Birmingham Public Library to Host ‘The Ensley Childhood Project’ Exhibition Beginning May 15

Special to The Times

A new multimedia exhibition celebrating the history, memories and everyday lives of residents in Birmingham’s historic Ensley neighborhood will open Friday, May 15, at the First Floor Gallery inside the Birmingham Public Library’s Central Location.

“The Ensley Childhood Project” will remain on display through July 25 and features homemade family photographs, archived videos and written narratives documenting generations of life in Ensley. Through personal photographs and community memories, the exhibition highlights how everyday moments and lived experiences can become powerful works of art and historical preservation.

An opening reception will take place Friday, May 15, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Fourth Floor Gallery. The event will honor residents featured in the exhibition along with curator Timothy Quarshie.

“The Ensley Childhood Project” serves as a non-linear timeline of Ensley’s history while celebrating the importance of preserving stories from underrepresented communities. The exhibition marks Quarshie’s first curated project.

First imagined in 2023, the project grew through support from Jahman Hill, The Flourish and Renew Birmingham. Over more than a year, Quarshie researched the Ensley community, interviewed residents and community leaders, and collected photographs and archival materials featured in the exhibition. Previous versions of “The Ensley Childhood Project” were showcased on the 600 block of 19th Street Ensley as part of the growing Ensley Black Arts District. The exhibition is made possible in part by funding from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

For more information, visit BPL’s website at www.cobpl.org.

What: “The Ensley Childhood Project” multimedia exhibition and opening reception
When: Exhibition runs May 15 – July 25, 2026 on the First Floor Gallery During Library Hours
Reception: Friday, May 15, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m., Fourth Floor Gallery
Where: Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203
Admission: Free and open to the public

“The Ensley Childhood Project” is a part of BPL’s Art For Everyone Series, funded in part by a grant from the Alabama State Council to the Arts given to Friends Foundation of Birmingham Public Library