Birmingham 2022

On 16th September 2019 there was introductory event at Birmingham REP that aimed to share initial plans for the Birmingham 2022 Culture Programme with creatives in the region. These are the main points that I came away with. If you were there and think I missed anything out, or got anything wrong, please feel free to drop me a line and let me know.
Amit Sharma - Deputy Artistic Director, Birmingham REP

  • 60% of Birmingham school kids are non-white.
  • 1/3 of Birmingham school kids live below the poverty line.
  • The REP's audience should reflect the city.
  • Four key aims:
    • to create popular theatre
    • to focus on representation (diversity)
    • to connect with the community
    • to work with schools

Martin Green - Chief Executive Creative Officer, Birmingham 2022

  • The Cultural Festival will run from Easter to September 2022.
  • The festival team is currently three people: Martin, Phil and Rachel, with four vacancies currently open (until 22nd September).
  • They're currently in the strategic planning phase until end of December 2019, involving coming up with curatorial lines which will shape the festival.
  • They'll broadly know what the programme is by the end of 2020.
  • Culture Festival partners: CGF, CGE, CG organising committee, CGFP, DCMS, BCC, WMCA, TfWM, WM Police.
  • Five key pillars:
    • bringing people together
    • improving health and well being
    • helping the region grow and succeed
    • being a catalyst for change
    • putting the city/region on the map
  • Five key ambitions:
    • to put together a world class festival programme
    • to bring communities together
    • to initiate new creative partnerships
    • to involve young people
    • to showcase Birmingham/the West Midlands
  • Four key types of event:
    • bringing national work to Birmingham
    • bringing pre-existing events under the Birmingham 2022 banner
    • commissions of new high profile work from world class acts
    • commissions of new work from new voices, communities, spaces
  • Martin is obsessed by cities and how to tell the story of THIS place.
  • The Commonwealth Games are groovier, scruffier, naughty, more disruptive.
  • One of Birmingham's strengths is that it seems particularly unfussed about genre walls.
  • More people sing on a Saturday than attend football matches.
  • There are 71 Commonwealth countries.
  • The Games include 19 different sports.
  • Artists should refuse existing narratives (eg preconceptions about Birmingham).
  • They want to engage places outside the city centre, eg parks, canals, high streets.
  • "The sound this city makes is one of its assets."
  • They want to work with existing venues/events/festivals, but with rigour, to ensure there is a genuine connection with the Games.
  • Collaboration is quite central.
  • It's a conversation, a dialogue.
  • It's a challenge to artists to do something they've not done before.
  • Artists in traditional areas who want to get involved need to think about what tradition means in relation to the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
  • "There is legacy in memory", creating an 'I was there' legacy.
  • 5G offers potential to film makers and people who work in screen-based arts.
  • To be kept in the loop, sign up on the website, or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

Graham Callister - Birmingham Festivals Group

  • There are over 100 festivals in Birmingham.
  • Four key aims:
    • to advocate for festivals
    • to give sector support
    • to facilitate networking
    • to help with promotion

Roisin Caffrey - Interim Chair, Culture Central

  • Four key roles:
    • to advocate for culture
    • to help build networks
    • to facilitate learning about culture
    • to help secure resources

Symon Easton - Head of Cultural Development, Birmingham City Council

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