ORGANISERS have announced the first details of the Birmingham 2022 Festival - a six month celebration which will spotlight creativity and culture in the West Midlands.

Running from March to September 2022 as part of the Commonwealth Games, the festival will feature hundreds of creative commissions across the region including art, photography, dance, theatre, digital art and more.

The Birmingham 2022 Festival will open with Wondrous Stories, a spectacular large-scale production by world renowned and Leamington Spa based dance-circus company, Motionhouse.

Wondrous Stories will transform Birmingham’s Centenary Square in with an extraordinary production featuring a giant aerial spectacle with a flying book and a colossal globe alongside innovative digital projections.

There will be seven performances of Wondrous Stories from Thursday 17 - Sunday 20 March 2022 with expected combined audiences of over 80,000 people both in person and watching via a live stream.

Martin Green, chief creative officer at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games said; “Today, we are thrilled to officially announce the Birmingham 2022 Festival, shining a spotlight on the incredible creativity in the West Midlands. This spectacular festival will feature over 300 brand-new creative works, providing essential funding direct to artists and thousands of participatory moments for audiences with art, dance, theatre on their doorstep.

"I couldn’t think of a better way to begin than with Motionhouse’s awe-inspiring spectacle which will be free for everyone to enjoy.”

The £12million festival has been supported by a range of funders with the aim of animating the entire West Midlands with ambitious creative works.

Major support has been dedicated by Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund plus Spirit of 2012, Birmingham City Council, British Council and national Trusts & Foundations such as the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re investing £3 million in this spectacular festival that offers Birmingham and the West Midlands the chance to sparkle on the international stage.

"This major cultural programme will entertain and inspire people around the world, providing a showcase for the many brilliant artists and arts organisations who live and work here”.

The full programme for Birmingham 2022 Festival will be launched in January, for the latest information and to be amongst the first to find out more sign up at birmingham2022.com/festival.