Birmingham’s iconic Town Hall is set to undergo a refurbishment alongside an ambitious archive project.

Originally opened in 1834, the historic 191-year-old Grade I listed building has played a vital role in the city’s musical legacy.

Its unique musical and civic history includes visits by Queen Victoria and leading Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, world premieres by Elgar and Mendelsohn, and concerts from musical legends such as Chuck Berry, Nina Simone, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie. Local superstars such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Joan Armatrading have all performed on the Town Hall stage.

One of the most notable events came in December 1853, when Charles Dickens gave the first ever public reading of A Christmas Carol at Town Hall.

B:Music, the Birmingham music charity responsible for Symphony Hall and Town Hall, has now launched its Amplify Town Hall project, which aims to celebrate and uncover the structure’s incredible history, while making crucial upgrades to the building, and securing the future of the venue for generations to come.

It has now been almost 20 years since Town Hall last underwent major refurbishment, reopening in October 2007, after an 11-year closure period. Some crucial upgrades are now needed to ensure the building is as accessible and sustainable as possible, offering the best experience for modern audiences.

Starting this summer, the physical refurbishment will include replacing the ageing passenger lifts, adding a new accessible ramp and backstage lift, installing better insulation, and converting to LED lighting. These changes will not only help reduce the running costs, but also the carbon footprint of the building. The upcoming programme of events at Town Hall will be unaffected by the scheduled work.

Alongside the renovation of the building, the team says there is also a need to capture and showcase Town Hall’s heritage. B:Music is announcing a £123,651 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to undertake this element of the project. With the help of heritage specialists Birmingham Music Archive and a group of passionate volunteers, B:Music is reaching out to music fans across the city and beyond, asking them to share their memories and any items of memorabilia related to the venue such as old tickets, photos and programmes.

B:Music will also work with existing archives, like the Library of Birmingham, to uncover and compile a full collection of materials relating to the vast heritage of the building.

The project will culminate in a permanent exhibition throughout the lower floor and backstage of the venue, and the creation of a brand-new digital archive, making the history of Town Hall available to a national and worldwide audience for the first time.

Rachel Cranny, Head of Development and Impact at B:Music commented: “We are delighted to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, the incredible history of Town Hall will be celebrated and uncovered, ensuring it is protected for future generations.”

Jez Collins, Founder and Director of Birmingham Music Archive added: “I’m thrilled that Birmingham Music Archive has been asked to support with this truly incredible project. We’re passionate about celebrating Town Hall’s wonderful heritage and protecting its future. Sadly, much of the material relating to the building’s past is currently at risk of being lost or forgotten. It is therefore extremely important that we uncover stories and memories about the Hall, and compile a comprehensive archive, bringing together materials from within public and private collections. By doing so, we will ensure this material is properly catalogued and protected for the
future. Currently, very little is known or visible about the heritage of this very special venue and we want to change that.”

Nick Reed, Chief Executive Officer at B:Music concluded: “We are extremely proud to be the charity entrusted as custodians of Town Hall. Everyone at B:Music is excited to be making much- needed upgrades to the nineteenth century building, which will make it a more accessible venue for audiences and artists, increase environmental sustainability, and improve the concert-going experience for visitors. By refining the customer experience and upgrading public spaces, we will also maximise potential income from our events, which will allow B:Music to invest in future maintenance and updates. We truly believe this project will help to amplify and protect the past, present and future of Town Hall.”

As a charity, to make this project a reality, B:Music needs to raise significant funds for the scheduled work to Town Hall. The Birmingham music charity is launching a public fundraising appeal to raise £200,000 towards the refurbishment project. People can offer their support to help amplify the story of Town Hall in a number of ways, including making a one- off donation, making a regular monthly gift, naming a seat, or becoming a sponsor.

Other ways to get involved include volunteering with the archive project or sharing memories and archive items. Volunteers will receive training in archive techniques and join forces with a group of likeminded music fans.

Throughout July and August, B:Music will host a series of drop-in events at Town Hall and Symphony Hall, where members of the public can bring along their items and stories. These dates will be available via the B:Music website.