birmingham: a great city
Birmingham was host to the 2022 Commonwealth Games. It was always 'a great city' from a nineteenth century 'city of a thousand trades' to a twenty-first century diverse and cultural place to be. Partially by accident and partially by design, this project celebrates the more recent growth.
In association with the Library of Birmingham, Michael Hallett produced these photographs over a twenty-year period for publication to support the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The project was completed just prior to the pandemic.
The exhibition was shown at the Library of Birmingham for eight-months from
early-September 2021 to late-April 2022.
This photographic construction of of Victoria Square, Birmingham made on 30 January 2003 was published as a double-page spread in A World City: Birmingham and its people portrayed by Pete James & Dr Chris Upton (Birmingham Library Services, 2003). This was part of Birmingham's bid to be te European City of Culture in 2008 and is a marker for photography and Birmingham at that time.
the exhibition
The exhibition at the Library of Birmingham consisted of eighteen panels. Each panel told a story relating to Birmingham using a main picture, supplementary pictures and text, reminiscent of a double page spread in Stefan Lorant's Weekly Illustrated or Picture Post. Below are some of these panels ....
renovation & renewal
The iconic Bullring was opened in September 2003. Then from 2007 Birmingham enjoyed one of the most transformational build of recent history. The regeneration of New Street Station; the new Library of Birmingham; the Midland Metro extention from Snow Hill Station to New Street and then onto the Library of Birmingham; the City park in Eastside, the first urban park to be developed in Birmingham for over 125 years; confirmation by Government plans to bring high speed rail direct to the heart of Birmingham; and a main City Centre bus intechange at Moor Street Queensway.
The Birmingham Big City Plan was published in July 2011 and was seen as the most ambitious, far reaching development project ever undertaken in the UK. The Masterplan aimed at creating a world-class City centre by planning for the next 20 years of transformation. For the purposes of the masterplan the city centre has been split into seven distinct 'quarters' while highlighting key city centre destinations. Birmingham's ambition is to be 'a global city with a local heart' and to be among the top 20 most liveable cities within 20 years.
As the photographer, I would like to thank the people of Birmingham for accepting the scrutiny of my camera and sharing their immense enthusiasm and pride in this world class city. These are some of those people ....
Just a thought ....
Izzy, the mechanical bull from the 2022 Commonwealth Games has been given a new home on the concourse of Birmingham's New Street station.
Melbourne, the host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Games are now saying they cannot afford to host the games. It would be sensible if they return again to Birmingham. This great city has the infastructure, knowledge and it could set up a separate body to manage, sponsor and market the games. The City of Birmingham may have recently gone bust, but this would be outside that duristiction.
