‘Companion Culture: Four Actions for Digbeth’ outlines a clear and pragmatic framework to support the continued growth and success of this culturally significant area of Birmingham.
‘Companion Culture: Four Actions for Digbeth’, Graphic Design by Keith Dodds.
Image and artwork by Keith Dodds, 2025.
Image and artwork by Keith Dodds, 2025.
In November 2025, we launched ‘Companion Culture: Four Actions for Digbeth’, a strategy which aims to build a companion culture where Digbeth’s diverse ecology works together, to collectively create an environment that maintains a healthy, thriving culture. In turn, supporting the wellbeing of our neighbouring wards and the cultural life of Birmingham.
Our plan addresses urgent challenges that cultural organisations face, such as rising rents, shifting urban landscapes, and increasing development pressures, and aims to create an environment where the terms ‘growth’ and ‘development’ also apply to the cultural wellbeing of Digbeth.
The development of this Cultural Action Plan has been led by Eastside Projects and Grand Union and developed with Digbeth’s cultural organisations, local businesses, developers, audiences, creative freelancers and landowners – people connected to Digbeth who know it better than anyone else.
Digbeth was one of 3 areas in Birmingham designated a ‘Growth Zone’ or ‘Housing Action Area’ eligible for funding from Birmingham City Council’s Cultural Development Service (through West Midlands Combined Authority’s and HM Government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund) to develop a Cultural Placemaking Plan.
The process of developing the plan has been one of coming together. Over 300 people participated in a range of ways to collectively generate the four actions that we as a community agree need to happen for Digbeth’s culture to thrive.
This is a call to action to the many stakeholders who are invested in the development of Digbeth now and in the future and, we hope, the start of open and reciprocal working relationships that will see everyone from individual artists and residents to developers and the city council thrive.
Image and artwork by Keith Dodds, 2025.
Image and artwork by Keith Dodds, 2025.
