News

St Paul’s Church’s Summer Fete returned to St Paul’s Square on Saturday 15 August, drawing residents and visitors alike from across the Jewellery Quarter for an afternoon of stalls, entertainment and neighbourly goodwill.

The JQ Artisan Market anchored the day, bringing independent makers and traders into the square alongside the church’s own stalls; a reminder of how naturally St Paul’s Square lends itself to exactly this kind of gathering. Elsewhere on site, the Kangs Summer Pavilion hosted pottery painting by the Glaze Room and graphology readings by the Pen Museum, Cuddle Paws ran a popular dog agility course, and younger visitors queued for the bouncy castle and Teddy Bear Picnic. Progress Music Academy provided live music through the afternoon, and church tours gave many their first proper look inside the building – the only Grade I listed building in the Jewellery Quarter, standing on the square since 1779.

None of it happens without support. Kangs Solicitors returned as principal sponsor, OTD came on board again this year, as did the JQBID in kind, between them anchoring the funding and support that makes a day like this possible. Trentina kept the square fed and The Jam House ran the bar.

What stood out most, though, wasn’t any single stall or sponsor – it was the square itself. Stallholders, visitors, JQ residents and passers-by who’d simply followed the noise all ended up in the same place for a few hours, with no reason to be there beyond the day itself. That’s not something a marketing plan manufactures; it’s what happens when a neighbourhood still has a genuine centre to gather in.

Proceeds from the day support the Raise the Roof, the St Paul’s ongoing £800,000 campaign to replace the roof last renewed shortly after the Second World War. A final fundraising total will follow once the books are reconciled – but every stall, every raffle ticket and every conversation on the day keeps the campaign, and the building, visibly part of the Quarter’s life rather than a closed-door restoration project.

Thank you to everyone who ran a stall, sponsored the day, volunteered, or simply came along. St Paul’s Square will be doing this again next August – and JQDT members are always welcome, fete day or otherwise.

The Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT), National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and the Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District (JQBID) welcomes positive progress in discussions with Birmingham City Council regarding the future of council-owned buildings in the Jewellery Quarter, specifically the area known as the ‘Cafe Block’ on Vyse Street.

This follows concerns raised in October 2025 about the proposed sale of a number of properties in the Quarter, specifically 36 – 41 Vyse Street and 2, 4 and 6 Hylton Street. Since then, a coordinated response from across the jewellery sector has helped bring about a more constructive approach.

Action has been spearheaded by Jewellers of the Jewellery Quarter, a community group within the NAJ along with support from the JQDT and the JQBID. Together, these organisations have worked closely with Birmingham City Council to ensure the voice of the local trade is heard.

As a result of these discussions, existing tenants within the ‘Cafe Block’ are now being fully consulted and given the opportunity to renew their leases. This provides much-needed reassurance for the specialist businesses based there, many of which are integral to the Quarter’s unique ecosystem of jewellery and allied trades.

In addition, Birmingham City Council has committed to introducing further controls to prevent these buildings from being repurposed in ways that would undermine the area’s industrial and craft heritage. This is a significant step in protecting the long-term role of the Jewellery Quarter as a working district for makers.

The Council has also agreed to pause the disposal of other buildings within the Jewellery Quarter. This creates space for further dialogue and a more considered approach to the future of these assets.

All parties have committed to meeting on a regular basis to continue discussions and to address the evolving needs of the jewellery trade. This includes looking at how workspace can be protected and supported in a way that aligns with the Jewellery Quarter’s status as a World Craft City and its long-standing contribution to the UK’s jewellery industry.

Matthew Bott, Chair, JQDT said,

We are encouraged by the progress made and the willingness from all parties to work together. The Jewellery Quarter is a unique and nationally significant asset, and it is vital that its buildings continue to support the makers and businesses that define it. This outcome shows what can be achieved through collaboration, and we look forward to continuing these discussions to secure the Quarter’s future.

Rachel Morrish, Chair of the Jewellers of the JQ said,

I’m really encouraged by the stronger communication and growing sense of connection we’re seeing across the Jewellery Quarter in more recent times. More beneficial plans for jewellers are now starting to taking shape, both for the short term and the longer term, with real momentum building around place, people and skills, and business support.

