Birmingham stage and film students get £2.1m boost as creative university expands

BIMM University is proud to share the expansion of their Performers College and Screen and Film School, situated in their Birmingham campus in Digbeth. 

Both will benefit from a huge £2.1 million investment, providing students with state-of-the-art resources and opportunities for their academic and artistic pursuits.

The announcement is a huge boost for the creative industries in Birmingham following concerns over the 100% cuts to arts organisations by Birmingham City Council amid its financial crisis.

BIMM University says it remains committed to enhancing the student experience and fostering growth within the creative industries in Birmingham.

Located in Digbeth, the heart of Birmingham's creative quarter, students at both the Performers College and Screen and Film School will be at the forefront of a burgeoning hub for media and creative industries, as BIMM University’s new investment coincides with other developments in the area. 

This includes Digbeth Loc's industry studios, and the forthcoming presence of the BBC, presenting further exciting prospects for collaboration and professional growth.

Key highlights of BIMM University’s campus expansion include:

Performers College:

• The introduction of a high-spec studio theatre, equipped with industry-standard sound and lighting equipment, retractable bleacher seating, and a harlequin floor, catering to an audience capacity of 120.

• Expanded dance facilities featuring four spacious harlequin floor-equipped studios, each spanning 130m2, offering a diverse range of dance classes to enhance technical and artistic development.

Screen and Film School:

• Addition of a second film studio with an infinity cove and moving light fixtures, providing students with a realistic working environment to refine their filmmaking skills.

• Installation of three new edit suites, bringing the total to six, furnished with industry-standard software such as Adobe Premier Pro, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Avid and ProTools, empowering students to engage in hands-on film editing.

• Access to a screening room with 4K projection and Dolby Atmos, as well as multiple meeting spaces and student lounges.

James Maiden, Campus Dean at BIMM University: “This investment really harnesses the true potential of our Performers College and Screen and Film Schools, arriving in time to launch our first graduating year into their careers.

“It also marks the birth of BIMM University’s Birmingham campus, a unique education space, where these schools, and our established BIMM Music Institute, are all thriving together in the Creative Quarter of Birmingham.

“Here students collaborate and inspire, providing an experience which ensures future generations of talent are able to grow in the second city.  Music, film, theatre and dance, the future of creativity is happening right here in Birmingham.”

Sam Hope, Dean of Film at BIMM University: “It’s very exciting to think about the fantastic opportunities this investment will bring to students, and to the city, by producing the next generation of talented screen and film professionals. With the new industry studios and the BBC coming to Digbeth too, there are now even more opportunities for our students right on our doorstep.”

Adam Davenport, Head of School at Performers College: “I am so delighted that we have enhanced and extended our facilities at Performers College - we have an outstanding reputation for producing multi-skilled graduates for over 30 years, and I'm confident that our new outstanding facilities will complement the city’s thriving performing arts scene.

“For those who prefer the idea of training vocationally but may be concerned about living costs in London, we hope our industry-standard training facilities in Birmingham widen the opportunity for local performers, who may now be able to train professionally whilst living at home.”

About BIMM University

BIMM University provides an extensive range of courses in modern music, performing arts, creative technology, and filmmaking to over 8,000 students across eight campuses in the UK, Ireland, and Germany. It has a long-standing commitment to providing the highest quality in creative industries education, allowing students to maximise their career potential.

 For 40 years, BIMM University has equipped students with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the demands of the creative industries – and graduate feeling industry-ready. Beyond academic life, BIMM University offers a community built on a shared passion, creativity, and belief system.

BIMM University comprises five acclaimed schools: BIMM Music Institute, Screen and Film School, Performers College, Institute for Contemporary Theatre and Northern Ballet School. This vast network provides unique opportunities for students to collaborate creatively on projects with others working in music, performing arts, film, and creative technology.