Creative and cultural activities
The Cultural Development Service supports a range of activities which enable local people to engage with and shape arts and culture on their doorsteps, whilst supporting the growth and development of artists and companies working in this area.
These activities bring local people together with their neighbours and help to build a sense of individual identity and community cohesion.
Local Arts Forum Network
In 2011 Birmingham City Council initiated a city-wide network of local arts forums led by creative producers, project managers, artists and educators embedded in their local communities.
In 2016 local arts forum leaders established No.11 Arts Ltd. This is an umbrella organisation and collective voice created to support, enrich and advocate for the network of arts forums.
Collaboration lies at the core of No.11 Arts which works in partnership with communities, artists, cultural organisations third sector and public sector agencies to create cultural programmes that encourage people to take an active part in the creation of their own cultural production.
Find out more about No.11 Arts and Local Arts in Birmingham.
Get creative projects 2024
A grant award from the West Midlands Combined Authority’s and HM Government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund has enabled Birmingham City Council’s Cultural Development Service to support nine creative projects across Birmingham during 2024 amplifying the positive impact of Birmingham 2022.
These projects are delivered by successful grant applicants:
- Stryx Projects
- LouDeemY Productions
- Sudden Productions
- Autin Dance Theatre
- Craftspace
- Raqs Art
- West Midlands Circus Centre
- The Gap Arts Project
- Northfield Arts Forum
A summary of the get creative projects is available to download
Funded arts projects 2023
During 2023 the Cultural Development service supported over 30 different projects taking place across 25 wards, engaging 1000s of Birmingham residents as participants, leaders, volunteers, and audiences.
Read a summary of the 2023 arts projects
Birmingham 2022 Creative City legacy
Following on from the success of the Birmingham 2022 Festival Creative City Grants Programme, Creative City legacy projects built on the collaborations formed between arts organisations or groups and communities to continue to co-create exciting artworks.
Learn more about the creative city projects in 2022 on our Be Birmingham website.
Connecting communities through culture
Increasing participation in arts and cultural activity within local communities, encouraging people to identify common ground and promote stronger and more integrated communities.
Read more about our work in delivering this programme.
Black History Month
Black History Month (BHM) was first celebrated in the United Kingdom in 1987. Since then, the month of October has been dedicated to raising awareness of and celebrating our Black History through cultural events and activities. BHM is part of the council’s annual festivals and events programme which is overseen by the Cultural Development Service.
Birmingham City Council has proudly been supporting Black History Month since the mid-1990s – it has become an important feature of the city’s event calendar.
Birmingham holds its diversity dear - we are the most diverse Core City in the UK - and the city council is mindful of the need to reflect on its development, to learn new and inspiring stories, and include as many people as possible in considering the impact of black history on our identity in the 21st Century.
Throughout October, residents and visitors will be able to take part in various cultural activities. It will be a month of celebration, with vibrant and uplifting content, and a great opportunity to particularly engage and educate more young people in Black History Month.
Read more about Black History Month
Page last updated: 14 November 2024
