Funding boost for Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 cultural festival
Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund have awarded £3m each to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as major funding partners of the cultural festival.
Organisers say the festival will reach 2.5million people through a range of events and “participatory projects” throughout the West Midlands.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games cultural festival will include:
– 29 headline artistic commissions showcasing the region’s distinct creativity across arts and heritage. Commissioned projects will range from the intimate to the spectacular, and will also explore the rich diversity of communities from across the region
– Six themed ‘Open Calls’ seeking ideas from local artists and organisations, leading to a further 28 commissioned projects
– Funding 200+ cultural and creative commissions and projects
– Investment in 450 artists and creatives with 90% of commissioned work from people based in or originally from the West Midlands
Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: “This investment will help showcase the fantastic art, history and culture of the West Midlands to the world. 2022 will be a year of national celebration for the UK and the Commonwealth Games’ cultural programme will allow the region’s diversity and creativity to play a key role in our recovery from the pandemic – driving tourism, investment and cultural renewal.”
The £6m investment joins Birmingham City Council’s £2m support to move the festival closer to its baseline fundraising target.
