Vivid Projects

17/06/2026

Did you know? 📸

Neil Kenlock arrived in Britain from Jamaica at just 13 years old — and went on to become one of the most important visual chroniclers of Black British life.

As a young adult he was a photographer for the West Indian World, edited by the legendary Claudia Jones — who founded Notting Hill Carnival.

In 1979 he co-founded ROOT magazine — the first glossy lifestyle publication aimed at Black British readers.

Then in 1990 he helped launch the legendary radio station Choice FM - the UK's first 24-hour licensed Black music station.

Now, more than 50 years on, his daughter Emelia is making sure those images — and the stories they carry — are never lost.

➡️ Read more about him and other trailblazers in the Windrush issue of the Voice Newspaper. 📰

🔗Link in bio.

22/05/2026

Information overload! Our brains are still processing a brilliant visit to Tate Stores yesterday as part of the Birmingham Media Archive Project. All the wonders and challenges of preserving and exhibiting time based media. Our generous host and guide was Time Based Media Conservator Chris King whose apt T-shirt featured in the first image.

Photography of art works in the stores is strictly forbidden so here’s a selection of other things that caught our eye.

Many thanks - now to process all the notes 📝 🧠 🎥 💻 📺 💿 🗂️🎞️📼💾

⚡️

BMAP professional development supported by the BFI Screen Heritage Fund, awarding National Lottery funding.

19/05/2026

Birmingham Media Archive Project for 20 year anniversary 🎥

We shared a special screening of the works produced by the BMAP group, which are currently on display at until 28 June - do go and see them if you haven’t had the chance!

The screening was followed by a conversation and audience Q&A with some of the artists and about the works they produced in response to our Birmingham archives 📼

Thanks to everyone who came along 🫂

The Birmingham Media Archive Project is delivered by Vivid Projects, funded with the support of the BFI Screen Heritage Fund, awarding National Lottery funding 🤞

19/05/2026

You have until 11:59pm tomorrow (20 May) to apply for .club Experimental Radio Lab! 📻 🥼🧪

This is a new opportunity for Black artists, soundmakers, and musicians interested in producing experimental broadcasts for professional and personal practice to take part in a 5 session course led by musician, artist and founder of Bedtime Stories,

Sessions will take place June 6th, 13th, 20th and July 11th & 18th from 1-5pm.

Based at Vivid Projects and , sessions will cover the history of DIY and radical radio, the fundamentals of recording, mixing and mastering, building up to the development of a 40 minute experimental radio mix using recorded sound, voiceover, and music (made or sampled).

There are up to 6 placements available, supported by access bursaries of £100 per session. Applicants must be Black (African, Caribbean or mixed Black heritage), 18+ and based in Birmingham/West Midlands.

Apply now via the link in our bio! 🔗

Images courtesy of Bedtime Stories

14/05/2026

Did you know that your old family videos won’t last forever?

Most magnetic tapes (like those VHS classics) have an average lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Join us for a hands-on workshop where you can learn to digitise your personal tape collection - we want to help you save those memories before they fade! 📼 ✨

We’re offering 30-minute one-on-one appointments on Saturday 30 May to make sure you get all the help you need. Book your free slot now via the link in our bio 🔗

The Birmingham Media Archive Project is delivered by Vivid Projects, funded with the support of the Screen Heritage Fund, awarding National Lottery funding 🤞

13/05/2026

Join us for a special screening of the works produced by the Birmingham Media Archive Project group as part of 🎥

This is a great opportunity to meet the artists, and learn more about the material selected and the work created in response to our Birmingham media archive, which is currently being exhibited at 🖼️

Alongside the special screenings at the , we will be showing the works of , , , , and on a rolling basis in the Vivid Projects project space.

Book your free tickets now via the link in our bio 🔗

The Birmingham Media Archive Project: The First Decade is supported by Screen Heritage Fund, awarding funds from the National Lottery🤞.

01/05/2026

Sneak peek from the launch of our new exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery - UK on 25/4.
It was wonderful to chat with the many visitors including Jane Charlesworth, a key part of the Friends of the Earth team at our home venue The Warehouse - Birmingham Friends of the Earth's Little Green Community.

Whether you’re interested in Brummie history or a vintage video fan, come along. The exhibition runs until Sunday 28 June.

01/05/2026

Looking for things to do this May bank holiday?
Pay a visit to our Birmingham Media Archive Project: The First Decade exhibition, which is now open at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery 🖼️

Within the Pixel Studio, artist & musician Gary Stewart reimagines the 1980s ‘video workshop’ with a blend of analogue and digital approaches to evoke the spirit of the era, while
, , , , & present a series of responses that foreground stories often absent from mainstream histories, offering new ways to see and understand Birmingham’s past. These new responses are presented alongside original archive works.

If you can’t make it this weekend don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time to immerse yourselves in the archives, with the exhibition on until 28 June ☀️

The Birmingham Media Archive Project: The First Decade is supported by Screen Heritage Fund, awarding funds from the National Lottery🤞. 

01/05/2026

Our May newsletter is now live!

Read all about our Birmingham Media Archive Project exhibition, which is currently open to the public at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and discover fun opportunities to get involved in free workshops as part of the exhibition programme.

We're also announcing an exciting new opportunity for a funded Experimental Radio Lab with Bedtime Stories as part of our Vivid Lab - applications are now open!

For the full update, follow the link below ⬇

We are delighted to announce that Birmingham Media Archive Project: The First Decade 1982-1992 is officially open to the public at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery!  

01/05/2026

We’re now welcoming applications for Bedtime Stories: Experimental Radio Lab 📻 🧪 📡

We’re now welcoming applications for Bedtime Stories: Experimental Radio Lab 📻 🧪 📡
club is a sonic practice studio championing research into experimental sound, civic space and oral heritage.

This is a new opportunity for Black artists, soundmakers, and musicians interested in producing experimental broadcasts for professional and personal practice to take part in a 5 session course led by musician, artist and founder of Bedtime Stories,

Based at Vivid Projects, Digbeth and MAC Birmingham , participants will attend five sessions over June-July 2026. Sessions will cover the history of DIY and radical radio, the fundamentals of recording, mixing and mastering, and the opportunity to develop a 40 minute experimental radio mix using recorded sound, voiceover, and music (made or sampled).

There are up to 6 placements available, supported by access bursaries of £100 per session. Applicants must be Black (African, Caribbean or mixed Black heritage), 18+ and based in Birmingham/West Midlands.

The deadline for applications is 20 May 2026, 11:59pm.

Apply via the web link in bio 🔗