Birmingham Cathedral
The New Nativity
Birmingham Cathedral is pleased commission an ambitious and beautiful New Nativity Set by the Birmingham artist Melanie Tomlinson.
The Nativity Set will be life sized, and draw upon the traditional crafts and industries of Birmingham (including mother of pearl which is also manufactured in Bethlehem), while portraying the needs of the world, and allowing people to see themselves within it.
There will be a series of Workshops over the next months to enable the Cathedral Community to be involved in some of the making and designing of the Nativity. It is planned that the New Nativity will be in the cathedral from Advent Sunday.
The Nativity Set will be life sized, and draw upon the traditional crafts and industries of Birmingham (including mother of pearl which is also manufactured in Bethlehem), while portraying the needs of the world, and allowing people to see themselves within it.
There will be a series of Workshops over the next months to enable the Cathedral Community to be involved in some of the making and designing of the Nativity. It is planned that the New Nativity will be in the cathedral from Advent Sunday.
Birmingham Cathedral respects the creative vision that artists working in all disciplines bring to sites and contexts and is establishing a programme of creative projects that explore its important heritage, theological role and its vital city centre location.
The cathedral is continuing this contemporary programme by commissioning a new Nativity for the cathedral. This new work will form a key focus of our Christmas celebrations, with the ability to be used yearly, possibly focussing on a new story or theme on an annual basis.
The Cathedral Arts Group issued an open call to artists and selected exciting proposals from four artists from the Midlands for further paid development. Following a period of consultation with the cathedral community, Melanie Tomlinson was selected to make the Nativity.
The Nativity is an ambitious life sized work that speaks intelligently to the context of the cathedral and of Birmingham, and will provide an annual contemplative spectacle. It will be a place where stories can be told, when global plights can be commemorated, where communities can focus their thoughts around Christmas activities.
The works will be colourful, with beautiful beaten copper faces and hands reminiscent of iconography. They contain materials and craft processes that reflect Birmingham's traditional industries, including mother of pearl, which is a craft shared by Birmingham and Bethlehem. While being beautiful, The Nativity incorporates the biblical themes of homelessness and refugees. It seeks to centre marginalised voices and to be representative of our hyper-diverse city.
The artist will lead a series of workshops with the cathedral community to involve the community further in the design and making.
The cathedral is continuing this contemporary programme by commissioning a new Nativity for the cathedral. This new work will form a key focus of our Christmas celebrations, with the ability to be used yearly, possibly focussing on a new story or theme on an annual basis.
The Cathedral Arts Group issued an open call to artists and selected exciting proposals from four artists from the Midlands for further paid development. Following a period of consultation with the cathedral community, Melanie Tomlinson was selected to make the Nativity.
The Nativity is an ambitious life sized work that speaks intelligently to the context of the cathedral and of Birmingham, and will provide an annual contemplative spectacle. It will be a place where stories can be told, when global plights can be commemorated, where communities can focus their thoughts around Christmas activities.
The works will be colourful, with beautiful beaten copper faces and hands reminiscent of iconography. They contain materials and craft processes that reflect Birmingham's traditional industries, including mother of pearl, which is a craft shared by Birmingham and Bethlehem. While being beautiful, The Nativity incorporates the biblical themes of homelessness and refugees. It seeks to centre marginalised voices and to be representative of our hyper-diverse city.
The artist will lead a series of workshops with the cathedral community to involve the community further in the design and making.
For more information, or to donate towards the costs of The Nativity, please go to to Cathedral website by clicking here.
