Putting the West Midlands on the Map in Westminster

This year has already been a busy one for CalComms. Two events in the space of a month is no small feat. Following the success of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Semiconductors event in February, we were delighted to host another fantastic gathering in Westminster, this time for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the West Midlands.

Held at the Thames Pavilion, the event celebrated the many strengths of the region and championed the role culture plays in shaping the identity of the West Midlands. From Shropshire and Herefordshire to the urban heart of Birmingham and everything in between, the reception was an opportunity to highlight the rich cultural landscape that connects communities across the region.

At the centre of the evening was the launch of our report into Culture and Place in the West Midlands. The inquiry reflects a clear regional mission: to showcase what makes culture in the West Midlands so distinctive while recognising that much more can be done to unlock its full potential.

Published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the West Midlands

Throughout the inquiry we heard expert testimony from across the region. Voices from the cultural sector, local leadership and industry all spoke to the richness of the West Midlands’ cultural offer. At the same time, the discussion recognised that targeted support and greater focus are needed to ensure the region’s cultural strengths are fully realised.

It is easy to overlook the importance of place and the cultural bonds that bring communities together. The West Midlands provides a powerful example of why those connections matter.

As the Chair of the Advisory Board, Professor Ken Sloan (Vice-Chancellor of Harper Adams University) noted during the event, the inquiry has mobilised organisations from every sector and across the region. There is a clear commitment to step forward and tell a story that the West Midlands can be proud of. The report does not simply present findings. It sets out practical and achievable recommendations that we want to champion and advocate for.

The cultural appetite within the region is clear. Erica Love, Vice Chair of the Advisory Board and Chair of the Culture Workstream, as well as Chief Executive of Culture Central, highlighted research showing that half of people in the West Midlands want to take part in more creative and cultural activities. That speaks volumes about how important culture is to people across the region.

The strength of that message was reflected in the turnout on the night. The reception saw the largest parliamentary attendance of any CalComms reception to date, with more than 40 MPs and peers joining us. The event was attended by Leigh Ingham MP, Adam Jogee MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, Lord John Spellar, David Williams MP for Stoke-on-Trent North and Warinder Juss MP for Wolverhampton West, among many others. We also heard remarks from Dave Robertson MP for Lichfield, Chair of the APPG, and Al Carns MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces.

Their presence demonstrated strong parliamentary interest in the future of culture in the West Midlands and the importance of bringing together policymakers, cultural leaders and regional stakeholders to shape that conversation.

We at CalComms we are proud to support that work. As one of Westminster’s leading providers of secretariat services for All-Party Parliamentary Groups, we help parliamentarians and stakeholders come together to champion the issues that matter most to their regions and sectors.