Celebrate Erdington is a campaign to bring more events and activities to Erdington Town Centre, with a weeklong programme of free family entertainment running across the autumn half term holiday – led by the Erdington Business Improvement District (BID), Arts All Over the Place, and partners from the Cultural Action Area.
But behind the bunting and banners is a call to arms, a rallying cry for more positivity about Erdington High Street – with everyone asked to help change the negative narrative and become a torch bearer for the heart of B23.
Words by Shaun Hand / Photographs supplied by Erdington BID
Much has been made in recent years of the ‘death of the High Street’, as internet based retailers have shut up their physical shops and moved entirely online.
And Erdington is no exception, losing national brands from Boots to banks the Town Centre has come in for plenty of flak – with many slinging mud from the sidelines. But some abuse is also hurled from its own residents and a new campaign is looking to reverse negative perceptions – calling on Erdington locals to do their bit, too.
Celebrate Erdington is being launched by Erdington’s Business Improvement District (BID), Arts All Over the Place, and the various community groups involved in the recently awarded Cultural Action Area (CAA) fund – including Erdington Lunar Society, PFG Consultancy, Erdington Arts Forum, and Erdington Artists Conversations.
Having received £55,000 from Birmingham City to support events and longer-term creative projects, the aim is to change perceptions of Erdington High Street through arts and culture, both locally and city-wide.
The campaign will be ongoing, but the festival runs from 27-31 October – with daily arts, crafts, music, poetry, and workshops in Central Square between 11am and 3pm. Some evening events are also being held on the concourse, including a local history slideshow and an open mic night.
Running alongside those will be a daily ‘mini market’ by the High Street Hut, with free children’s activities, street games, and stalls from local traders and community groups – culminating in a special Halloween themed High Street Community Market on Saturday 31 October.
Both locations will be serving free drinks, snacks, and offer places to sit and relax – encouraging people to enjoy an afternoon Erdington High Street during the school holidays. And it’s that community engagement the Celebrate Erdington organisers are keen to encourage.
“Celebrate Erdington is a call to arms,” Erdington Business Improvement District (BID) Manager, Ed King, tells over coffee in Oikos, one of the High Street’s undeniable success stories. “It consolidates what the BID and its partners are doing.
“Erdington is still one of the busiest high streets in Birmingham, but it doesn’t feel the way it used to for some people. And all too often the blanks are filled in with negativity. We want to bring back that sense of ownership; to change the narrative and remind people of all the positives we still have here.”
Acknowledging Erdington’s past as well as its present is the motivation behind one of Celebrate Erdington’s more ambitious projects, an A-Z of the area – based on the stories and memories of Erdington locals as collected by creative Paulette Francis-Green, who first moved to Erdington from Saltley in the 1960s and lives here today.
The results will ultimately be published in book form and used as a tool to promote Erdington across the city and beyond.
“I’m heavily involved in cultural heritage,” Paulette says, explaining she was one of the contributors to the ‘A-Z of Birmingham’ exhibition currently being held at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
“That was on my mind as a passion project,” she continues. “So, I brought the idea of an A-Z of Erdington, a then-and-now. The idea is to engage the public of Erdington by listing memories, places, churches, schools, open green places.”
Paulette has already started talking to locals, presenting them with a blank A-Z list and asking them to fill in what they remember. “It’s not just the High Street, either,” she says.
“It’s including Pype Hayes, Castle Vale… it’s touching on Kingstanding, Witton, Marsh Lane.” She gives examples of some the responses she’s had so far: “I’ve got Highcroft Hospital for H, and the Lad in the Lane pub and the Littlewoods that used to be Blockbusters for L.”
“One of the key things I want to do is engage,” Paulette says of the project’s aim. “I want people’s memories and stories. I’m looking to do some engagement sessions across the churches around Erdington because there is community there.”
Those who want to share their memories with Paulette will be able to find her at the High Street Hub between 12pm and 4pm, from 27-30 October.
Another driving force behind Celebrate Erdington is ‘artivist’ Margaret Murray, who runs creative projects as part of the Arts All Over the Place community group. Margaret formerly worked in social care and has been running community projects across Birmingham for years.
“The kind of work I promote is around creativity for health, wellbeing and social inclusion,” she told Erdington Local. “Particularly around reducing isolation and loneliness with older people.”
Margaret programmed the lion’s share of Celebrate Erdington’s autumn half term holiday events, and organised the decorations adorning Central Square – visible evidence the campaign is about making the Town Centre a brighter proposition at all times, not just when events are happening.
“It’s an amazing High Street,” Margaret enthuses, adding the festival programme has “something for everyone. You can come along, meet friendly, welcoming people, and have a good time together.
“It’s only through coming out and using our local businesses and spaces that the High Street stays lively and keeps offering people things they want. It makes it less of a fearful experience.”
Alongside encouraging connection among local residents, both with their High Street and each other, Margaret adds, “The aim of the Celebrate Erdington festival is to promote Erdington positively – to challenge stereotypes and negative press, [to] redress some of those beliefs.
“We’re using our creative talents to decorate under-utilised places, like Central Square, and make it a more pleasant place for people to come and take part in things.”
Taking part is central to Celebrate Erdington, but for those organising the campaign it’s about more than just attending the events.
“We’re inviting people to be part of this campaign,” explains Ed King, who as BID Manager will be unveiling a ‘High Street Charter’ during a special evening event at St Barnabas Church on Wednesday 28 October, which includes a list of simple ways Erdington locals can support their Town Centre.
“It sounds simple but it’s about breaking the echo chamber, which can all too often be coming from people who actuall love the area. They’re just battle weary I guess, having lived through the decline. But some positive comments will go a long way to change things.”
The long-term goal of the Celebrate Erdington campaign, as well as bringing people together and helping locals feel good about their Town Centre again, is to encourage greater investment into the area.
“Erdington was featured in the Birmingham Local Plan,” continues Ed, “as one of the city’s growth areas. The council recognises the potential here, as do individual stakeholders. And there are some incredibly positive skies on the horizon.
“But we want to get individuals championing the Town Centre as well; it needs that on-the-ground support. If locals start to Celebrate Erdington, then other people will invest in it too.”
Celebrate Erdington will be hosting free events in the Town Centre from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 October.
To find out more about Celebarte Erdington and to stay update on events across Erdington Town Centre visit: www.facebook.com/CelebrateErdington
