What to see in Birmingham Heritage Week

An annual heritage week in Birmingham will throw the spotlight on an area of the city that has received World Craft City status.

Birmingham Heritage Week takes place from Friday with a particular focus on the Jewellery Quarter, which was been a centre for high quality manufacturing for more than 200 years.

But the week, which actually lasts 10 days, is city-wide with more than 200 events for people to sign up for.

Heritage Week co-ordinator Irene De Boo said: "Every year, we're amazed by the public's enthusiasm for exploring Birmingham's past – and this year's programme is our biggest yet."

"I feel very strongly that heritage in Birmingham is overlooked," she added.

"There are lots of festivals in Birmingham and they are often art and culture related, music, food but Birmingham has a very rich heritage and a lot of people don't think it has.

"Birmingham as a city has a really interesting history and a lot of physical evidence is still there and what Heritage Week does is it opens places up and neighbourhoods to explore."

Ms De Boo added: "I think heritage week helps you to open up your eyes to Birmingham."

As part of the week, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter and JW Evans Silver Factory are opening their doors to visitors.

Ms De Boo said Birmingham Heritage Week, now in its 11th year, had "really grown".

"It has grown in the number of events, so physically grown, but it has also grown in terms of it's more recognised and people look out for it," she said.

"Ten years ago, we had to contact people to take part. And now we are contacted by organisations asking if they can take part.

"So there is a real shift in it's more recognisable as a festival and I think it has a proper place now on the Birmingham festival calendar."

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