BrumYODO’s annual festival, A Matter Of Life And Death, returns to the city this month as part of Dying Matters Awareness week. Featuring an array of themed activities, the event creates a space for those undergoing experiences of death, dying, loss and care giving...

Birmingham’s A Matter Of Life And Death Festival returns this spring with a host of events for people of all ages.

The annual festival, which aims to encourage open and honest conversations about death, dying and grief through arts and activities, includes poetry, walking tours, family-based craft and gardening workshops, visits to a local undertaker and a crematorium, film, comedy, discussions and displays.

Organised by Birmingham-based community-interest company BrumYODO, the actual festival takes place from Saturday 2 to Saturday 16 May, but the programme also features events and installations in April and June.

BrumYODO board member Helen Tomblin says: “This year’s festival is absolutely packed with activities which will appeal to very different audiences. We have fun-filled workshops, and we also provide safe discussion spaces where people can ask questions of professionals, explore all aspects of death and dying, and share memories of people they have loved who have died.

“We are delighted to be partnering with so many wonderful local organisations and people to create a festival which we hope will appeal to all.”

A Matter Of Life And Death takes over Community Corner in the Made In Birmingham gallery at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) in April, May and June, presenting a programme of free drop-in activities and changing displays. These include an exploration of how bereaved people are using artificial intelligence.

Kicking off the main weeks of the festival, Birmingham-based Mexican-led arts collective ITZATNA Arts will host creative workshops for children and families inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead.

A new event for this year is Grief Through Clay at Oddingley Hall in Northfield and BMAG, where community artist Jemma Mellor and Northfield Neighbourhood Network Scheme invite people to decorate small sculptures to honour a loved one who has died.

Striking a humorous note is Comedy At The Museum - Dead Funny, which is being held in BMAG’s tearoom, and there’s discussion inspired by composting and flower arranging at Northfield Community Garden’s Worm Food event.

Both Waseley Hills Crematorium in Rubery and A Natural Undertaking in Kings Heath are holding open events to allow visitors to see behind the scenes and ask questions. And A Natural Undertaking in Hall Green also hosts My Funeral Wishes, an informal workshop with resources available to encourage people to share their funeral choices with their loved ones.

The festival features a handful of walking events. Pictures, Poetry & Memories in the Lickey Hills invites people to a wellbeing walk hosted by former Birmingham Poet Laureate Giovanni Esposito, AKA Spoz, and poet & therapeutic writing practitioner Holly Winter-Hughes. Tour guide Kevin Thomas, meanwhile, is joining forces with the festival for the Discover Birmingham Catacombs walking tour. Then BrumYODO and Birmingham Botanical Gardens host a Remembrance Walk & Nature Reflection, exploring key ‘in memory’ places within the gardens.

Other events include a film night at Stirchley Open Cinema and poetry at Thimblemill Library in Smethwick. Muslim healthcare chaplain & author Zamir Hussain will join with grief literacy provider Evolve & Flourish to talk about her work at Sisters, Sabr And Soft Hearts at the Dolphin Centre in Ward End.

There will also be hosted but informal conversations on offer, including a breakfast-time Death Discussion at Dishoom restaurant -  led by new partner the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity - and Death Cafes at Birmingham Central Library, The Heath Bookshop and Arco Lounge in Harborne.

BrumYODO board member Emma Waterford says: “We’re really excited about this year’s festival. The programme has so much choice, and we still have events to announce. Many of the activities are free or low cost, to ensure they can be as accessible as possible. Most do need to be booked, and we know from previous years that some of the most popular events fill very quickly, so our advice is to take a look at our website and secure yourself a place as soon as you can.”

BrumYODO’s A Matter Of Life And Death takes place from Saturday 2 to Saturday 16 May. For further information about the festival, visit brumyodo.org.uk

By Diane Parkes