BIRMINGHAM.- A once-in-a-generation transformation of the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham is underway following a successful £14.8million fundraising campaign.
As part of an ambitious project to make the building more accessible and welcoming and enhance the presentation of art and music for all, a wide-ranging scheme of improvements is now in progress.
A ramp and accessible ground-floor entrance are currently being installed at the side of the Grade-1 listed building on the University’s Edgbaston campus, while the terrace is also being enlarged. New air-handling equipment and support beams have recently been hoisted by crane to roof level for installation of a new plant room underneath the glass pyramid, while extensive work is taking place throughout the building to allow a fresh-air ventilation system to be retrofitted into the Art Deco concert hall.
The works also include a new accessible toilet, an enhanced reception and shop area, and a replacement boiler system.
Professor Jennifer Powell, Director of the Barber, said: “Our vision is to be one of the best civic university museums in the world, and to make its world-class collections and beautiful Grade-1 listed building accessible to everyone, bringing art, music and people together.”
At the heart of the transformation project is the conversion of ground-floor office spaces into a prestigious new learning wing. This will accommodate up to 50 people for seated workshops in the new Clore Studio – allowing the Barber to host school-classes and groups of all ages, as well as public workshops and activities.
This large space will complement a smaller drop-in space for visitors of all ages to explore and be inspired creatively by the collection. Behind the scenes, offices and other spaces are being reordered and refurbished, which will also enhance and support the research and teaching in the University’s Department of Art History, Curating and Visual Studies, based at the Barber.
Since the launch of the public fundraising campaign in January 2025, £14.8million has been secured to enable the scheme to go ahead, thanks to generous donations from private individuals and substantial grants from trusts and foundations; these include the Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust, The Headley Trust, Clore Duffield Foundation, The Michael Marsh Charitable Trust and the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, and others who have pledged their support. Significant funding has also come from the Barber’s parent organisations, The Henry Barber Trust and University of Birmingham.
The appeal still aims to raise a further £400,000 to support the full programme of improvement works in the main galleries, which hold the Barber’s world-class art collection – including replacing the air-handling and lighting systems, providing fresh wall-coverings and cases to enable objects to be safely displayed.
Meanwhile, audiences have been able to enjoy highlights of the Barber’s outstanding collection and exhibitions in displays at other galleries around the country: during 2025 at the Watts Gallery in Surrey and Charleston in Firle, Sussex; and this year at the Courtauld Gallery in London (until 31 August) and Compton Verney, Warwickshire (until 1 November). The ever-popular Barber concert series continues to run in the University’s Elgar Concert Hall.
Professor Jennifer Powell added: “We are extremely grateful to all those bodies that have awarded us grants – as well as to our loyal supporters who have donated to the project, which will ensure that the Barber is a truly 21st-century gallery and concert hall. We are looking forward to opening our doors again and welcoming audiences back to our building and collection, our programme of exhibitions, concerts and related events. Whilst closed, more than 750,000 people have seen our collections through loans and touring programmes, and we thank our partners who have made this possible.”
The Barber will reopen in the latter half of 2027 – dates will be announced once the project has progressed further.
