Birmingham’s untold legacy of activism: New exhibition explores 80 years of solidarity and the fight for racial justice
“We are here because you were there.” — A. Sivanandan
A major new exhibition celebrating Birmingham’s role in the fight for racial justice opens at the Library of Birmingham on 6 October 2025. Seeking the Pioneers: Routes of Resistance tells the stories of 100 individuals and groups who have challenged racism, and continue to, from the 1940s to today.
Created by the Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG) with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the exhibition builds on the success of last year’s debut at the BRIG Café during Black History Month. The showcase sheds light on a long-standing history of activism to make Birmingham an anti-racist city
Through striking portraits and testimonies, Seeking the Pioneers highlights the courage and contributions of people from all walks of life — activists, academics, artists, trade unionists, scientists, and more — all united by their refusal to stay silent. Linking local struggles to global movements, they share stories of confronting structural racism and a powerful vision of what anti-racism means today.
Curated by cultural activist, artist, and archivist Mukhtar Dar, with photography by Johnathan Williams and Paul McKenzie, the exhibition reveals the inner journeys of those who have shaped Birmingham and the West Midlands’ place in the UK’s wider anti-racist movement.
“These stories are etched in acts of defiance. Now more than ever, with street racism on the rise and the threat posed by the far-right, these pioneers stand as examples of courage, vision, and hope. Their journeys continue to shape our future and remind us that resistance takes many forms.”
— Mukhtar Dar – Exhibition Curator
“At times, we’ve had difficult conversations, as pioneers shared painful personal realities they’ve faced overcoming racism. Yet their resilience continues to inspire and sustain us. This exhibition is part of our commitment to making Birmingham an anti-racist city by 2035.”
— Ranjit Sondhi – Chair BRIG (Birmingham Race Impact Group)
Exhibition details
- Dates: From 6 October 2025 till November. Free Entry
- Location: Library of Birmingham foyer, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2ND
- Visitors can scan a QR code to discover more about the pioneers as they walk around the portraits
About BRIG
The Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG) is a consortium of activists and academics promoting racial justice in Birmingham. Formed in response to inequalities exposed by COVID-19 and the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement, BRIG is documenting the contributions of Black, Asian, and Global Majority campaigners over the last 80 years and supporting the next generation of activists. www.wearebrig.co.uk
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
heritagefund.org.uk Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund