‘Companion Culture: Four Actions for Digbeth’ outlines a clear and pragmatic framework to support the continued growth and success of this culturally significant area of Birmingham, well known for its vibrant mix of cultural organisations, artists and street arts based around visual and performing art, design, music, tech, gaming and media. The Cultural Action Plan aims to build a companion culture where Digbeth’s diverse ecology works together to collectively create an environment that maintains a healthy, thriving culture. In turn, supporting the wellbeing of our neighbouring wards and the cultural life of Birmingham. Our plan addresses urgent challenges that cultural organisations face, such as rising rents, shifting urban landscapes, and increasing development pressures, and aims to create an environment where the terms ‘growth’ and ‘development’ also apply to the cultural wellbeing of Digbeth. The process of developing the plan was one of coming together. Across 2024 and 2025 over 300 people participated in a range of ways to collectively generate the four actions that we as a community agree need to happen for Digbeth’s culture to thrive. This is a call to action to the many stakeholders who are invested in the development of Digbeth now and in the future and, we hope, the start of open and reciprocal working relationships that will see everyone from individual artists and residents to developers and the city council thrive. Download the plan and supporting document below. Eastside Projects worked in partnership with Grand Union to develop the Cultural Action Plan for Digbeth, as part of a cultural placemaking programme of activities commissioned by Birmingham City Council’s Cultural Development Service and funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority and HM Government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund.