As our festive offering for 2025, we are sharing our most recent work in partnership with Birmingham Cathedral, supporting the creation of their new contemporary commission, a Nativity Set by artist Melanie Tomlinson.

The new Nativity was created by artist Melanie Tomlinson, a socially engaged, mixed-media practitioner from Birmingham. The work weaves together the traditional story of Christmas, the heritage of Birmingham, the stories of the cathedral community and the needs of the world during a difficult time for many.

In Birmingham’s hyper-diverse city, they wanted all visitors to be able to see themselves represented in the commissioned artwork, and an artwork which reflects Birmingham and the West Midlands traditions of industry, craft and manufacture.  The New Nativity celebrates the stories of the Cathedral Community, bearing witness to global events and bringing marginalised voices to its centre.

A major part of the making of the New Nativity were workshops with members of the Cathedral Community, children and families, refugees, and homeless people.

The Nativity embodies an elemental theme, reflecting concerns and experiences around climate change, the environment, migration, roots and reflection, journey, resilience, and shared humanity.  A wide variety of processes and materials have been employed to realise these themes. Most materials were sourced from charity shops in Birmingham, with some items kindly donated by local supporters. The combination of reused, natural, and community-contributed materials emphasises the collaborative spirit of the project, while highlighting the interconnectedness of people, place, and the environment.

The New Nativity calls us all to become still in wonder amidst all the busyness and to present gifts of ourselves.