Birmingham played host to an inspiring research visit as part of the AHRC Creative Communities programme and our Community Innovation Practitioner Sara Hassan, who is embedded in Digbeth. Across two days, Sara brought together academics, local devolved policymakers, cultural leaders and creative practitioners to explore how cultural investment can drive inclusive regeneration in one of the UK’s most exciting new creative quarters.
The visit began at The Exchange, a stunning civic space in Centenary Square. The opening presentation, led by Professor Rebecca Riley and Dr Sara Hassan, offered an overview of Sara’s Creative Futures in Regeneration CIP project. Rooted in the AHRC Creative Communities programme, the initiative investigates how cultural infrastructure can support equitable urban development, particularly in Digbeth.
A panel of key partners followed, featuring representatives from West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Birmingham City Council (BCC), BBC, Anthony Ruck of Culture Central, and Cheryl Jones of Grand Union. Their reflections highlighted the dynamic interplay between policy, place, and creative practice. The afternoon workshop, facilitated by the project team and Culture Central, invited participants to reimagine regeneration through participatory dialogue. The cross-sector group explored themes of belonging, cultural equity and infrastructure, laying the groundwork for the next day’s site visit to Digbeth.
Day two began at Art Quarter Birmingham, an inclusive content creation hub on Allison Street that is working with YouTube, Meta, Snapchat and others to combine digital and in-person experiential engagement and brand activation. From there, we embarked on a walking tour of Digbeth’s “Creative Corridor,” visiting key sites such as St Basil’s, the Custard Factory, Junction Works, Digbeth Loc Studios, and canal-side workspaces.
These locations showcased the rich tapestry of Digbeth’s regeneration, from heritage buildings repurposed for creative use to new developments like the BBC’s future headquarters at Typhoo Wharf. Back at Grand Union, the final workshop invited reflection on the visit’s themes. Facilitated by Culture Central, the session captured insights to inform future policy briefs, a case study, and a podcast documenting the project’s journey.
Our investment in Digbeth is demonstrating how culture can shape cities. By bringing together diverse cross-sector voices and co-creating new devolved policy solutions to inclusive creative economies and regeneration, the CIP research is repositioning place-based transformation as inclusive, imaginative, and rooted in community. As Birmingham continues to evolve, Sara’s research and her cross-sector partnerships offer a timely reminder that regeneration is not just about buildings: it’s about people, stories, and shared futures.
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