Organisations join forces to secure a future for the cultural sector in the West Midlands

A new cultural unit is setting out to support the ‘visibility, viability and recovery’ of the cultural industries in the West Midlands over the next six months.

Established in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, the West Midlands Culture Response Unit has been created over the last 10 days through a partnership of over 100 stakeholders, coordinated by Culture Central and supported by cultural organisations including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Coventry City of Culture 2021, various local authorities and non-governmental bodies and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Organisations and freelancers in the region are being encouraged to sign up.

The unit will develop and deliver an action-orientated, sector-led response to the Covid-19 outbreak over the next six months to ensure the visibility, viability and recovery of the cultural sector in the West Midlands.

The unit will focus on strategy, planning, communication and campaigns, aiming to deliver a region-wide coordinated response from the sector to the current situation, celebrating the role that culture is playing in the current crisis and its place in the region’s civic and economic recovery when audiences and artists are able to return.

Erica Love, Director of Culture Central, said: “As a cultural sector support organisation, we felt it was important to bring the sector together and lead a collective response, pool resources in a time of extreme challenge and work to ensure our cultural sector is heard, recognised and supported.”

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “The West Midlands Combined Authority’s Cultural Leadership Board is made up of people from all backgrounds and representatives from cultural organisations to help drive forward the West Midlands’ vibrant cultural and creative economy.

“Right now, the board is needed more than ever and will work with the West Midlands Cultural Response Unit to help the sector prepare for its short, medium, and long-term future when the ongoing pandemic begins to subside.”