West Midlands Cultural Infrastructure Map and Cultural Sector Analysis Report Launched

01 September 2021

The West Midlands Combined Authority commissioned We Made That alongside Hatch Regeneris and Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy to examine the cultural sector in the West Midlands and produce the region’s first cultural infrastructure map. We Made That took the lead on developing a solid mapping framework, collecting and collating the data and speaking to the sector, documenting how culture delivers benefits beyond its economic value.

The interactive map shows more than 2000 publicly accessible physical spaces that host and support cultural and creative activities across the West Midlands, including creative production and consumption spaces, outdoor event spaces and environment assets, as well as community-focused and creative education spaces. It also shows the regions’ more than 10,000 heritage sites and buildings. The interactive map has been designed as an evolving tool that will be regularly updated and support cultural organisations, public bodies and communities in planning and advocating for culture.

“We’re really pleased to see the region’s first Cultural Infrastructure map providing us with detailed insight and helping us explore opportunities for place-based work including major events like Coventry City of Culture and Birmingham Commonwealth Games.”
Peter Knott, Midlands Area director for Arts Council England
“The high-quality data that this research has unearthed will guide and underpin our current and future policymaking. It will also play a critical role in our ability to advocate for the cultural sector nationally.”
Anita Bhalla OBE, Board Member and Creative Lead, Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP

The accompanying research reports draw on a combination of quantitative and qualitative insights and provide an evidence base for developing appropriate initiatives to support the post-pandemic recovery of the cultural sector and assist its further development in the region.

Read more here.