Bridging the rural-urban divide in the West Midlands creative economy at Theatre Severn
Yesterday, we headed to Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury for an important conversation regarding the regional creative economy.
As part of the Creative Communities Co-Lab on Strengthening the Cultural Foundations of the West Midlands—a partnership involving Talking Birds, the University of Warwick, Coventry City Council, and the West Midlands Combined Authority—yesterday’s session focuses squarely on the rural-urban divide.
This live illustration was captured by Jimmy Rogers of Boo Yeah to document the discussions on rural cultural representation.
Following strong encouragement from the Historic House Association, we joined a number of participants from local government, regional non-profit organizations, the third sector, and academia.
Using the Delivering for All: Rural Realities report as a starting point, discussions explored the distinct economic realities, opportunities, and hurdles faced by cultural and creative enterprises situated outside major urban centers.
“Kinda Crap but in a Beautiful Way”
We are operating a historic estate involves balancing deep heritage with modern community engagement, and regional policy decisions must reflect those practicalities. Under Chatham House rules, the facilitated discussions allowed for candid dialogue about what is truly required to support rural cultural foundations.
The Renaissance is Inevitable
A live cartoon captured the core themes throughout the day, feeding directly into a policy report scheduled for publication next spring.
We look forward to sharing insights from our perspective and working toward a more inclusive cultural strategy for the West Midlands.
