The Black Arts Forum (BAF) was formed in 2014

Black Arts Forum is an organisation committed to supporting the development of black arts across the West Midlands but linked to wider forums and debates within the sector nationally and internationally. 

We provide support to emerging and established individuals and organisations to make their work more visible, promote/network activity towards strengthening and growing more black leaders in the arts. 

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BAF & MAC Elders Project

The Elders Project is BAF’s first partnership project with MAC. It provided a range of arts and cultural activity for Elders in Aston & Newtown led by both emerging and established artists. The project enabled us to explore a model for co-designing through supported delivery of the arts in local communities.

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BAF & GRS Leadership Programmes

BAF has delivered a series of interactive, thought-provoking sessions to support a range of artists to take their ‘next steps’.  A mini series, CREATE Phase II, and the Black Female Leadership programmes continue on an informal basis extending access to the ethos of support that BAF provides.

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Music EXPOSED

Since 2018 Black Arts Forum's 'Music Exposed Project' has been hosting a music development programme to showcase regional singers and musicians both  experienced and emerging.

Featured
Terra Firma Stories
Terra Firma Stories

Terra Firma Stories’ is a collaboration between Black Arts Forum, The Lapworth Museum of Geology, King Edward VI High School for Girls and Birmingham Home Educating Families. Working together the participants explored the Lapworth collections and respond by producing artworks that are an interpretation and intervention to parts of that collection.

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Red Seeds Film Festival

There's only a few days to go before this months screening at the Red Seeds Film Festival. We are showcasing 'Welcome II The Terrordome' Directed by Ngozi Onwurah the first Black woman to direct a feature film. November will be an opportunity to see Burning an Illusion by the late Menelik Shabazz. Red Seeds is hosted by the Black Arts Forum at its base Grosvenor Road Studios in Handsworth Birmingham.

SILENT SCREAMS - Exclusive Reading by Nubia Shayaam Smith
SILENT SCREAMS - Exclusive Reading by Nubia Shayaam Smith

Young writer Nubia Shayaam-Smith blesses us with a reading from her latest anthology, Silent Screams. She also gives us a bit more insight into her experience as a writer and what her intentions are as an advocate for Black History.