Birmingham is Europe’s youngest (40% u/age 25) & UK’s most diverse city (51.3% non-white), but faces major challenges; 37% of children live in poverty, 20% people have a disability. Central funding cuts to arts make it difficult for underserved & vulnerable communities to access high quality culture, despite strong evidence of wellbeing benefits & positive social impact. We want to meet arts provision gap with caring, inclusive specialist support, especially for those with Access needs.

We produce 3 free outdoor arts festivals each year for all communities to experience world class arts & culture in Birmingham for 200,000+ people. In 2026, based on consultation feedback, we plan to expand bespoke provision for underserved/marginalised communities & people with disabilities/additional needs: dedicated welcome hubs w/ activities, refreshments & information, specialist staff, trained volunteers, hosted tours & resources to support first-time visitors & create sense of belonging.