Birmingham Faces ‘Cultural Deprivation’

The leading lights of Birmingham’s creative sector have expressed dismay at council cuts, warning the city faces cultural deprivation.

Local authority bosses published draft budget documents on Monday evening indicating how they would respond after declaring themselves effectively bankrupt.

Dramatic measures include a 21% council tax rise for residents – over two years – while assets worth £1.25bn will be sold to repay a government bailout loan.

No part of the council has been left untouched and there will be cuts to funding for culture projects and local arts development.

Support will initially be retained for Black History Month and Birmingham Heritage Week in 2024-25 but those events will face a 100% cut from 2025-26.

Birmingham International Dance Festival will lose its £350,000 funding and grants to regularly funded arts organisations will face 50% cuts this year and 100% next financial year.