The Bid

About Birmingham’s bid

Birmingham is a big city. It has a big reputation, a big and diverse population and it has a very big heart. We wanted our bid for UK City of Culture to reflect this scale, variety and sense of local community, so we called our proposal Birmingham Culture.

The Birmingham Culture programme will be built around three exciting themes, packed full of opportunities for you to get involved. 

Great International City of the Future 

In 2013 we intend to celebrate the world class skills of our people, companies and facilities, acknowledge Birmingham’s industrial heritage and showcase as the City’s future in a changing economy. 

At the centre of celebrations in 2013 will be the opening of the new Library of Birmingham, the largest public sector cultural project in Britain. In addition, there will be a brand new Autumn Festival and a special exhibition of the extraordinary Anglo Saxon Hoard at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery along with A City in the Making, a groundbreaking new history gallery which will tell the story of Birmingham and its people.

Next Generation

Birmingham is the youngest city in Europe and there will be a whole programme of activity designed, led and curated by Birmingham’s young people. We have already created a group of children, young people and their families from across the city to develop this programme, but why not get involved? 

Culture on Your Doorstep 

UK City of Culture is as much about activities in local neighbourhoods as it is about the big celebrations in the City centre. There are some very talented people in your local community and we want to make it possible for you to see them in action and get involved!  

We have started to collect ideas to make sure a UK City of Culture in 2013 is full of things that the people of Birmingham want to do. If Birmingham is shortlisted in January 2010 we will talk to people who have posted their suggestions and provide support to help them develop their ideas. Finally, a panel of cultural and creative leaders from across the City will select as many of the projects as possible to be brought to life during 2013.

Throughout next three years there will be an online dialogue, between individuals, community groups and arts organisations to discuss and develop the ideas.