• Join Carlos Acosta and Curtis Holder for a rare ‘in conversation’ event at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

• Enjoy an exclusive after hours viewing of Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White

• Experience a stellar space day at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum.

Birmingham Museums has unveiled its new seasonal programme of events to cultivate curiosity across its sites throughout the summer.

The programme opens with May Day celebrations at Sarehole Mill on Saturday 3 May, marking the beginning of summer.

Activities include May Day pole, basket and lantern making led by environmental education group Wild Earth Movement, creating May Day King or Queen crowns from natural materials and a group art project to make a large Green Man portrait using leaves and foliage.

There will be traditional live music and garden games throughout the day, as well as a Morris dancing display and the chance to dance around the maypole. The mill will also be open all day for visitors to explore at their own pace.

The celebrations will take place from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm. Pre-booking is recommended via the Birmingham Museums website: May Day Celebrations.

A main highlight of the ‘curiosity’ season is the rare opportunity to see Carlos Acosta, director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, in conversation with artist Curtis Holder at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on Wednesday 7 May.

Curtis Holder won the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year competition in 2020 and was awarded a commission to draw Carlos’s portrait for the city’s collection.

The conversation, chaired by Ian Sergeant, senior curator of global majority collections, will offer a unique insight into the process of working together on the portrait and their experiences as leading creative artists. Tickets are available from the Birmingham Museums website: Carlos Acosta and Curtis Holder in Conversation.

Another highlight of the programme is an exclusive late opening of Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on Saturday 17 May.

This unique after-hours event will feature pop-up activities throughout the evening, including spotlight tours of the exhibition offering in-depth insights into the artist's masterpieces, a demonstration of traditional drypoint etching by Stirchley Printworks and drop-in lino print workshops led by Birmingham artist Haseebah Ali.

The evening will include live folk music performances by musicians from the Birmingham Royal Conservatoire and the opportunity to enjoy a limited edition craft beer from Birmingham Brewing Company in the beautiful surroundings of the museum’s Round Room. Tickets are on sale via the website: Rembrandt Late.

Meanwhile, for those who are curious to experience live jazz in some of the city’s most iconic spaces, the 41st Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival will be bringing pop-up performances to Aston Hall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Blakesley Hall, Sarehole Mill and Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum during July.

For more information on the musicians, dates and tickets, visit the Birmingham Museums website: Birmingham Jazz Festival.

On Thursday 21 August, Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum is offering a ‘stellar space day’ to celebrate the arrival of its newest exhibition, The Space Vault, which is opening to the public on 14 June.

Visitors can take part in lunar LEGO workshops, space-themed junk modelling and night sky finger painting. They may even have an encounter with the Roswells, a friendly alien family who have decided to come on holiday to Earth. All activities are included in Thinktank’s general admission price.

The ‘curiosity’ seasonal programme runs until 31 August 2025. A full list of upcoming events is available on the Birmingham Museums website - see what's on page.

Speaking about the new programme, Zak Mensah and Sara Wajid, co-chief executive officers of Birmingham Museums Trust, said:

“We are excited to unveil our summer seasonal programme on the theme of curiosity.

“We believe that museums should be places where people can experience a sense of wonder. This is important because it allows individuals to expand their understanding of the world, connect with their own heritage, and challenge existing perspectives.

“By cultivating curiosity, museums can inspire learning, creativity and a deeper appreciation for the human experience.”