Little Legends, Big Worlds | Call Out for Artists and Schools

In 2027 Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) is delighted to host Japan: Myths to Manga, an exciting exhibition exploring Japanese design. 

Japan is an island nation bursting with creativity and imagination. With tall mountains, ancient forests and bustling cities, the country boasts an extraordinary variety of dynamic landscapes.

In the Japan: Myths to Manga exhibition, audiences can discover how Japan’s extreme geography, insightful beliefs and sense of playfulness have shaped its ingenuity and unfurl a rich storytelling history that reaches from spoken word fables shared across generations to today’s animation. 

Created by the V&A – touring the nation. This exhibition is kindly supported by players of the Postcode Lottery and Arts Council England. 

Little Legends, Big Worlds 

Alongside this fascinating exhibition, MAC is delighted to announce opportunities for artists facilitators and schools to be a part of a new project to co-create a complementary display in our Community Gallery. 

This display will showcase children’s inspired responses to the theme of Myths and Legends from their own cultural backgrounds. Representatives from each school are also invited to be ‘young gallery guides’ to help engage visitors with their work.

Reflecting the rich diversity of Birmingham’s communities, the display will bring together a wide range of stories - historical, fictional, and folkloric - from across the world. These narratives will highlight shared themes and connections that resonate with Japanese culture, creating a meaningful dialogue between different traditions and perspectives.

By centring children’s voices and creativity, the project will celebrate cultural heritage, encourage storytelling and foster a sense of inclusion – putting children’s voice at the heart of the summer season.
 

MAC is looking for schools to take part in Little Legends, Big Worlds, alongside artist educators to lead creative workshops as part of the project.

Find out more and apply to take part