THE WEST Midlands is set to join forces with the country’s top cultural and creative organisations and unions as part of his blueprint to grow the economy.
On the opening day of the Rocket League World Championship Series eSports event in Solihull, the West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with five national arts, heritage and cultural organisations and another partnership deal with five of the biggest creative industries trade unions.
The Mayor has identified the sectors as one of the cornerstones of his plan for a new era of growth and prosperity for the West Midlands and already has the support of figures including Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight.
The government is also backing the Mayor’s plan by choosing the West Midlands as one of its ‘priority regions’ for the creative industries with the promise of a share of £60million.
A national pilot that’s helping to bring millions more leisure and business visitors to the region is also being funded by government for another year.
The Mayor said: “The international success of the Peaky Blinders shows what can happen when you back the West Midlands’ creative spirit. It has brought in more visitors, showcased our rich heritage on the global stage, and even given us our first major TV and film studio.
“We must seize this moment. That’s why I’m working closely with some of the industry’s most influential players to champion our world-class creative talent and protect our cultural legacy.
“With fresh investment, and by backing our creative unions, we can create exciting jobs for local people and help to revitalise our communities. That’s my plan for the West Midlands – to be the beating heart of the UK’s creative economy.”
Arts, heritage and culture is a big part of the West Midlands economy – supporting around 50,000 jobs, generating £1.1billion and 28 million visits a year to the region.
The economic value has been boosted recently by the filming locally of high-end TV dramas This Town and Phoenix Rise as well as the BBC’s wider investment in Digbeth with TV shows Masterchef and Silent Witness now being filmed here.
The sector will be bolstered by staging the first World Set Jet Summit later this year and recently announced plans for a national musical theatre centre at the Hippodrome Theatre in Birmingham.
As well as economic value, the sector delivers other benefits linked to health and wellbeing, skills development, volunteering, pride of place, community cohesion and the region’s attractiveness for inward investment.
Peter Knott, Midlands area director at Arts Council England, said: “It is extremely positive to be joining the WMCA along with other cultural organisations in committing to supporting growth of the creative sector in the West Midlands.
“The West Midlands boasts a vibrant cultural scene with an international reputation for excellence, and we look forward to supporting more opportunities for communities across the region to experience creativity on their doorsteps.”
