Celebrating Birmingham’s cultural past, investing in its future

The plaque, marking Charles Dickens’s first public reading of A Christmas Carol in 1853, will be unveiled on 15 December, and forms part of the Amplify Town Hall project led by B:Music and the Birmingham Music Archive. It’ is supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund investment to help preserve and share the venue’s historic legacy. 

This celebration reflects the wider commitment of Birmingham City Council to promote and invest in its culture and heritage, which is a driver of economic and social regeneration. Through its Cultural Action Areas programme, the city is enhancing culture and heritage on high streets and in local centres to celebrate and promote a diverse cultural offer, bring people together, encourage footfall, boost local economies and enable residents to be involved in their local area. 

An example of previous investment is the Jewellery Quarter, which has gained World Craft City status which helps to reinforce its identity as a centre of excellence in jewellery and metal work. 

Cultural placemaking strategies are being delivered in areas such as Digbeth, Druids Heath and Newtown, developed to ensure that creative development is embedded in wider growth and housing priorities. Erdington is set to follow, demonstrating a long-term approach to ensuring neighbourhood growth is not just through physical improvements, but enhances culture and is community-driven.  

A new round of funding for Cultural Action Areas is open for proposals and closes on 12 December.  

In addition, up to £800,000 is currently being commissioned for culture, heritage and tourism projects, with a further £600,000 planned in 2026 to strengthen cultural infrastructure and support stronger, more liveable local neighbourhoods. 

A further opportunity is the Government’s Creative Growth Fund, which has been devolved to the West Midlands Combined Authority, and will see investment of £25m in the West Midlands from 2026.