CCG Legacy Development Programme

The Creative City Grants Legacy Development Programme was delivered as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival Legacy Partnership.

Background

The Birmingham 2022 Creative City Grants Programme, generously supported by Birmingham City Council, has been instrumental in empowering 108 community groups to collaborate with artists, injecting our city with fresh creative endeavours for the prestigious Birmingham 2022 Festival.

To extend support beyond the initial funding, Culture Central was approached by the Birmingham 2022 Festival and Birmingham City Council to explore ways of assisting the Creative City Grantees based on evaluation learnings and legacy outcomes. 

Project Co-design 

Our collaboration with the Grantees delved into the key findings from the evaluation, identifying crucial areas requiring support within the sector. Through insightful consultations and feedback sessions with the Creative City Grantees, we launched the CCG Legacy Development Programme in April 2023. 

Through an open call out, the programme offered limited spaces to Creative City grantees, partner organisations, and freelance artists closely involved in one of the Birmingham 2022 Creative City projects. 

The course was designed to empower participants with the necessary tools and strategies to achieve their medium-term goals and thrive in the cultural sector. To achieve this, we have adopted the powerful 'Action Learning' methodology, widely used by leading consultants for fostering creative solutions and innovative practices. 

Programme Delivery 

The programme is thoughtfully structured around three key strands of support, each facilitated by an industry expert: 

  1. Partnership: All about working collaboratively with significant cultural organisations and venues to drive positive change. This strand is being delivered by Helga Henry.

  2. Business Development: Guidance on expanding and broadening the reach of their work and models to impact more people and places, leveraging the festival's initial support. This strand is being delivered by Amy Dalton-Hardy.

  3. Fundraising: Here we equip participants with the knowledge and skills to secure additional funding and support for their work. This strand is being delivered by Lucy Macnab.

Participants were given the opportunity to choose the strand that best aligns with their needs and goals. The programme not only provided access to a dynamic and interactive Action Learning course but also offered full support from our industry experts, including personalised 1-1 advice and guidance. 

Each session created a nurturing environment for expert interventions, peer-to-peer support, action planning, and evaluation. This comprehensive approach aimed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge required to forge a sustainable future for their creative practices, extending beyond the initial Creative City Grant funding. 

Evaluation

We are pleased to publish an evaluation of our Creative City Grants Legacy Development Programme.  The evaluation, led by Dr. Claire French, Assistant Professor and Programme Lead MA Performance Practices at the University of Birmingham, examined the impact of funding three structured Action Learning strands - partnerships, business development and fundraising - for 12 local arts groups. The resulting report offers compelling evidence for investing in grassroots community arts organisations in the region.

Crucially, the report underscores the catalytic effect of facilitated Action Learning by nurturing storytelling, reflection, and active listening. The programme fostered resilient communities of practice and primed the participants for sustainable growth in a financially and politically unstable climate in Birmingham. 

For funders and stakeholders, these insights provide a robust case for holistic, people-centred models of development as we continue cultivating the region's cultural ecology post-Commonwealth Games.  

Access the full report here.

Header Image: Production shot of Jonathan André, McCallam Connell and Duane-Lamonte O'Garro, performing in ‘To The Streets!’ Simon Hadley.