Case Study:
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Birmingham is perfectly placed to develop festivals and large scale arts events at the very highest international level, bringing the clarity of long term strategic planning it has applied to the physical regeneration of the city centre to the promotion of its substantial cultural assets. This is the moment of opportunity for Birmingham to become a major Festival City generating considerable profile and economic benefits to the City and the West Midlands. FEI was commissioned by Birmingham City Council and Arts Council England West Midlands working alongside Advantage West Midlands, Marketing Birmingham and Culture West Midlands (the Stakeholders) in March 2008 to produce this Festivals Strategy for Birmingham 2008-2012. Its purpose was to suggest a sustainable model for developing arts festivals and large-scale arts events in the city in line with the Stakeholders’ strategic priorities and to explore a joint investment plan for the period and beyond. The Stakeholders wished to determine those events, either existing or newly proposed, which have the greatest potential to raise the national and international profile of the city, to attract additional visitors and ultimately to deliver positive economic impact. The FEI team of Paul Gudgin, Nick Dodds and James Waters undertook an extensive programme of research and consultation including a large number of face to face meetings with key cultural organisations in Birmingham and Stakeholders including senior city officers. The wider festival and event sector was consulted by means of an online questionnaire. FEI facilitated a Vision Workshop with the five Stakeholders which was invaluable in clarifying the strategic objectives of the work. |
Birmingham ’s Festivals Strategy 2008 – 2012 June 2008
FEI then benchmarked Birmingham’s current festival offer against other major international festival destinations and produced recommendations for two substantial new initiatives. The first would consolidate and maximise the impact of the current festivals. The second would create a new event which would achieve the stakeholders’ aims. FEI presented the report to stakeholders in June 2008. Following acceptance FEI facilitated a workshop with the major performing organisations in Birmingham which adopted FEI’s suggestions for a new large scale event. FEI also facilitated a day with Johan Moerman, FEI Associate and director of Rotterdam’s Festivals to examine the idea of a festivals unit in Birmingham to support current events and nurture new developments.
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