Birmingham events

PLEASE NOTE, ALL OUR EVENTS IN MARCH-APRIL HAVE BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WE WILL REVIEW WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED FOR MAY IN LIGHT OF FUTURE GUIDANCE. KEEP WELL. STAY SAFE. FOLLOW US ONLINE INSTEAD!

The New Standard Works really is a Hive of activity during the week. In The Hive on the ground floor we have a thriving organic Café & Bakery, quirky and creative Heritage Room, Makers Studio and Exhibition Spaces. On the upper floors is Argent College,operated by Ruskin Mill Trust, a specialist educational college for young people with learning differences who are mastering a range of traditional crafts and employability skills throughout the whole building.

The Hive is open during the week and we run a monthly Saturday events programme related to enterprise, craft and heritage; designed to bring people together to be sociable as well as creative. On this second Saturday of each month, we offer whole building tours across our four storeys, when we share our building's story - and you get the see our wonderful rooftop micro-farm.

There is something for everyone. Everyone is welcome to enjoy our building.

JQ Scavenger Hunt

Jewellery Quarter residents! During one of your daily healthy exercise sessions why not try our heritage-themed #JQ Scavenger Hunt around the area? You can download the activity FREE here. heritage. health. wellbeing. stay safe. follow the rules. Read more

Latest

Looking Back at #KeepWellKeepCrafting

Lockdown posed many challenges for our team at the Hive. It has been a situation unlike any other, but it has also pushed our creativity as we have tried to stay engaged with our groups and visitors. In the short time before the lockdown, Naomi, Roseanna, and Freya worked together to come up with a creative programme that could be orchestrated remotely, and that could keep our groups involved with craft, and help us reach new audiences.

Past Exhibitions

Our exhibition schedule may have been disrupted for 2020, but we still managed to put on three diverse exhibitions in the Hive Gallery before we closed. Take a look at 2020 so far...

JQ Scavenger Hunt

Aonghus Gordon MEd, FRSA

Aonghus, Founder and Chief Executive of Ruskin Mill Trust. Aonghus has a distinguished track record of development and leadership of several ground-breaking charities that provide high quality environments and opportunities for people with disabilities.

Plan your visit

The International Festival of Glass takes place at venues across the Stourbridge Glass Quarter. Entry to all Festival venues is free, however some activities and events will have a charge.

Hive Cafe and Bakery

The Hive Cafe and Bakery provides a warm welcome in the heart of Birmingham's famous Jewellery Quarter, with delicious pastries, cake, bread and meals. Come and visit us. Try our coffee! Please visit us at The Hive subsite. www.thehiveJQ.org

Why we exist

Our story

The seeds of Ruskin Mill Land Trust were sown in 1967 when Robin and Barbara Gordon transplanted their young sons Aonghus and Alisdair from the hothouse of the Ruskin Centre for Art Appreciation in Venice to the cold frame of a dilapidated former textile mill in Gloucestershire.

Merlin Theatre

Transforming the Merlin Theatre has enriched the cultural life of Sheffield and provided cultural venue for Freeman College and Brantwood Specialist School..

Freeman Biodynamic Garden at High Riggs

Located in Stannington bordering the Peak District the Freeman Biodynamic Garden provides fruit and vegetables for Freeman College, Brantwood Specialist School and the Fusion Café.

British Glass Biennale 2019 - selected artists

The Ruskin Mill Land Trust, in association with the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers, is delighted to announce the artists for the 2019 British Glass Biennale exhibition. Over two days an expert panel of judges chaired by Róisín de Buitléar and comprising of Dr Jane Cook, Monica Guggisberg, Angel Monzon, and Cathy Shankland, selected the very best of this year’s entries, all of which achieved a very high standard.

Vale Head Farm

Vale Head Farm was an equestrian centre when we purchased it, and over the years hard work has seen it bloom into a beautiful biodynamic farm.

Aonghus Gordon MEd, FRSA, Executive Chair

Aonghus has a distinguished track record of development and leadership of several ground-breaking charities that provide high quality environments and opportunities for people with disabilities. He is passionate about the need for people to break out of dependency and marginalisation, believing that everyone has the potential to shape their own future.

The Hive JQ