Birmingham's Cultural Survey

Closed 11 Dec 2024

Opened 6 Nov 2024

Contact

arts.team@birmingham.gov.uk

Feedback updated 1 Jul 2025

We asked

Following on from the ‘Big Creative Conversation’ work undertaken with a wide range of communities in 2022-23 we asked a wide range of stakeholders and communities to input into the development of a Birmingham Compact Cultural Strategy.

You said

Through on-line surveys and various in person sessions you told us your concerns, suggestions and ideas.

We did

The Birmingham Cultural Compact used what you said to develop a final draft Birmingham Strategic Framework for Culture with the working title ‘Birmingham Together on Culture’.

On 24 June 2025 a report was presented to Birmingham City Council's Cabinet

The cabinet endorsed the Birmingham Cultural Compacts’ approach to supporting the city’s cultural economy and cultural engagement particularly the proposed Cultural Strategy objectives including where the city council can contribute to the delivery of the strategy.

The six main Pillars (themes) of the strategy are:

  1. The Creative City – strengthening investment in Birmingham’s cultural economy by unlocking new funding sources.
  2. A Brand for Creativity – understanding the role our culture plays in the image of our city at home and abroad.
  3. Made in Birmingham – investing in talent development and workforce training to ensure a robust pipeline for creative professionals.
  4. The Placemakers – expand and protect cultural spaces and places across the city by integrating culture into urban planning and regeneration.
  5. Culture for the People – prioritising diversity, equity and inclusion in cultural programming. Ensure culture delivers against priorities such as sustainability and health and wellbeing.
  6. Magnets and Moonshots – showcase Birmingham as a global destination by growing our key areas of existing cultural activity.

Each Pillar has proposed objectives (Actions).

The Cabinet report and decision are available on Birmingham City Council's Committee management Information System (CMIS)  

Overview

On behalf of Birmingham’s new Cultural Compact we would like to invite you to participate in a survey to help us design, define, and deliver a powerful new strategy for arts and culture in our City. 

There are two ways in which you can get involved:

  1. Completing Birmingham’s Cultural Survey
  2. Also available is a downloadable workshop toolkit, this can be printed off and worked through with groups of people, for example your team or group members, residents, Chairs of organisations and those who prefer to work offline.

This activity is being led by the Birmingham Cultural Compact Board, the Birmingham Cultural Compact Board is a cross-sector partnership designed to support the city’s cultural sector. The Cultural Compact brings together stakeholders from the local authority, culture, business, education, healthcare and allied sectors with the aim to help culture thrive and grow.

If you need the survey or toolkit to be translated into another language please contact the Cultural Development Service at arts.team@birmingham.gov.uk and we will do our best to assist you.

Why your views matter

Working together we want to craft a decade-long plan that will secure continued support for culture, widen its reach, ensure it reflects the life and diversity of the City, and that it contributes to the future health and prosperity of Birmingham.

Areas

  • All Areas

Audiences

  • Anyone from any background

Interests

  • Arts & Culture