Birmingham culture campaign secures powerful ally

The NEC Group has become the latest organisation to join a new crusade aimed at making Birmingham a globally competitive city for culture and creativity.

Culture Central is a new independent, industry-led campaign targeting the cultural and creative sectors in the area.
It has been established by a group of organisations to ensure that culture is a major driver of positive change for Birmingham.

Culture Central is a development agency and representative body for the whole sector and has already agreed a reciprocal partnership with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. Its members are drawn from across the full spectrum of the cultural and creative sectors.

The NEC Group is a key ally to the cause, boasting as it does world-class facilities such as the NEC, ICC, Genting Arena, Barclaycard Arena and the Vox Conference Centre.

Every year, around four million people visit events at its various venues.

Stuart Cain, managing director of Commercial Marketing, is representing the NEC Group at Culture Central meetings.

He said: “Culture Central is an excellent initiative and I’ve already seen how it is galvanising the city’s entertainment community.  Our involvement gives us the chance to share information and work on joint initiatives that will drive the number of people engaging with the arts and culture.  

“We also want to explore closer links with the ICC and NEC for delegates attending national and international conferences and trade shows.  The more we can demonstrate the city’s cultural diversity to these people then the more likely they are to return for business and pleasure.”
 
Gary Topp, director of Culture Central, said securing the NEC Group as an advocate was a key move in legitimising Culture Central’s aims.

“We recognise that a strong city ‘industry ecosystem’ for culture and creativity needs large scale global players such as the NEC Group to work alongside traditional cultural institutions and the many hundreds of small cultural and creative businesses that exist in the city,” he said.  

“It is only when you get this blend of business alliances, cross pollination and joint advocacy in place that you have the ability to compete on an international stage. We are delighted to welcome the NEC Group to play a leading role in the development of Culture Central.”