MAC Birmingham

The MAC is a multi use facility within Cannon Hill Park. It is an arts centre in its own right, but also a good place to grab lunch or go to the toilet if you’re at the park.
There is a café selling good, fresh food for reasonable prices. I’ve had pizza, cake and a jerk chicken special there and they have all been surprisingly good. It’s not a cosy place but it’s great for a quick, good quality lunch.
The cinema shows a mix of independent and ‘interesting’ mainstream films. You can only take water in so don’t go hungry! This is good because it keeps it clean and quiet in there without the need for lots of staff.
I’ve been to a comedy gig in the theatre area and I guess they do plays too. As well as all this, there are art exhibitions, evening classes and more.

The Mac itself is lovely. Situated in Cannon Hill Park with free (yay)parking. A cute gift shop is on the left as you enter which also doubles as the ticket office. It has lots of unique items to pick up and buy too. There is also a cute bar (with lovely tea & coffee options) and it even has some vegan options! There are a few theatre spaces and I was in the hexagon theatre which was a small space of around 40 people but it was nice & cosy for the performance and it felt very intimate.

Midlands art centre is based in the beautiful Canon Hill Park. There is so much to see and do at the MAC (midland art centre) with a art fair and other events being held there all year round, there is always something new to see and do.
They also offer full length/​feature films which are showcased from independent artists and film makers. The MAC also has a fully licensed bar area towards the rear, a restaurant serving hot and cold foods or refreshments. Which is more school canteen than restaurant. But it works pretty well here.
The last time I went was with my sister and we had made a special trip to see a particular artist Jim Wright who amazingly had created a very large dining set consisting of a table and four chairs, it was truly amazing so it is well worth checking out the MAC as it has so much to offer any time of the year and truly is a wonderful place!

I’ve been coming to the MAC regularly for a few months now. I haven’t experienced all the MAC has to offer, only because there is always something new going on.
They offer various events throughout the year like art exhibits, films, comedians, and classes. It claims to be kid friendly but I do not really see how. I didn’t see anything for children. Even the outdoor area is lacking in fun. Luckily cannon park is right next door.
The MAC has a nice little gift shop with creative greeting cards and artsy gifts. There is a large café that has OK food. Some things are definitely not worth the price. And service is always slow. The other Side of the MAC has a bar with other food and a small selection of beer and alcohol.
The reason I’ve given such a low rating is due to a few things. One, the café is utterly slow. I could drive to Sainsbury, buy food and cook it myself before the MAC can deliver my meal. It doesn’t matter if it’s empty or completely heaving. Always reliably slow. Today for a 2 toasties we waited 30 minutes. On top of that, empty tables seem to be filthy and full of collections of dirty dishes. Yet there sure were a lot of staff doing nothing behind the counter… Lastly, I haven’t found it to be very organised. I tried registering for a zumba class to find out it had been cancelled. Not one class, the entire session. Nothing was published online. A bit of a let down.
I still think the MAC is a unique venue for trying new things. After all it is free! Free parking and free entry. I’m still going to return for an event for sure. But overall the venue just doesn’t live up to the hype.

The mac (or the Midlands Arts Centre as it used to be know before everything got converted to a lower case acronym) opened in the early sixties. It’s where filmmaker Mike Leigh developed his method of making performance, dontcha know?
I used to love it here as kid. I’d attend drama, pottery, and drawing classes. When I was a theatre student, I’d come and see performances here, including some spectacular ones in the outside arena. In terms of films, the place was the embodiment of an arthouse cinema. The whole place had a great vibe to it, and with it’s original 1960’s architecture it was a living example of recent art centre history.
Then in 2008 the asses decided to ‘develop it’. The update was a shot in the foot.
mac was turned into a modern monstrosity of open-​plan shiny-​ness, all TV screens, glass and metal. It immediately lost it’s Bohemian charm, and soul.
On long Summer days parents and children would meet up with friends on the grassy banks that surrounded the courtyard. Mums and dads would chat, smoke and drink, and the children would enjoy scooting around on wheeled toys. Then share-what-you’ve-brought picnics would be the order of the day. Those day are gone.
This area has been replaced by a series of harsh child-​unfriendly raised concrete terraces each with a very uncommunal table that seats a nuclear family of four. As a result, they’ve cut the amount of people that can use this beloved outdoor area by about 90%. mac, if you’re wondering why it’s all going down the pan for you, it’s not just that you don’t do any marketing outside the building itself, it’s that darn outside ‘development’ that has spoiled a unique part of what you once were about.

