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/
