School of Art (October 2014). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The School of Art behind scaffolding during January 2018.

Moseley School of ArtMoseley School of Art (January 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

By August 2018, restoration work of the School of Art building was still going on, but it missed it's target date of July 2018.

Moseley School of ArtMoseley School of Art (August 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

By the end of the year, the railings were up, and the building was fully restored, but not yet quite ready to open to the public.

Moseley School of ArtMoseley School of Art (December 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

A year later and the building is now open. The Ort Gallery by then had moved next door from The Old Print Works to the former School of Art building.

Moseley School of ArtMoseley School of Art (October 2019). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Old Print Works

Incorporating an 18th century cottage, called Myrtle Cottage, The Old Print Works was built from 1904 until 1924 for  J H Butcher and Co. Ltd. The firm had already been established in the printing business in the 1890s, at the time their premises was on New Street in Birmingham. In 1896, J H Butcher had brought water slide transfers to the UK from Germany, where the technique had been developed, in order to supply them to Birmingham's cycle trade. By 1904 the venture has been so successful that he bought the site at Moseley Road. The building was built in a Neo-Georgian style, built of brick with stone dressings. There was also an office range, which was adjoined to an earlier factory range dating from 1904-7. By the 21st century the building became The Old Print Works, home of The Ort Gallery (until they moved next door to the former School of Art in 2019) and the Balsall Heath Local History Society. You can also find  Moseley Yoga, Daily Thread, The Gap Basement and The Mix Cafe in the building.

The Old Print WorksThe Old Print Works (October 2014). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

While the former School of Art was being restored next door, The Ort Gallery was still located at The Old Print Works as late as November 2018.

The Old Print WorksThe Old Print Works (November 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

As of July 2021, the Ort Gallery is now next door inside of the former School of Art. Meanwhile there was bunting and parasols outside of The Old Print Works, as well as flower boxes on the windowsills.

The Old Print WorksThe Old Print Works (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Contact and further details

Ort Art Gallery

Moseley Community Hub

at The School of Art

496 Moseley Road

Balsall Heath

Birmingham

B12 9AH

info@ortgallery.co.uk 

 


 

Project dates

21 Mar 2021 - On-going

Passions

Art; Culture & creativity

You might like

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com