From City of Empire to City of Diversity: A Visual Journey

Take a visual journey in this exhibition to discover how Birmingham moved from being City of Empire to City of Diversity – from 1889 to the present day. How the make-up of the city’s population changed is shown through images drawn from the Library of Birmingham’s important photographic collections. At the heart of this tour are captivating portraits of people photographed by the Dyche studios over several decades.

This visual journey is enhanced by personal stories and reflections on migration and settlement illustrating the range of experiences of those who journeyed to encounter life in Birmingham and put down roots here. The City of Empire to City of Diversity project shows how Birmingham’s connections to the British Empire have shaped its past, present and future.