Copyright expressandstar
It's a milestone that celebrates a decade of co-creation with the Black Country community and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter of collaboration. Over the past 10 years, Creative Black Country has woven creativity into the everyday life of the region. Together with local artists, organisations and residents, the programme has delivered over 2,500 creative events, engaged 2.2 million people, and worked directly with nearly 40,000 participants. That shared commitment has led to over 10,000 hours of creative activity and more than £5.5 million secured and invested in arts and culture across the Black Country. This investment has created a genuine shift in how local creativity is seen and celebrated. From high streets to housing estates, pubs to under-used green spaces, local neighbourhoods have been activated with creative energy - bringing art to doorsteps, building connections and removing barriers to participation. Creative People and Places brings together community, grassroots and cultural organisations as partners to take the lead in choosing, creating and taking part in creative activities. It's about empowering local people to pursue the art they want, where they live, and partnerships make that possible. Liz Johnson, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England, said: "Creative People and Places projects bring organisations and communities together to shape the creative and cultural activities available in their local area. Funded by the National Lottery, we are investing more than £9.2 million in the Midlands to ensure more people can experience, connect and take part in creativity on their doorsteps. We're proud to support Creative Black Country as they continue to work with communities to create high quality creative and cultural experiences for all, from art at Desi Pubs, to supporting grassroots creativity across the region." As part of the funding investment, Creative Black Country is working with a range of new partners, including Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, who will help the programme reach more people in the coming years. Tim Colegate, Creative Director at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, said: "We're thrilled to congratulate our partners at Creative Black Country. Their commitment to empowering local communities through creativity and culture has made a lasting difference across the region. Our partnership will show how collaboration can amplify impact, and we look forward to working together to champion the incredible talent and stories of the Black Country.” Aspiring to create a step change, a coalition of partners has collectively secured £800,000 of additional investment for Sandwell from a range of funders. Through this Arts Council Place Partnership initiative, an ambitious hyper-local series of events will connect residents across Tipton, Smethwick and Wednesbury, with a focus on creativity and well-being. Strengthened partnerships with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Black Country Housing Group (new partner), Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust(new partner), Multistory and Black Country Touring will encourage greater connectivity, resource sharing and collaboration, helping us all contribute to a thriving cultural environment. Sureya Gulzar, Head of Social Business at Black Country Housing, comments: "This creative project represents exactly the kind of community-led initiative we want to champion. We've seen firsthand how creative engagement can transform not just physical spaces, but also strengthen connections between neighbours and give residents a real sense of pride in where they live. Supporting place-based arts isn't just about culture, it’s about building stronger, more resilient communities where people genuinely want to be." Parminder Dosanjh, Creative Director at Creative Black Country, said: "Arts investment in the Black Country isn't just about supporting projects, it's about unlocking potential. When we invest in creativity here, we're investing in people, in place and in pride. Every partnership, festival or community workshop helps to shift perceptions and build confidence. This work proves that world-class creativity can come from anywhere, and that when local communities are at the heart of it, lasting change follows." This funding is made possible thanks to National Lottery players. Every National Lottery ticket purchased generates money for good causes and enables people in villages, towns, and cities up and down the country to get access to cultural experiences where they live.
