We recommend a pro-active programme for Birmingham to become the home of major cultural institutions (new and existing) and to secure major global cultural events for the city

In close alignment with our Visitor Destination Plan, this moonshot is all about Birmingham bidding, compellingly and as a unified Team, to host both major global cultural events or the wholesale relocation of national cultural institutions. 

For events, we have a great track record, obviously including the Commonwealth Games but also Birmingham Mela, Pride, Flatpack and the MADE Festival. Birmingham has also hosted high profile events in the past including BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Pride of Britain Awards, and Brit Asia TV Music Festival.

When making the case for relocation of cultural institutions we have the arrival of HS2, our existing cultural network, a clear future strategy and a strong track record of partnership working to make bids for future national relocations strong and irresistible.

One key initiative already underway led by the Hippodrome is a proposal to establish a National Centre for Musical Theatre (NCMT) in Birmingham, aiming to create a facility of global significance to foster and elevate musical theatre. The NCMT seeks to address the existing gaps in infrastructure and professional development within the UK's musical theatre industry. Birmingham has been chosen as the ideal location due to its strategic position, diverse audience base, and capacity to house such an ambitious project.

The proposed centre intends to function as a hub for creativity, education, and production, offering state-of-the-art facilities for developing and staging new musicals. Partners and supporters of the project so far include Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust, Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Combined Authority and Birmingham City University with the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. 

Delivering the wider action outlined here will require a scoping study on institutions and events to target, an analysis of our city strengths and narrative for bidding, and then the identification of lead players to take forward any bids we identify as being viable.

And, with winning bids in focus, we’d also like to be as pro-active as possible on winning UNESCO or other designations for our great city, such as World Craft City and World Music City.