Kick-start your festive celebrations with another jam-packed Digbeth First Friday full of the great independent culture this unique part of Birmingham has to offer. With a wide variety of late night treats to choose from you can dip into exhibition openings and unique performances, experience live music and special film screenings, bag a bargain Christmas pressie and party the night away having filled up on streetfood, mulled wine, mince pies and much more.

Guaranteed to get you in the festive mood – here’s what we’ve got in store for you this month:

On offer this month:

Many & Varied: December Salon, 1–5pm

This is the final Many & Varied Salon of the current programme so they’ve invited Leila Johnston aka Hack Circus to help them go out with a bit of style. She’ll be giving a presentation about her interdisciplinary doings. Also, cake, tea & coffee… and all for free.

SIFA Fireside: A Festive Evening of Music and Art! 5–7pm

As part of your night with Digbeth First Friday come inside SIFA’s drop in for a mulled wine and a chance to see the murals and art work they have, with musical accompaniment by their ‘house band’ the Firesiders! No tickets. Just bring a donation of a sleeping bag, some warm clothes… or if you forget on the night then it’s a £3 donation on the door.

Oreeb: Handbags and Accessories, late opening

A new shop selling beautiful handbags and accessories, the perfect place to buy your gifts ready for Christmas!

Grand Union: Christmas Party!, 7pm–late

It’s that time of the year again – the days grow colder and the streets of Birmingham are lined with wooden sheds. A very special event is close at hand…the Grand Union Christmas Party!

Join us in the gallery space on Friday 4 December from 7pm ’til late. Expect unique artist-made decorations, boozy roulette, festive cocktails to warm your cockles and an eclectic soundtrack of party classics

Bombay Tapas: Indian Street Food, 5.30–11pm

Bombay Tapas will be serving fresh, homemade, authentic Indian vegetarian/ vegan street food outside Centrala Gallery. A fusion of Indian delicacies with East African flavours.
Vivid Projects: tArt, 6–10pm

tART is the first event by Black Hole Club members Ryan Hughes, Michael Lightborne and Kate Spence, combining music, performance and visual art. A party where you can wander close to something that feels a little dangerous, have a dance, and go home feeling like you’ve done something.

Levitate: A Life in Music Film Screening, 6–11pm

Levitate and Jack Daniels host the launch screening of Levitate: A Life in Music. Birmingham is a metropolitan crucible of talent and industry. What does it take to make a life in music? Throughout the evening there will be screenings from 6pm in the Spotted Dog, including complementary JD while stocks last!

What are you looking at, 6–9pm

Discreet roaming performance between the DFF venues. As a group they’ll look at artworks/architectural features as an intervention of space; a performance in the act of looking. The audience may be encouraged to inquire or participate, where they will be given a card with an online link….

Boxxed: Tabula Rasa, 6.30–9.30pm

Boxxed becomes gallery and hosts its first creative art exhibition, Tabula Rasa. A multifaceted art show combining high-speed photography, moving image and ethereal soundscapes. Alongside their work Plume Art Collective have selected artists and designers from the Midlands and beyond to present their work also.
The Cobalt Blue: #CustardContemporary, 5–8pm

Artists on the Edge, First Friday Frolics, 7.30pm–late

Stand up and tall tales from enigmatic characters precede live music from Kamura Obscura, Kate Goes and Lobster. All accompanied by amazing food from the Ubuntu Kitchen and drinks at the Edge bar, (cocktails if we’re feeling particularly flashy). Guest DJs then take us into the wee hours. £3 entry.

THE ART OF MAKING MASTERPLANS (No Instructions Included)

An introduction to Master Planning in Birmingham

Centrala, Unit 4 Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley Street, B5 5RT

5.30pm – 6.30pm

FREE

Following the launch of Collaborations in Place-based Creative Practice: Birmingham’s Public Art Strategy 2015 -19, Simon Delahunty-Forrest from Birmingham City Council’s City Centre Design and Conservation team kick starts a programme of self-organised talks about art in the public realm. If you are interested in master planning and how artists could be more involved then please come along.

7-11pm exhibition viewing: Slawa Harasymowicz ‘H.N.5 515′

Critical Conditions – Launch Night

Impact Hub can be found at Walker Building, 58 Oxford St, Birmingham B5 5NY

6–8.30pm

Critical Conditions is an exhibit of work from Documentary Photographers Paul Stringer and Rizwan Ali Dar. This series of work focuses on the unseen communities within the Calais refugee camp during the autumn of 2015.

Open house at The Couture Company

No.9 , Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley St, Birmingham B5 5RT

Last chance to see Display Show

Eastside Projects
86 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham, B9 4AR

6–7.30pm

We’re open late for the final Digbeth First Friday this year so pop along for an after hours presentation of Display Show

– Maps with details of all events will be available online at www.digbethfirstfriday.com

– Find us on Facebook and twitter @digbethfirstfri

The Bond Company: 180-182 Fazeley Street, B5 5SE, 1–5pm

SIFA Fireside: 48-52 Allcock Street, B9 4DY, 5–7pm

The Cobalt Blue: The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, B9 4AA

Oreeb: 117 High Street, Digbeth, B12 0JU

Grand Union: Unit 19, Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley Street, B5 5RS. 7–10pm

Vivid Projects: Unit 16, Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley Street, B5 5RS, 7–9pm

Boxxed: 104 – 108 Floodgate Street, B5 5SR, 6.30–9.30pm

The Edge: 79-81 Cheapside, B12 0QH

The Spotted Dog: 104 Warwick St, B12 0NH 7pm–late

– Digbeth First Friday launched in May 2014 and takes place on the First Friday of each month. The next event will be in 2016.

– Digbeth First Friday is produced by a group of Digbeth-based arts organisations who are working together to create a critical mass of events and allow visitors to discover the exciting independent culture this unique part of Birmingham offers.