Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP, James Morris, has welcomed the recent announcement from Birmingham 2022 that Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund will pledge £3 million each to the Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival.

Running from March to September in 2022, the Festival will feature a range of high-profile events and participatory projects across the West Midlands.

Included in the Festival will be 29 headline artistic commissioned projects to showcase distinctive arts and heritage from across the region, ‘open calls’ to seek ideas from local artists and organisations for further commissioned projects, and investment in 450 artists and creatives who are based in, or originally from, the West Midlands. James said:

“As a region we have much to be proud of, and the Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival will allow the West Midlands to show off its arts, diversity and heritage across the country and across the globe.

“The Games will provide a much-needed boost to national morale and the regional economy next year as we bounce back from the pandemic. I am pleased that local artists and creatives will have the opportunity to be a part of it, and I welcome the funding being provided to help them showcase their talents.”

Martin Green CBE, Chief Creative Officer, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games added:

“This timely investment and partnership underlines a significant moment of genuine confidence in the West Midlands’ arts and heritage sectors. Through the cultural festival, we will support and commission some incredible creative projects that connect communities across Birmingham and the West Midlands.”