University of Birmingham to be Principal Partner, with Hollywood Monster officially on board as Presenting Partner. PLUS: Colmore BID, West Midlands Growth Company/Visit Birmingham and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce all join as Festival Champions.

We’re so excited to announce these new partnerships in support of this year’s Festival. The University of Birmingham will contribute free exhibitions and public workshops hosted at The Exchange, based in the historic old municipal bank located in Centenary Square. The space will also be used for visitor receptions and for back of house operational support.

The University is proud to have been an official partner of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and is now very excited to be building on the cultural legacy in the city as a principal partner of Birmingham Festival 23. The event supports the objectives of Culture Forward -a new initiative that aims to bring the University, the city, and Birmingham’s cultural organisations into even closer and more creative conjunction – alongside our work to engage with the public and our communities as part of our civic commitment.

Professor Richard Black, Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Birmingham

Hollywood Monster is Birmingham Festival 23’s Presenting Partner. As the largest wide format printing and signage contractor in the city, they will provide profile enhancing and impactful visual displays across the site in the lead up to, and for the duration of, the Festival.

As a Birmingham-based business, we were delighted to play our part in  the Commonwealth Games last year supporting our long-standing customer CSM Live, in elements of this city dressing, helping to showcase everything that our great city has to offer to a worldwide audience. Birmingham Festival 23 is set to be another great opportunity to promote our vibrant and diverse culture and the communities that live and work here in the West Midlands, and we are honoured to be participating. Our local teams are already busy working on graphics and designs that will be displayed proudly throughout our hometown.

Hollywood Monster CEO Simon McKenzie

Birmingham Festival 23 Champions now include: Colmore Business Improvement District (BID), whose Food Festival takes place the weekend before Birmingham Festival 23 starts; West Midlands Growth Company, which through Visit Birmingham campaigns will promote a wider regional focus; and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce who will forge links for the Festival with Birmingham’s business communities.

Partnerships with Birmingham Festival 23 take many forms including financial investment and support in kind. What they all have in common is a focus on supporting the success of this year’s event by making the programme, the city and audience experiences a true celebration of Birmingham’s creativity and talent, helping to build awareness and to help drive visitors from further afield to enjoy the amazing cultural offer the Festival represents. We are grateful to all our amazing supporters for their energy and enthusiasm.

Will Mauchline, Executive Director of Birmingham Festival 23

Commissioned by Birmingham City Council as a sign of its ongoing commitment to accessible culture for everyone, with additional support from Arts Council England, Birmingham Festival 23 celebrates the city’s creativity taking over Centenary Square from Fri 28 July – Sun 6 August. A 10 day programme of free events that showcases the City’s rich cultural offer will be announced in June.