Creative Black Country Celebrates 10 Years of Championing Creativity in the Region
DID YOU KNOW…
The programme has brought £5.6 million into the region through fundraising, directly benefitting communities and local organisations.
2.2 million people have engaged with the work — digitally and in person.
Creative Black Country is part of a national programme that supports local decision-making, allowing communities to lead on the creative experiences they engage in.
Autumn Social - image Paul Stringer
This year Creative Black Country is celebrating a decade of bringing communities together through arts and culture. As one of the original Creative People and Places programmes, funded by Arts Council England, Creative Black Country has spent the past 10 years proving that creativity belongs to everyone helping to establish the Black Country as a thriving hub for artistic expression and innovation.
Funny Things - Image Dee Patel
Since launching in 2015, the team has worked closely with local people, community groups and creatives to develop creative projects that reflect the diversity and heritage of the region. From bringing art to Desi Pubs to celebrating hidden talent with 100 Masters and filling Wolverhampton with laughter through Funny Things, Creative Black Country’s work has made a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of the area.
One of Creative Black Country’s most powerful strands of work has been its Creative Communities offer, which supports grassroots creativity across the region. From spoken word events and theatre performances to creativity at allotments and in shopping centres, this dynamic programme has enabled individuals and groups to bring their creative visions to life, fostering pride and belonging in local communities.
The Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band at the Birmingham + Black Country Mela
Sajida Carr, Director of Operations and Development at Creative Black Country, comments:
“Reaching our 10-year milestone is a huge achievement, and we’re incredibly proud of the projects, partnerships, and people that have made this journey so special. From the artists and creatives we’ve worked with to the communities who have shaped our programmes, it’s been an incredible decade of creativity. Since we began £5.6m has been raised and invested in activities which benefit the Black Country through the power of partnerships. We’re excited for the future and can’t wait to see how we can continue to champion creativity across the Black Country for the next 10 years and beyond.”
Parminder Dosanjh, Creative Director said:
Amrick at the Fourways - the Desi Pub project. Image by Jagdish Patel.
“To mark the anniversary, we’ll of course be reflecting on some of the past projects but we’re keen to look ahead to new opportunities to further embed arts and culture into everyday life across the Black Country. We have commissioned a series of short films that showcase the breadth and diversity of the work produced by communities, highlighting the impact arts and creativity can have in everyday lives.”
As the Black Country remains a ‘Priority Place’ for Arts Council England, Creative Black Country’s work has never been more important. A decade of success proves that creativity has the power to strengthen communities, boost local pride, and create lasting opportunities for people of all backgrounds.
Sandwell Advocacy; Caring Cooks project
Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England said:
“As we celebrate Creative Black Country’s 10th anniversary, I’d like to pay tribute to Parminder Dosanjh and Sajida Carr for their commitment to ensuring people across the region can access a wide range of high-quality creative experiences on their doorsteps.
We’re proud to support Creative Black Country, using money from the National Lottery. Since 2015, they’ve brought local communities and cultural organisations together to take the lead in choosing, creating, and taking part in creative and cultural activities in their area. From art at Desi Pubs, to supporting grassroots creativity across the region, there’s been something for everybody to enjoy. We believe that everyone has the right to experience and be inspired by them and we're delighted that, for the last decade, Creative Black Country has made that possible.”