University of Birmingham sponsors leading cultural and creative festivals in the region

Following the renewal of its commitment to the city of Birmingham in March - part of its 125th anniversary celebrations across 2025 - the University of Birmingham has sponsored three of the city and region’s most prestigious cultural and creative events: Birmingham Heritage Week, Birmingham Literature Festival, and Birmingham Film Festival.

Thanks to the support of the University of Birmingham, Birmingham Museums Trust, the National Trust, Birmingham Municipal Charity and the William A Cadbury Charitable Trust, Birmingham Heritage Week returned for its 11^th year in September. Taking place at venues across the city – from museums, galleries and cinemas to libraries, theatres and places of worship – the Week opens up the breadth of Birmingham’s cultural heritage to the public.

Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah, co-chief executives at Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “The festival celebrates and showcases the city’s rich history and culture, raising awareness of the importance of preserving and promoting local heritage and what it means to Birmingham’s diverse communities.”

Delivered by Writing West Midlands – the region’s literature development agency – Birmingham Literature Festival takes place in the autumn and features a broad range of talks, workshops, panels and launch events from authors, journalists, writers and poets. Contributors this year included novelist Jonathan Coe, author and activist Laura Bates, Midlands novelists Mike Gayle and Kit de Waal, poet Bradley Taylor, and the University of Birmingham’s Dr Bohdan Piasecki, Assistant Professor in Creative Writing and Forward Prize-winner.

The University is in its third year of a multi-year sponsorship with Writing West Midlands, which supports both the Birmingham Literature Festival and the annual National Writer’s Conference. Jonathan Davidson, Chief Executive of Writing West Midlands, says of the partnership:

"The continued support of University of Birmingham has been invaluable for the development of the Birmingham Literature Festival and the National Writers Conference. Not only has it enabled us to share the awareness of our work widely, but we have built really important relationships with University communities."

Birmingham Film Festival, celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, is a 10-day international showcase for professional and independent films from around the world, comprising of a wide range of genres, styles, budgets and topics. The Festival delivers a wide programme of screenings, workshops, seminars, networking events and socials, and culminates in a gala awards ceremony.

Birmingham Film Festival President, Kevin McDonagh, said: “We were thrilled that the University of Birmingham chose to join us for the 10^th Birmingham Film Festival. Our objective has always been to promote the work of creatives, offer a platform and help grow careers in our city and region, The University of Birmingham is an institution with an immense reputation and a place of real pride for brummies, so to receive their support really was a badge of honour for us. It was also incredible for our guests, especially our young guests, thinking about further education in film and media. To see UOB at the festival gives undeniable creditability to a career in the creative arts and I know it will have urged many students on in their desire to study film.”