The Exchange, University of Birmingham

07/09/2026

☕ Explore the history of The Exchange

Many ex-staff members of Birmingham Municipal Bank remember having lunch at Head Office on Broad Street.

In addition to a canteen, the Assembly Room was used for commemorative dinners, banking exams, and special ceremonies. Along the back wall hung a wooden plaque listing all staff members who passed the banking exams, including Lesley Coley, one of the first women to pass!

Lesley is one of many volunteers who contributed to our Unlocking the Vaults heritage project here at The Exchange. Head down to the Vaults for even more stories and memories from their research at our free exhibition.

04/09/2026

📸 Treasures from the Vaults!

Taken on 27th November 1933, this photo shows Neville Chamberlain leaving the Head Office of Birmingham Municipal Bank after its grand opening.

HRH Prince George was also present at the ceremony, and you can still spot the foundation stone with the details of the day on the outside of The Exchange today!

Walk out historic halls and explore the history of Birmingham Municipal Bank in our current exhibition in The Vaults for free Mon - Sat, 8 am - 5 pm - until November 2026!

03/09/2026

Looking for a free family day out this Birmingham Heritage Week?

Join us at The Exchange for Heritage Day for All, packed with activities for curious minds of all ages:

🏛️ Building tours at 12 pm, 1 pm and 2 pm
🗺️ Family heritage trails
💰 Discover Birmingham Municipal Bank objects and stories with ex-bank employees and volunteer researchers
🎨 Reimagine the Archive family workshop from The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
🔐 Explore the Unlocking the Vaults exhibition

Come along, get hands-on, and discover the stories that helped shape Birmingham.

01/09/2026

🏦 Treasures from The Vaults

These passbooks were used by account holders at Birmingham Municipal Bank from the 1920s all the way up to computerisation in the 1970s, and kept a record of account withdrawals and deposits.

All 72 branches across the city issued passbooks, including the Bournville Works branch for Cadbury employees, and the Head Office on Broad Street (now The Exchange!).

🔎 Get a closer look at our collection of passbooks and other BMB archive objects at the Heritage for All event at The Exchange on Saturday 12th September, drop-in 11 am - 3 pm.

12/08/2026

See the sun like never before - and leave your glasses and colanders at home!

Just in time for the eclipse, we are hosting a very special experience with Helios, our 5 metre illuminated sculpture by .

Featuring a transportive soundscape composition specially created by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson, tonight is all about (safely) gazing at and reflecting on our closest star.

FREE, no tickets needed. Drop in anytime between 6 pm and 8 pm.

☀️

11/08/2026

Originally, there were 10,500 deposit boxes in the Vaults!

At its most popular, the basement Vault featured rows and rows of deposit blocks of various sizes, which were available to rent through Birmingham Municipal Bank and could only be opened with two special keys kept by the bank and the deposit box owner.

Explore the Vaults at The Exchange to see what the former Birmingham Municipal Bank headquarters looks like today, and discover more of our archive photo collection as part of the Unlocking the Vaults exhibition.

Free and open to all. 15th July - 7th Nov. 8 am - 5 pm.

07/08/2026

☀️ Celebrate the best solar eclipse the UK has seen since 1999 by gazing directly at the sun.

No glasses needed.

☀️ 12 August, 6 pm - 8 pm, drop in.

Experience Luke Jerram’s stunning work Helios with the full immersive surround sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson.

Blending the sounds of fire, NASA recordings, the dawn chorus, summer beaches, and festivals, this free drop-in evening at The Exchange is the perfect uplifting and ambient way to mark the eclipse in the heart of Birmingham.

09/07/2026

☀️🔬🎨 Explore the Sun, science, art and nature this summer at The Exchange!

Join real University of Birmingham researchers for the very first UoB Discovery Club.

Inspired by Helios, the spectacular illuminated sculpture of the Sun currently lighting up our historic Banking Hall, children will enjoy a day of hands-on discovery, including:

🌳 Forest and environmental research with the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research
🔭 Astrophysics and solar telescopes
🎨 Nature-inspired art workshops with the Barber Institute of Fine Arts

Book your spot for our first drop-and-go summer school today!

📅 Wednesday 29 July
⏰ 10 am – 4 pm
👧👦 Ages 8–11 years only
💷 £30 per child (please bring a packed lunch)

The Exchange presents its very first Summer School Day, featuring researchers from the University of Birmingham.

08/07/2026

2 years of research. Over 100 years of Birmingham history. 🏛️🔓

Step inside The Vaults and uncover the stories behind one of Birmingham’s most distinctive civic institutions: Birmingham Municipal Bank.

Unlocking the Vaults is a free exhibition open from 15 July – 7 November at The Exchange.

✨ Hear memories from former employees and customers
📸 Discover original photographs, objects and archive material
🤝 Experience contemporary photography created through community collaborations
📖 Explore the social history of Birmingham Municipal Bank
💬 Share your own reflections as part of the exhibition

Made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Fidn out more: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/the-exchange/exhibitions/unlocking-the-vaults

04/06/2026

☀️ Celestial textiles with Farwa Moledina and The Barber Institute of Fine Arts 🪐

We had a brilliant evening at our first creative workshop of the programme a few weeks ago, as we were inspired by Helios in the Banking Hall to create our very own textiles.

Thank you to everyone who came and to The Barber Institute of Fine Arts and Farwa for leading the session.

Feeling inspired to get creative? Our next workshop is NEXT WEEK:

🌻 Q***r Botanical Drawing with Edward Luke Thrush
📅 Wednesday 10 June
🎟️ £25 / £5 students: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/queer-botanical-drawing-workshop

Photos: Ryan Storey