West Midlands Cultural Enquiry
January 2025 saw Culture Central and the West Midlands Cultural Compacts Network publish the findings of a growth enquiry into the future of cultural investment in the West Midlands. The research from the University of Birmingham focused on reduced funding levels and the risks that are emerging as a result..
Key findings of the enquiry include:
Public investment in the West Midlands culture sector has fallen drastically since 2016, with a projected funding gap of £102 to £126 million by 2030, representing a 40-49% shortfall.
If public investment had kept pace with inflation, the West Midlands culture sector would contribute £500m in Gross Value Added [GVA] to the UK economy, by 2028.
This sharp decline is expected to mean up to 2,650 fewer jobs by 2030, with wider implications for part-time and freelance workers.
Public investment in culture in the West Midlands was £155 million in 2024, 33% lower than it would have been had it kept pace with inflation.
Among the calls in the enquiry report is one for a Joint Cultural Needs Assessment leading to long-term, stable funding models for cultural organisations to combat the instability created by short-term funding cycles.