Luke Crane, CEO, Jewellery Quarter BID said,

It’s really encouraging to see the progress that’s been made through genuine collaboration across the sector. From the outset, bringing partners together and ensuring a unified voice has been key, and it’s great to see that approach leading to meaningful outcomes for the Jewellery Quarter.

The ‘Cafe Block’ is home to a number of important independent businesses, and these steps provide much-needed confidence for those tenants while reinforcing the wider commitment to protecting the Quarter’s unique mix of craft, industry and heritage.

We look forward to continuing to work closely with partners and Birmingham City Council to build on this momentum and ensure the Jewellery Quarter remains a thriving, productive place for generations to come.

The JQDT remains committed to constructive engagement with Birmingham City Council and partners across the sector to ensure that the Jewellery Quarter continues to thrive as a centre of craft, industry and heritage.

2026 has to be the year that St Paul’s Church gets its new roof!

After two years of fundraising within the community we have reached over £200,000 which is a staggering achievement.  This figure has been reached through donations from businesses, individuals, grant applications and many fundraising initiatives from some very generous businesses and people throughout the Jewellery Quarter.

Although one may think fundraising has stalled, this is far from the case.  The money raised so far has given us the platform to be able to apply for significant grant funding from various organisations, and it is the outcome of these applications which will take us towards the endgame, which we hope to share with you very soon.  This will then allow us to reinvigorate our campaign within the community to get us to the final figure needed to allow work to proceed this year.

In the meantime, we continue to receive funds from local businesses and through events like our Summer Fete – Saturday 15th August and people fundraising such as Reverend Tomlinson who will be cycling 200 miles from Whitley Bay to Ayr ‘Chasing the Sun’ on 20th June! (Fundraising link – https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/david-tomlinson-chasing-the-sun) and David & Jane Kidney, who are sailing in the famous Round the Island Race, Isle of Wight on the 11th July having never sailed before – https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/donation-form/sailing-for-st-pauls-racing-for-the-jq .

However, we still need your support so please contribute if you can by paying into: The Society of Friends of St Pauls Church, Sort code 20-07-89 and Account Number 20835099 or by visiting https://stpaulsjq.church/raise-the-roof.

I think it’s fair to say that we are still in danger of this soon to be 250 year old church becoming derelict if we don’t replace the roof this year, so we must work together as a community to make sure that this doesn’t happen.  After all, where will all the people who sit in the grounds of St Paul’s Square go when the church becomes unsafe for people to walk past it?!

With each downpour, water seeps into the roof space, and the risk of catastrophic water damage increases. This means that replacing the roof is urgent. There is no time to waste. Let’s, individually, do what we can, and work together to make it happen, to ensure the church and its grounds can remain a place for us all to enjoy. 

The Jewellery Quarter Common Room programme has now come to the end of its initial delivery period, following a year of activity across the Jewellery Quarter throughout 2025.

Initiated by the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT), the programme was funded through Enterprise Zone funding, administered by Birmingham City Council as part of its Cultural Action Area (CAA) programme. The funding was designed to support experimentation, testing new approaches to deliver both social and economic improvement in the area.

The Jewellery Quarter Common Room programme was led by a consortium of local partners, businesses and organisations.

What was delivered

Across the year, the programme supported a range of initiatives designed to activate spaces, support local businesses and create new opportunities for engagement.

This included:

• JQ Lates – a series of 8 monthly evening events inviting people to explore studios, galleries, shops and venues across the Quarter after hours
• Microgrants Programme – £23,421 awarded across three rounds, supporting 33 projects delivered by 29 organisations and individuals
• Careers & Skills activity – including a pilot event engaging 24 Year 9 students with industry professionals
• Made in the Jewellery Quarter – early development of a new mark of provenance to celebrate work created within the Quarter, with launch planned for late 2026

Activity took place across a wide range of venues, including Birmingham City University School of Jewellery, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and independent businesses, studios and creative spaces throughout the area.

