About Culture Forward
Culture Forward takes its name from the City of Birmingham’s dynamic motto; it takes its cue from the University of Birmingham’s renewed commitment to its civic mission, and the success of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Culture Forward is co-defined, co-owned and co-delivered with local partners, and will rationalise and intensify University contributions to civic culture by:
- Establishing and promoting a network of partner artists / organisations in the City, who will collectively devise a new strategy for the University’s cultural engagement with the region.
- Delivering a highly visible activity programme that brings together the University’s academic strengths across education and research with the city’s diverse cultural organisations.
- Strengthening the relationship between the University and the City by addressing urgent issues of inequality and representation for Birmingham’s diverse communities.
Birmingham is a forward thinking and dynamic city, with an arts and culture scene that is second to none. Collaboration is key in this sector and Culture Forward further strengthens the relationship between the city and the university to deliver civic culture and pride. The University of Birmingham is one of the city council’s key partners and I am delighted to be working with colleagues at the university to celebrate our city’s uniqueness and diversity through arts and culture.