Ive been to the MAC so many times for different things that i cant believe that i havent reviewed it before. There is always lots going on here from art exhibitions to comedy gigs, food markets to cinema. Its set within Canon Hill Park which is beautiful to walk around (although if your canine companion has a penchant for squirrel hunting then make sure you are on the alert as you walk round as there are LOADS of them!!)
The park always tends to be busy at weekends and seems to be a great favourite amongst the mother and toddler crowd too. I prefer (if going to the park for a dog walk) to go in the early afternoon when its a little less busy.
There is a café and a bar — the café is a little more expensive than a run of the mill café but has a good range of food and drink.
there is lots of seating inside which isnt part of the café or bar making it excellent for informal business meetings and the like.
I love the mac — its a real gem in our city. I cant imagine Birmingham without it!

MAC Birmingham is an arts centre located in one of Birmingham’s green oases, and it is becoming one of my favourite arts venues in the city.
MAC is an arts centre that really cares about audience experience, and this is clear in the dizzying programme of events, exhibitions, theatre, dance, independent cinema, festivals, food markets and special events. Growing up in Birmingham, a trip to the MAC was always a special occasion — at Christmas my parents used to bring me to the theatre. Recently, MAC has undergone a multimillion pound rebirth. The building has been transformed into a real local landmark, unmissable in the park. It has also become even more visitor friendly, with a large, bright atrium that’s perfect for meeting in, and a nice café that serves up a range of hot and cold food, as well as cakes and drinks.
Recently I’ve been to a range of different events at MAC, including a wonderfully fun screening of ‘I Am Divine’ as part of SHOUT Festival. However, it is their programme of contemporary art exhibitions and events that have wowed me over and over. First there was ‘Sounding The River’ a fantastic, multisensory event that drew on MAC’s unique position beside the River Rea. Myself and Adam S. followed a path, under the cover of darkness, along the river and through the woods of the park. We encountered amazing whirring, wizzing, flashing and glowing light installations interspersed with beautiful music and theatre, bringing the river to life. Then there was the amazingly powerful ‘Black Smoke Rising’, an installation by artist Tim Shaw that saw MAC’s large exhibition space transformed into a dark, smokey, oily chamber, presided over by a huge black-​hooded god. Both of the above rank among the very best arts happenings that I’ve ever experienced.
Right now you can catch ‘The Last Known Pose’, an exhibition of work by artist Qasim Riza Shaheen that brings together beautifully crafted garments, video installations and glossy portraits.
MAC is a great arts venue that works closely with the community groups that make up Birmingham and brings innovative contemporary arts to the city, and is well worth a visit.

Always lots going on here! Great for kids, but there’s a bar too!:)
They have a food market the last Sunday of every month 10.30−3.30 and a craft market 10 – 5 on the first Sunday of the month. I can recommend both; high quality goods at affordable prices! A good place to look for gifts.
There is a spacious café and plenty of outdoor space and parking (although on a nice day it can get a bit harder to find a space!).
They show films indoors and outdoors, have theatre productions and art installations.
Aside from the craft markets there is also a small permanent shop.
I think its always worth popping down on a Sunday especially if you have a spare hour or so, as there is a lovely relaxed family friendly vibe:)

The MAC is a brilliant example of how to run an arts centre. The new building is bright and airy with many different areas to explore, a great café, a lovely studio theatre, pottery studio, and I don’t know what else. They also have free Wi-​Fi (woo-​hoo!), and a beautiful location in Cannon Hill Park, right next to Edgebaston cricket ground.
There is always something going on, from shows to exhibitions, workshops, courses, talks and so forth — it’s the busiest arts centre I’ve ever been in, and many other arts centres in the UK could benefit from careful studying of the MAC’s programming model. Whatever it is they’re doing, it definitely seems to be working for them!
A minor criticism is that because there is so much going on, the staff sometimes don’t know what’s happening, which can lead to some confusion. I also noticed that the café only had one staff member serving during the busiest period of lunchtime, leading to a long queue at the counter — not really acceptable during the mid-​day rush.
Despite these minor niggles, It’s a wonderful space in a great location and I wish I’d had more time to explore it. Definitely a star in Birmingham’s crown.