Looking ahead

While the first phase of the programme has now concluded, activity and legacy from the Jewellery Quarter Common Room will continue into a second year.

This includes the continuation and development of key strands such as JQ Lates, ongoing Creative Careers activity delivered in partnership with organisations including the Assay Office, and the continued rollout of Made in the Jewellery Quarter.

The programme has also contributed to wider strategic work, including supporting Birmingham’s successful World Craft City bid.

In addition, a number of Microgrant recipients have already continued their activity beyond the initial funding period. This includes initiatives such as Brutally Honest Bakery extending its opening hours, the launch of Precious Gems Film Club, and investment in equipment that continues to support creative production across the Quarter.

Further work will now take place to gather feedback from partners, participants and stakeholders, helping to understand what has taken root and where future activity should be focused.

A full report will be published following this next phase, setting out the outcomes of the programme and outlining potential next steps.

In December, the Jewellery Quarter became the setting for something quietly powerful.

What began as a response to the Banksy bench artwork – now widely recognised as a significant cultural moment for Birmingham – developed into a community-led activation that brought together artists, partners and the public to support SIFA Fireside, the homeless support service and charity for any adult at risk of or experiencing homelessness in Birmingham.

Over the course of the installation, and alongside SIFA Fireside’s wider winter campaign, almost £10,000 was raised through online donations.

Alongside fundraising, the project also achieved strong media coverage. The story was picked up by the BBC News and ITV News (including regional TV), as well as a range of local media and arts and culture publications. This helped bring wider attention not only to the artwork itself, but to the issues it highlights.

At its core, the installation demonstrated the ability of art to stop people, create conversation and bring attention to real social challenges. The Banksy piece itself was originally created to highlight homelessness, showing a man lying on a bench as part of a wider message about rough sleeping during the winter months. This moment built on that, showing how art in the public realm can connect people and encourage action.

It also created an opportunity to highlight local creative talent and collaboration. Local artist Dion Kitson, who created the sculpture, played an important role in bringing the piece to life, alongside wider contributions from artists, cultural organisations and partners. 

Following the success of the December activation, a core group of partners including the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust, Ikon Gallery and Birmingham City University School of Art, are now working together to take this forward.

The next step for the group is to develop a community-focused arts programme linked to the Banksy bench and its surrounding area. Activity will expand into smaller interventions throughout the year, aligned with key cultural moments and continuing to support charitable causes. These will be tied, where possible, to existing events across Birmingham and the Jewellery Quarter.

To keep up to date with the project, you can subscribe to the JQDT mailing list. To support the work of SIFA Fireside, visit: https://sifafireside.co.uk/

Birmingham, UK – 23 December 2025: A new public artwork installed beside the well-known Banksy mural in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter has been officially revealed as a collaboration between Ikon, the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT), Birmingham City University, and artist Dion Kitson.

The sculpture, which appeared without explanation last Wednesday, has drawn significant public attention and sparked conversation about homelessness in the city. The installation was designed to spotlight the rise of homelessness during the winter months and to encourage support for Kitson’s chosen charity, SIFA Fireside, a local service providing essential support for people facing homelessness in Birmingham.

Homelessness remains a significant challenge in Birmingham. Over the last 12 months alone, SIFA Fireside have supported over 2000 individuals, many of whom were unhoused or at immediate risk of homelessness. During that time, they have also carried out over 30,000 supportive actions.

Created by artist Dion Kitson, a graduate of BCU School of Art, the sculpture depicts Santa lying on a bench, echoing the pose of the figure in Banksy’s original “God bless Birmingham” posted on Instagram in 2019. Wrapped in fairy lights, the piece invites viewers to consider the vulnerability and invisibility of people sleeping rough at the year’s coldest point.

