Friday Photo: The Barber Institute
To give this lovely building its full name, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, situated in Edgbaston at the University of Birmingham. It was opened in 1939 by Queen Mary, the grandmother of our present queen and was designed by Robert Atkinson, FRIBA.
Sir Henry and Lady Barber made plans for a permanent contibution to Birmingham before Sir Henry’s death in 1927. He had become wealthy as a developer in Birmingham and paid towards the establishment of the University. Lady Barber left the entire family fortune to the Institute in her will to fund the building, add to the art collection and host concerts. Go and pay a visit, you won’t regret it.
I like to think I’m well informed about Birmingham….however I had absolutely NONE! zero idea that this place existed. My next time to hometown I must visit this place.
Yes, it’s a bit of a hidden gem but well worth a visit. They have a regularly changing range of art exhibitions and concerts throughout the year.
http://barber.org.uk/visit/