A fresh and modern space set in the beautiful surroundings of Cannon Hill Park. The MAC has plenty to offer, from small rooms to large, bright and open studios. I’ve been here many a time for meetings and talks, performances and cinema. The restaurant is lovely, offering some tasty snacks and meals, and there’s always a really lovely vibe there.

Call Me a misery guts but I miss the old Mac. I miss the character which I didn‘t feel in the new building. I know things must change. Any way I met my dear friend for a coffee in the Bridges café bar in the Midlands Arts Centre.
I have never found it easy to get to on foot; although I appreciate that it is on convenient bus routes (45,47, 61,62).
I arrived at 12.30pm; so I don‘t think it was due to the time. I was hungry but I felt that the sandwich choices were limited with respect to choices of bread and fillings. There was however a nice choice of cake. The staff were friendly.
After our natter we took a walk through Cannon Hill Park and took pictures of scenery and wildlife. Very beautiful and peaceful.
I‘m glad I visited but it would not be a regular venue for Me

The mac has been an essential part of Birmingham’s arts and culture scene for 50 years now. It has moved with the times too!
Following an extensive refit a few years ago, the mac confidently sits in the burbs of Brum as a destination venue in its own right.
A short 45÷47÷61÷62 bus ride out of town and bang opposite Edgbaston Cricket Ground, the mac is a gem offering everything from exhibitions to cutting edge live at and theatre to world cinema.
It also has a fantastic range of courses for all ages including a brilliant stand-​up comedy course which I have had the fortune to go on.
It offers good conferencing facilities with its range of theatres and break out rooms and the catering, café and bar facilities are of a good standard.
As a multi-​purpose arts and cultural venue, the mac can sit proud of Brum and here’s to the next 50 years.

Well loved by the locals, the MAC (Midlands Arts Centre) obtained a new and improved fan base after it’s shiny new lick of paint.
Not in the city centre area but not far off pretty much on the border of Edgbaston & Moseley — the artistic heart of Birmingham.
It’s easy to get to on various bus options although sadly not train station around here. Which would have been handy as one of our other treasures, Edgbaston Cricket ground, also newly refurbished, is right opposite.
But back to the MAC, I’ve been here for a variety of reasons; to see an art exhibit, a play and this week to the monthly food market. One thing I haven’t done yet is to see a film. Despite them showing art house type indie films, it seems a long way to go when I have 4 cinemas within walking distance but one day I might. The facilities are excellent with a café, loads of airy space although the car park gets very full in the summer and on busy days. Finally, of course, the MAC is set on the beautiful Cannon Hill Park — which alone is worth the visit.

The MAC is one of the mainstays that makes Birmingham so great to live in. Their live gigs are really well put together, well run and they seem to able to draw a simply amazing range of high quality talent. If you’re on the fence about seeing a show out here, just go! The acoustics are amazing and the atmosphere really supports a great live music experience.
It’s not just about the gigs, though! Their art displays seem to vary wildly in medium and style but always maintain world class quality.
But the best thing about the MAC is one specific visit I had where they were running an event with logic games (I lost), the chance to try to navigate the MAC using only sound from sonar goggles (I lost) and a strange sort of contest where you had to chase a man in a bull mask with balloons (I got to try on the mask!). I would never have gotten to try these if I hadn’t happened to wander in the day they were running so I think I’ll be wandering in more often!
The MAC also has grounds with a lovely pond and green spaces for relaxing if you’ve got good weather for your visit. There’s usually an ice cream truck parked someplace nearby, as well as two cafes and… wait for it… two points of service for drinks during events. The MAC loves you so much that it doesn’t want to make you wait for a beer during intermission!

