Key to the City
By Paul Ramírez Jonas
Produced by Fierce
Proudly sponsored by Yale
For over 180 years, Yale has protected the people, places and things we care about the most. From mechanical locks to alarms, safes, smart locks & more, our solutions are actively securing homes and businesses all over the world. Located in the West Midlands, the historic centre of the British lock industry, Yale is trusted by millions of people every day to keep what’s important to them safe.
With a long-established heritage in the lock industry, Yale are proud to be official sponsors of Key to the City.
About the Project
Birmingham 2022 Festival presents Key to the City, a public art project by internationally-acclaimed artist Paul Ramírez Jonas, brought to the UK for the very first time by Birmingham based arts organisation Fierce.
Yale are the proud sponsors and providers of the keys and locks for this exciting project.
What is Key to the City?
The Key to the City is traditionally given by a City Council or Mayor to a hero or dignitary, symbolising that they have the freedom of the city. But in this project the Key to the City belongs to all of us - not just the chosen few - and we can award it among ourselves for any reason we choose.
For ten weeks this summer, be one of the thousands of Brummies to award someone the Key to the City - a ceremonial honour - but also a physical Yale key that will enable the recipient to explore private and intriguing places and spaces around the city that they might not have happened on before.
From private gardens to underground tunnels, a locked museum drawer to panoramic skyline views, the Key to the City sites will bring a new perspective to the city.
IMAGE BY LENSI PHOTOGRAPHY
IMAGE BY LENSI PHOTOGRAPHY
Where can I collect my key?
The Key Exchange Ceremony site, located beneath the departure boards at Birmingham New Street Station, will be open from 11am - 7pm on Wednesdays - Sundays until the 10th July 2022.
There is no need to register in advance, just turn up on the day. Arrive in pairs or solo to be partnered up to collect your keys. This is a FREE event.
These keys will grant access to the 21 locations until 7th August 2022.
Where can I visit?
Some of the exciting locations include:
103 Colmore Row
Skyline views of the city.
Ikon Gallery
Unlock a hidden space, behind a wooden door.
Northfield Community Garden
Access to the Arts Forum Community Garden.
Minworth Green Bridge
Unlock the doors in the canal bridge.
Join the conversation!
Take part in the conversation about Key to the City online using the project hashtag - #KeyToTheCityBrum.
We’d love to see which sites you visit, so please share your selfies from each location on Instagram using the project hashtag.
Yale proudly providing the keys and locks
Keys and locks are an integral part of our everyday lives and you’ll be pleased to know, it's what we specialise in. Take a look at some of the Yale products that are being featured in the Key to the City locations:
Artist Paul Ramírez Jonas says...
"What if everyone, not just the chosen few, could be recognized with the Key to the City of Birmingham? What if anyone could decide who is deserving of the Freedom of the City? What if this Key could open dozens of previously unexplored spaces around the city? And what if all those spaces together created a portrait of Birmingham?"
About Birmingham 2022 Festival
The Birmingham 2022 Festival unites people from around the Commonwealth through a celebration of creativity in a six-month long programme, shining a spotlight on the West Midlands culture sector.
Running from March to beyond the conclusion of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in September, the festival aims to entertain and engage over 2.5million people in person and online.
About Yale
With over 181 years’ experience protecting the people, places and things we care about the most, Yale are proud to sponsor Key to the City. Located in the West Midlands, the historic centre of the British lock industry, our solutions are actively securing homes and businesses all over the world.
Yale, trusted by millions of people every day to keep what’s important safe.
About Fierce
Since 1997, Fierce has been promoting Birmingham across the world as a vibrant, diverse, tolerant place, where the outlandish is embraced and celebrated and the new is welcomed with curiosity and kindness. Fierce produces a biennial youthful and joy-filled festival of international art, performance and experiences in and around Birmingham. In 2019, The Guardian awarded them five-stars for ‘A daringwhirl of theatrical thrills’ and The Stage described the programme as ‘one of the most diverse and representative in the country’.
Generously supported by Arts Council England and National Lottery Heritage Fund
