Boost for city’s culture and economy under five-year plan

The very best in art, music and sport will be brought to Wolverhampton under a five-year plan to boost the city's economy, create new jobs and build an outstanding cultural reputation.

With a series of high-profile events already in place, including the start and finish of the Commonwealth Games cycle time trials and the opening of our Civic and Wulfrun Halls, next year is the ideal time to mark the start of the proposed strategy.

Other major events, which have been postponed due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, will also now take place in 2022 including British Art Show 9 and the city’s first-ever Creation Day Festival which will showcase a series of big-name bands during two full days of live music.

The five-year events strategy aims to bring huge investment into the city as well as increasing local jobs, skills and volunteering opportunities.

The council will work to identify external funding opportunities, draw up proposals for new events, further develop business relationships, particularly with hotels and restaurants, and build new partnerships.

The strategy will focus on events being commercially viable, making minimal council investment in order to unlock as much outside income as possible.

City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Ian Brookfield, said: “We have so much to be proud of in our city and, with the development of this five-year events strategy, so much to be excited for.

“It all begins in 2022, with the Commonwealth Games time trial, British Art Show 9, our first-ever Creation Day Festival and the opening of our Civic and Wulfrun Halls.

“We are committed to developing this five-year strategy not only because hosting high-profile events will bring a welcome economic boost into our city and raise our profile on the national stage, but because they offer a great opportunity for our local people.

“We want the plans we are drawing up to really benefit residents here in the city, whether that be through great entertainment, the chance to volunteer or develop new skills or the opportunity to find work.

“This past year has tested us all, but it has also inspired us to look forward to offer the best we possibly can for our visitors and our residents alike. We’re working to find all the ways we can to relight our city for the future.”

Details of events scheduled for 2022 include:

• British Art Show 9, the biggest touring exhibition of contemporary art in the UK, will take place in the city between 22 January and 10 April 2022 across two main venues: Wolverhampton Art Gallery and the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Art.
• Creation Day Festival, two days of the best in live music in partnership with Toura Toura Festivals and iconic Creation Records label founder Alan McGee, will take place in West Park on May 28 and 29.
• Start and finish of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games cycling time trial on August 4 in West Park, around 90 competitors are expected to take part across the men’s and women’s events.
• Opening of the Civic and Wulfrun halls, generating millions of pounds a year and creating hundreds of jobs in the local economy.

Other city events in the five-year plan include the city’s Literature Festival,

Eid-al-Fitr, Armed Forces Day, Windrush Day and Enjoy Wolverhampton Live.