The Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT) is excited to celebrate the 16 successful applicants of Round 2 of the Jewellery Quarter Common Room Microgrant Programme, funded by Birmingham City Council through Enterprise Zones.
The programme is designed to help artists, makers, businesses, and community groups test bold ideas, reduce financial risk, and bring projects to life that benefit the wider Jewellery Quarter.
Kicking off with Brum Park(ing) Day
To launch Round 2, Brum Park(ing) Day – one of the new grant recipients – will take place on Friday 19 September.
Park(ing) Day is a global project where people temporarily convert parking spaces into public parks and social spaces for art, play, and activism. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the local community to think creatively about how public spaces can serve everyone better.
Birmingham’s event, which is in collaboration with various businesses and heritage industries of the Jewellery Quarter, will transform several parking spaces on Caroline Street into temporary “parklets,” showing how overlooked urban spaces can be reimagined for people rather than just cars.
The day will invite passers-by, local residents, and businesses to stop, chat, and experience how even the smallest spaces can be transformed into something welcoming and vibrant, and is a chance to spark new conversations about how we share our streets in the Jewellery Quarter.
Experience Brum Park(ing) Day for yourself and head down to Caroline Street on 19th September between 11am & 6pm. Follow them on Instagram here: @brumparkingday.
Another project, Sensing the JQ by GULP, offers a completely different but equally exciting vision. The research-led sensory experience asks: what does the Jewellery Quarter taste, smell, sound, feel, and look like? Through public workshops and consultation, the project will celebrate the neighbourhood’s unique character and stories, culminating in an immersive tasting experience. You can learn more by visiting: https://www.kayewinwood.com/my-projects/sensing-the-jq.
Variety key to JQ Microgrants Programme
These two projects alone show just how varied the programme’s impact can be. Other Round 2 recipients include Brutally Honest Bakery’s “Big Fat Saturday,” MasterPeace Academy’s support for the Black Jewellers Guild, and Cuddle Paws’ Jewellery Quarter Trick or Treat event – each adding something special to the area’s creative and community life.
Make sure you’re following the JQ Common Room’s Instagram to stay up to date with all our successful applicants over the coming months.
Applications for Round 3 of the Jewellery Quarter Common Room Microgrant Programme (Capital Grants only) will open on 15 September 2025 and close on 10 October 2025. For full details on how to apply, visit: https://www.jqcommonroom.co.uk/jq-microgrants.
