Minerva Works

Minerva Works is a unique cluster of artist-​led initiatives, exhibition spaces, studios and workshops sitting beside the tranquil waters of the Grand Union canal in Digbeth. The complex may not look like the most inviting of places, but head inside and you’ll find a load of great spaces to explore, and lots of lovely people working in them.
Minerva works is home to Grand Union, Vivid Projects, Stryx and Home for Waifs and Strays, all of which are art spaces that offer their own unique programmes of exhibitions and events running throughout the year. There’s also Centrala, a large space with a café that serves both as gallery space and community centre, supported by the Polish Ex-​pats Association. For the artists and makers out there, studio space is also to be had; Grand Union has a number of cosy flatpack studios for artists, which are occasionally opened up for general noseying.
Digbeth First Fridays are the perfect time for a visit to Minerva Works. On the first Friday evening of every month Digbeth comes alive with after hours exhibition openings, one-​off performances, street food and parties. Usually Minerva Works is a bit of a hub on these evenings, with so many art spaces in one place, so visiting on one of these nights is a great way to get to explore the whole place, drink in hand.

Nestled right in the heart of the industrial area, Minerva Works is a complex housing spaces for rent. I have rented a studio in this building for over 10 years and I can say that since the current landlords took over it has seen a dramatic improvement.
It is home to an eclectic bunch of tenants from Artists (Grand Union) to Printers (Print Bots) to a recording studio (Fazeley Park) to a Car Wash and a Church!
The spaces are much cheaper to rent than some of the neighbouring studios and while it is a bit more bare bones the building does the job. It is secure, there is almost always someone working there as each of the studios tend to keep different working hours, and it is slowly becoming much more clean and tidy and getting a bit more hustle and bustle. when I first started renting a room there it was like a graveyard after 6pm but now thanks to the fact that Digbeth (Eastside) is becoming the ‘artists centre’ of Birmingham it is getting to be a much more vibrant place.