A brand new exhibition space has opened in Stirchley Library in south Birmingham, giving local artists a dedicated venue to showcase their work.
Led by Stirchley Art Room, The Open Page Gallery launched on 2 July 2026 in the library’s reading room. The new gallery is the result of a co-created initiative developed with Stirchley Art Room participants, who increasingly expressed a desire for opportunities to exhibit their work, build confidence and develop as practising artists.
The gallery also helps address the shortage of exhibition space in south Birmingham. Plans for a previous group exhibition elsewhere were disrupted after delays to lthe ocal Stirchley Cooperative Development (SCD) project made the venue unavailable, reinforcing the need for more dedicated community gallery space. It’s also hoped that a series of freshly curated exhibitions will encourage more visitors to Stirchley Library, which was recently under threat of closure during a Council budget consultation.
The gallery opens with its inaugural exhibition, Wonder Women, a series of five gel plate collages by Stirchley-based artist Editoriat. The works explore the female gaze and the impossible standards imposed on women through the media they consume.
Editoriat is one of many regular attendees of Stirchley Art Room, which was founded by two artist educators – Sarah Barton and Nicki Allen – to make creative activity accessible to everyone, regardless of experience or background. They run funded art workshops every week at Stirchley Library and have provided thousands of creative opportunities for hundreds of local people since 2019.
Sarah Barton said: “The Open Page Gallery provides an opportunity for our community of artists to develop their practice and gain experience of exhibiting work professionally. It also marks an exciting new chapter for Stirchley Art Room as we continue to grow and create new opportunities for local artists. This latest development reflects our commitment to listening to participants and creating meaningful opportunities that respond to their aspirations, while remaining rooted in an inclusive, welcoming ethos.”
Speaking about her work, Editoriat said: “I’m very grateful for this opportunity. All five works were created at Stirchley Art Room and thanks to them I’ve been able to develop the gel printing process to exhibition stage. I’ve been in group exhibitions before now but I guess this is my first solo show! Stirchley Library is also my childhood library – and where I get most of my books as an adult – so the space has a special meaning for me.”
The Open Page Gallery is free to visit during Stirchley Library opening hours and Stirchley Art Room sessions. Wonder Women runs until 3 September 2026.
For more information, visit: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaXeNtwDUbF/
Or visit our website and socials:
https://www.instagram.com/artstirchley/ | https://www.stirchleyartroom.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/editoriat/ | https://editoriat.uk
B31 Voices is run by volunteers and is committed to supporting communities across south west Birmingham and surrounding by keeping them informed and engaged. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Support us by donating at www.b31.org.uk/donate. Send us local story ideas to hello@b31.org.uk