During the first two days the artwork was on display, volunteers, posing as security staff, collected donations from visitors via QR codes. All funds raised went directly to SIFA Fireside, supporting their work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. A dedicated donation link remains open for further contributions: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/7686#!/DonationDetails 

David Mahony, Jewellery Quarter Development Trust, said, 

“It’s important that our public spaces reflect the realities facing our communities. Homelessness affects many people across the UK, including here in Birmingham. By using the Banksy site as the setting for an annual winter intervention, we can draw on the Jewellery Quarter’s creativity to focus attention on those who need it most during the colder months and direct support to organisations like SIFA Fireside.”

Linzi Stauvers, Ikon Artistic Director (Education), said,

“Birmingham has some great public art, including historic pieces of graffiti. Over time, these works can get overlooked and their social commentary dampened. Unfortunately, this is the case with Birmingham’s Banksy, which is barely visible behind layers of perspex and condensation. 

“Dion Kitson’s sculptural response is not only a homage to another artist, but an acknowledgement of their call to action. As a temporary intervention, it aims to amplify a message about the homelessness that is experienced by many Birmingham residents, including children and young people, this Christmas.” 

Andrew Kulman, Course Leader for MA Visual Communication and Professor of Graphic Art at Birmingham City University said,

“The School of Art has made significant contributions to public art in Birmingham. From the city’s sculptor and Head of Sculpture, William Bloye (Hall of Memory and ‘Golden Boys’), to more recently, Luke Perry (Forward Together).

“They are joined by recent graduate, Dion Kitson, whose interventions have been appearing across the city. It was an obvious choice to select Dion to respond to the Banksy mural in the Jewellery Quarter – he shares the same guerrilla approach and there’s often parody and satire in both their work.

“Working together with Ikon and the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust has offered a perfect partnership and solution.”

Members of the public who wish to support homelessness services in Birmingham can donate directly to SIFA Fireside via: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/7686#!/DonationDetails

The Jewellery Quarter Common Room is pleased to announce 11 successful recipients of its Microgrant Programme, designed to support creative innovation and community engagement across the Jewellery Quarter.

Funded by a £22,500 grant from Birmingham City Council through Enterprise Zones, the programme offers targeted capital and revenue grants to help reduce the financial risk of trying new ideas. It supports artists, craftspeople, and independent businesses to develop projects that help their work thrive and contribute to the wider community.

Following 22 successful applicants in the previous two rounds, grants have now been awarded to 11 new projects. The successful R3 applicants are:

• The Jam House – Microphone/injection box
  Supporting talent development and live music in the JQ through community partnerships, including work with BIMM and the night-time economy.
• Rock and Roll Brewhouse – Roof window
  Improving comfort in the taproom while recognising the Brewhouse’s strong track record of supporting community and cultural initiatives.
• Splash Art Republic – Exterior lighting
  Creating a safer, more welcoming gateway into the Jewellery Quarter and helping to reduce anti-social behaviour at a key entrance point.
• Coffin Works – Chairs/trolley
  A practical investment to support community activity, building on the organisation’s strong history of partnership working and shared use.
• CDOB Capoeira Studio – Musical instruments
  Supporting children and families through cultural activity, wellbeing and early creative engagement, with potential links to JQ Lates.
• Deborette Clarke – Leather splitting machine
  Enabling the development of a new craft skill in the JQ, aligned with World Craft City principles and shared community access.
• City Curator – PA + uplighting
  Expanding the shared equipment library to support events and activity across the JQ, with a focus on fair access and long-term benefit.
• Rebecca Rampersaud – Thanksgiving Supper Club
  Supporting an inclusive community event that brings people together and contributes to the JQ’s night-time economy.
• The Tufting Spot – Shearing machine
  A capital investment to help a growing creative business scale up and support a wider range of craft-making in the JQ.
• Leviticus Rock – Laser welder
  Supporting a developing proposal with strong potential, subject to further evidence on community sharing and collaborative benefit.
• St Pauls Church – Dog agility equipment
  Enabling delivery of a previously approved project, with funding released following submission of an invoice.

The Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Plan forms part of Birmingham City Council’s statutory framework for guiding planning decisions within the Jewellery Quarter. The Jewellery Quarter Planning Committee reviews all planning applications in the area and provides input on selected proposals – though not every application requires committee involvement.

Lasted updated: 19 March 2026