Whether it’s a hot sunny day or cold outside because of mac’s position in Cannon Hill Park you can pop in for a cold beer out of the sunshine or grab a hot Latte and keep out the rain.
I like to grab a drink in the café however it can get over run with mom & dads with toddlers so i’ve reconsidered it as a meeting point of late. However if you do have kids it seems a nice place to meet with other parents as there are plenty of places for kids and lots of space for them to play and run around.
There is a bar tucked around the side which is probably more suitable for the adults.
Mac is a great resource for the city. I come here mainly for exhibitions of which there have been some great ones and (as far as I am aware) the art exhibitions are free.
The cinema is really nice here. Really comfy and spacious. I’ve only seen one film but enjoyed the experience rather than that of a multiplex. However you are offered a different choice of film here from the Hollywood Blockbusters.
There are regular music and theatre events and lots of adaptable spaces too making it great to watch performances.

The Midlands Art Centre re-​opened not so long ago with a multi million pound re-​launch and built upon the foundations of the old mac which had always been a popular Birmingham attraction.
Complementing the scenic surroundings of Cannon Hill Park, the mac offers good quality food and drinks, a full bar and evening entertainment, as well as the opportunity partake in classes ranging in everything from dance to ceramics.
The mac holds regular exhibitions and live performances and maintains the high standards of cultural material it is famed for.

The MAC is a great place for people of all ages. It wouldn’t be possible to list all the things that go on there because the schedule changes month-​on-​month, but there is a cinema, a theatre, several gallery spaces, a bar, a coffeeshop/​café, plus several function rooms and the like for workshops, conferences, etc. We visit at least two or three times a month and have recently been to a theatre show, a film and for lunch.
Outside this is a lovely courtyard which is a great place for a drink or a bite to eat and offers views of the park. To the side of the building is probably my favourite feature, which is the outdoor concert venue. Think about a bite-​size version of the Colosseum in Rome and you’re on the right track.
The only complaint I have about the MAC are that there isn’t a cash machine — which seems insane to me. Other minor gripes, of things to bear in mind, is that the café can get very busy at lunchtimes and is particularly popular with parents and young children, so it’s often tricky to get a seat. Other than that, this place is great.

I think the Mac is ace. It’s far from me but I do find time to visit there now and again and that’s because they do have some interesting arts event/​shows that take place there. If you are a fan of arts & entertainment then the Mac will be your destination; as they offer a combination of art, music, theatre, and gallery. They have a lovely café called Bridges Café Bar which does some really tasty dishes. For about 3 weeks, I kept going there every week to eat their ‘fish’ dishes because they were absolutely amazing and I’m a big fan of fish.
The prices are fair, some dishes are slightly expensive but I guess it’s the quality you are paying for.
As the Mac is located next to Cannon Hill park it’s a great place to go on a family day out because you have the best of both worlds.

Things that I love about the mac:
1) The exhibitions — ever changing, range of themes and artforms
2) The events — linking in to current programmes of work, or standalone events organised by external organisations — always vibrant and curious!
3) THE CLASSES — for me, the best thing that mac has to offer are their artist-​led classes in anything from life drawing to yoga. The range of classes is mind-​blowing and the quality of tuition is superb. I’m a big fan of their life drawing sessions — especially as there are so few places you can go to take part in a class on a drop-​in basis. BIG THUMBS UP!
4) The proximity to Cannon Hill Park — two birds, and one cultural stone!
Things I don’t love about the mac:
…pretty much nothing! The cafeteria can be a bit hit and miss, with some food a bit suspicious looking or overpriced (a couple of mushrooms rolling around on a bit of toast for £3?) but the range they offer is fab, and other than two not-​great meals there the rest of the time it’s been delicious!

I love MAC’s new look post the refurbishment and what’s even better is that it has a massive park on its doorstep and the animal centre as well. MAC has vibrant programming and lots of activities for families as well as it’s cinema. I love the range and quality of courses the MAC has to offer, sadly not always the prices of the courses.
I recently attended a life drawing class here and nearly knocked out the model with my easel. So be warned if you are taking a class get there a bit early to set up as when I arrived the room was already fairly full and the class underway.
The café has lots of seating but can be a real mixed bag in terms of quality and your expectations. I can honestly say I’ve had the runniest mash ever here. The MAC champions the work of local artists and performers, with something always interesting going on and with great tickets prices making it worth a try.
Also don’t forget that there is nearly always an ice-​cream man just by the MAC doors that open onto the park, and they’re pretty good.