Phone detoxing, Birmingham’s past, and film screenings, all at The Exchange this summer

Witches and surrealist film, advice on now to say no to your phone, going back into Birmingham’s past and much more, are all on offer this summer at The Exchange.

The University of Birmingham is hosting a wide range of events this summer, ranging from film screenings and discussions, talks on global health challenges, art, the sciences and the natural world, and expert advice on how to have healthier and safer relationships with our phones.

Many of the events at The Exchange explore key themes connected to the University of Birmingham’s 125^th anniversary, including: Our Health, Our Young People, Our Money, Our Environment, and Our Culture.

Flatpack Film Festival

As part of Flatpack Festival, in the afternoon of 10 May, Elizabeth Sankey’s documentary film Witches, which explores the link between cinematic witches and real-life experiences of postnatal mental illness, will be shown. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with writer and researcher Sabina Stent, and one of the film's interviewees, Emily Hawkerr.

On the evening of 10 May, Flatpack Festival will present a newly digitised screening of Time Flower, Desmond Morris’ 1948 experimental film. While studying zoology at the University of Birmingham, Morris immersed himself in the city’s surrealist scene, shaping his artistic practice. That summer, he created Time Flower, starring himself and his fiancée, Ramona Baulch.

Lost for decades, the film has now been restored from Morris’ own 16mm print. It will screen with its original Prokofiev score, followed by a new live composition by Kinna Whitehead. The event also features a filmed interview with Morris by local filmmaker Andy Howlett and a guest talk by surrealism expert Silvano Levy.

How to say no to your phone

Inspired by the powerful themes in the Netflix drama Adolescence, How to say no to your phone is a workshop suitable for adults and children aged 11+, which feeds into the urgent conversation about phone use and online safety.

Dr Anna Lavis from the University of Birmingham will shed light on how algorithms are shaping what young people see online, often leading them to unexpected content. Jenny Moore, owner of children's bookshop, How Brave is the Wren, will invite families to share experiences and concerns, helping parents and children think through what ‘good’ online habits look like together.

Research in action

Professor Stuart Hall founded the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham and pioneered the field of Cultural Studies, transforming how we understand our society. Pioneers: Stuart Hall on 4 June will see Dr Nick Beech, lead researcher on the Stuart Hall Archive Project, provide an account of Hall’s work at the Centre, how he collaborated with his students and colleagues, and how the people, life, culture, and politics of Birmingham were central to that.

The Exchange X Barber LATES: Art, science, and the natural world takes place on 5 June, and sees The Exchange, The Barber, and Vivid Projects team up for a playful and thought-provoking evening of art, creativity, and conversation, inspired by René Magritte’s The Flavour of Tears.

Global Health: What do we do, why does it matter? takes place on 23 June. Join Professor Alice Roberts for an insightful evening of discussion and interaction with leading experts and researchers, and a live drawing workshop bringing a unique perspective to some of the global health projects being delivered by the University of Birmingham.

Back in time for Birmingham

To launch South Asian Heritage Month, on 17 July, the University’s Race Equality Network invites you to an evening exploring Back in Time for Birmingham, the TV series that brings the city’s rich British Asian history to life.

Through exclusive clips and discussion with stars from the show, we’ll delve into how Birmingham has shaped, and been shaped, by its South Asian communities over the past 50 years. From migration and multiculturalism to identity and belonging, this event will reflect on the city’s evolving landscape and the stories that make it the vibrant, diverse place it is today.

Laura Milner, Head of Public Programmes at the University of Birmingham, said: “Whether you are keen to explore independent film, understand how the University of Birmingham’s research interacts with our lives, step away from your phone, or go back in Birmingham’s past, our summer programme at The Exchange has something for everyone. Throughout 2025, The Exchange will be giving visitors the opportunity to get involved and share their views on important topics for Birmingham and the wider world. There is plenty on offer this summer, and we look forward to welcoming you.”