What to do and see in West Midlands, England: The Best Art Museums

Flat 8 Gallery is a space for emerging contemporary European, North and South American artists. We provide a space that allows the artist a more personal connection with the audience, to share ideas, future projects and creative processes. And for the public to have an experience surrounded by art that can later become part of their lives. There are dinners each week at Flat 8, on a Wednesday, at which artists and guests meet in an exchange of ideas and cultures.

From Renaissance masterpieces and cutting edge contemporary art to Egyptian mummies and the iconic HP factory sign, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery showcases a world class collection and offers fascinating glimpses into Birmingham's rich and vibrant past. Highlights include the finest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art in the world and the largest find of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered - the Staffordshire Hoard. Don't miss the Birmingham History Galleries - packed with artefacts, local treasures and interactive displays that reveal captivating stories of Birmingham from the last 500 years.

The galleries at the Grade I listed Barber Institute of Fine Arts boast an outstanding art collection, with masterpieces by Botticelli, Rubens, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Turner and Rossetti, Monet, Renoir, Degas and Manet to Van Gogh, Gauguin and Rene Magritte. There's also a dazzling coin gallery, housing Europe's most significant collection of Roman, Byzantine and medieval coins, alongside superb works of decorative art and sculpture, and changing exhibitions and displays of prints and drawings - all in Birmingham's finest Art Deco building. The lively learning programme for adults and children can be currently be found online. Explore exciting collaborations and activities created alongside Birmingham-based artists and organisations in Barber Home, and learn more about the collection every week with Tuesday Talk podcast. The Barber's galleries are currently closed and its concert programme suspended in line with the Government's latest Covid-19 lockdown regulations for England.

Investigate the natural world, modern art, and the Old Masters. Wander through dazzling interactive displays, and enjoy the latest exhibitions while admiring the building’s unique architecture. As well as the art gallery’s ever-changing displays which are often created in partnership with national museums, the Herbert offers a wide range of detailed talks, fantastic events and inventive workshops for adults and families. The Herbert Art Gallery encourages creativity, exploration and fun. Gain a fresh perspective on the legend of Lady Godiva, discover your ancestors’ history in the Coventry Archives, and explore British & European paintings from the 1500s onwards. All of this is just a stone’s throw away from Coventry Cathedral.

Dudley Museum at the Archives re-opened Saturday 30 September 2018 in its new venue. Geology, fine art, fossils and dinosaurs are all on display. Free entry and family friendly. We are next door to the Black Country Living Museum.

Parkside Gallery is a leading art and design exhibition space within Birmingham City University, with an emphasis on, but not confined to, design-led practice.

Direct Art Action UK is an artists gallery at the centre of a busy town high street in Birmingham. Direct Art Action welcomes all artists and public that are interested in artists and their work.