Birmingham Festival: City-wide Best of Brum Festival proposed for all 10 districts

Exciting plans are being proposed to create an annual festival to celebrate Birmingham across its 10 districts.

The initiative is being led by the city’s Conservative councillors who believe it would be an ideal platform to showcase the Best of Brum.

They are looking at plans to hold a series of events - from food, comedy, history, industry and music - in each of the 10 constituencies every year.

As the countdown to the Commonwealth Games continues - which will include a six month Birmingham 2022 Festival starting March - the Conservative Group see the Best of Brum as a separate event which would be held each year with activities in neighbourhoods throughout the city.

The Best of Brum Festival would showcase the city’s past and future, shining a light on the best it has to offer while boosting trade, tourism and culture.

The councillors say that with funding from the City Council, the Conservative Group and local sponsors across the city, the annual Best of Brum festival could lift the local economy - as seen in neighbouring Wolverhampton with their ‘Creation Day’.

Birmingham - a city to be celebrated

It’s’ 133 years since Birmingham was granted city status by Queen Victoria - on January 14, 1889.

Back then it was known as the ‘City of a thousand Trades’ and was integral to the Industrial Revolution with advancements in steam power and engineering.

Today Birmingham continues to be at the forefront in many areas from the arts to manufacturing.

And this year, the eyes of the World will turn to the city as it hosts the Commonwealth Games, with over one million expected to visit - and a billion to watch across the world.

Birmingham Conservatives say the city doesn’t shout loud enough about what it brings to the UK and the World and say the Best of Brum Festival could help to reverse that, while instilling pride in neighbourhoods across the city.

They also point out that the event could work with the increased sense of community developed through the Covid-19 pandemic with neighbours pulling together to help each other.

What have the Conservative Group leaders behind the Best of Brum Festival proposal said about it in their own words?

Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, who Leads the Conservatives locally, commented on the plans saying “Birmingham is a brilliant City with a proud heritage. These plans firmly put Birmingham back on the map and reflect how proud residents are to call Birmingham home. The festival not only helps celebrate our history but also will provide a big boost to industries such as the arts and hospitality that have been hit so hard by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

“We have seen the Labour leadership on the council focus too heavily on what happens in the City Centre but from Sutton to Rubery every part of Birmingham has its part to play in the City’s history and in its future – that’s why the celebrations will be held in all 10 constituencies within the City.”

“With Covid-19 seeing communities pulling together and stepping up the move would seek to build on the increase in the feeling of ‘community’ and reflect on how the city got to where it is today and where it’s going in the 21^st Century.

Cllr Maureen Cornish, Shadow Cabinet Member for Education Skills and Culture, said “The Birmingham 2022 Festival will give a one off snapshot show of support for local culture but the City needs a long lasting yearly event that goes beyond the games. The Best of Brum Festival gives the cultural sector long term reliable investment and the opportunity to showcase its history not just a stadium it has built for a one-off event”.

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