GRAND UNION - Birmingham

'The Bothy' is a permanent, outdoor installation in the Minerva Apothecary Garden on the Grand Union Canal side. 'The Bothy' is intended as a place for people to use for shelter and rest, made by British-Barbadian artist Alberta Whittle, as part of her long-term artist project with Grand Union entitled 'Congregation: Creating Dangerously'. Using the model of a Scottish bothy – which provides temporary shelter and is free for anyone to use – the artist, Birmingham-based Women's organisations, and MJM Bespoke have designed a structure referencing a Barbadian Chattel House in the area connecting the Grand Union Canal to the Minerva Apothecary Garden. Within our approach to mutual care is the importance of respite as a framework for support. This public sculpture will be designed to be spacious enough to hold ten people at a time, with intentional viewing spots of the sky and land. These subtle design features will support an acknowledgement towards understanding how natural resources can contribute to healing communities.

Join us on Friday, 5 September from 6-8pm at Junction Works, to showcase the work of recent BA Fine Art graduates of Birmingham School of Art (BCU) this Digbeth First Friday. The artists were invited to this showcase by the Grand Union team, after seeing their work at the 2025 Birmingham School of Art degree show. We invite you to meet some of the newest artists in the city, get a taste of their work and celebrate as they take their next steps after graduating. Includes work by: Lia Coello, Sireen Martin, Tamara Mbuluko, Ella Paul

'Comfort Near Me' installation as part of May Digbeth First Friday. Image by Nina Bailie, 2025. A landscape image of two people standing outside a small blue building with red shutters and an open door.

'The Bothy' is a permanent, outdoor installation in the Minerva Apothecary Garden on the Grand Union Canal side. 'The Bothy' is intended as a place for people to use for shelter and rest, made by British-Barbadian artist Alberta Whittle, as part of her long-term artist project with Grand Union entitled 'Congregation: Creating Dangerously'. Using the model of a Scottish bothy – which provides temporary shelter and is free for anyone to use – the artist, Birmingham-based Women's organisations, and MJM Bespoke have designed a structure referencing a Barbadian Chattel House in the area connecting the Grand Union Canal to the Minerva Apothecary Garden. Within our approach to mutual care is the importance of respite as a framework for support. This public sculpture will be designed to be spacious enough to hold ten people at a time, with intentional viewing spots of the sky and land. These subtle design features will support an acknowledgement towards understanding how natural resources can contribute to healing communities.