A £1m culture fund has been approved to help Birmingham bid for City of Music status and celebrate its rich musical heritage.
The fund was raised as the city council passed its budget this week.
Leader John Cotton told councillors it would be used to “develop a bid for City of Music status and celebrate everything from Black Sabbath to Lord of the Rings, St Patrick’s Day and the Ramadan Streets Festival”.
In championing the city’s claim, Cotton also cited the likes of Dexy’s Midnight Runners, the CBSO and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Plans about how the city’s musical heritage will be celebrated are expected to be released shortly.
Birmingham Royal Ballet performing at Glastonbury Festival, 2024 [PA Media]
Conversations are also continuing around The Crown, the vacant Birmingham pub known as the venue where Black Sabbath played their first gig.
Birmingham Labour said the council had been “engaged in very positive meetings with the pub owners”.
Campaigners have repeatedly expressed frustration and argued there’s been a lack of progress being made when it comes to the future of The Crown.
The approval of the £1m budget for the City of Music status comes as the authority confirmed council tax will rise by 4.99% for 2026-27 for residents.
At this week’s budget meeting it said it had closed a £300m black hole in its finances and ditched the “bankrupt Birmingham” tag.
Despite the ongoing bin strikes, Cotton suggested there was still a bright future for the city.
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