The Drum

The Drum, standing on the site of the demolished Aston Hippodrome (850), was planned from 1994 to be the UK’s premier intercultural arts centre dedicated to developing and promoting the contemporary art and culture of black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. Officially opened in September 1999, the main auditorium seats 350 and there are two other smaller performance areas – the 120-seat Andy Hamilton Studio named after the late jazz saxophonist and The Pit, a large central sunken floor reached by surrounding shallow steps, contained within the foyer café. The Drum was the first architectural project undertaken by Larry Priest and Mark Bryant after they were appointed in 1995 to develop the concept design by Associated Architects. Joined a year later by Richard Newman to become BPN Architects, their subsequent proposal to refurbish and extend The Drum received planning permission from Birmingham City Council in 2015. The plans for a two-storey extension that included a striking new corrugated roof painted red, were intended to tackle problems with acoustics and ventilation which were part of continuing problems with the building such as the low ceiling in the main auditorium. Other elements of the planning application included refurbishing the existing first floor hospitality area, an improved technical area and lighting plus new changing, exhibition and seminar rooms. Unfortunately capital funding was not forthcoming from Arts Council England and cuts to arts funding by Birmingham City Council have resulted in the planned closure of The Drum in June 2016.