Investment Priorities

Our goals and priorities

Dance Hub Birmingham is a key part of Arts Council England’s strategy to pursue transformational change, and all investments aim to achieve the best artistic and economic value.

The Steering Committee, partner businesses and other investors are focusing on the following development priorities. Together we believe that making dance a vibrant and resilient contributor to the wider artistic and economic life of the city region will have significant long-term benefits.

Dance Hub Birmingham’s overriding ambition is actively to position Birmingham and the wider region as a globally significant area for dance, through the following four investment priorities:

Infrastructure

Dance Hub Birmingham has new strategic plans to:

support employment growth in the sector
create a dance archive of national significance
capitalise on a growing range of digital opportunities

Sector

Dance Hub Birmingham is committed to developing:

focused investment in R&D
sector-wide leadership skills
application of effective business models

Artists

Dance Hub Birmingham will work with investors to:

enhance talent development opportunities
stimulate international collaborations and sharing of knowledge
expand the artistic use of digital media

Audience

Alongside existing & new partners, Dance Hub Birmingham will:

build on Birmingham’s reputation for outdoor and site-specific work
use large-scale public events and festivals to grow audiences for dance
increase opportunities for audiences to experience dance, both live and digitally
develop and apply data intelligence to deepen audience engagement

Infrastructure

Dance Hub Birmingham has new strategic plans to:

support employment growth in the sector
create a dance archive of national significance
capitalise on a growing range of digital opportunities

Sector

Dance Hub Birmingham is committed to developing:

focused investment in R&D
sector-wide leadership skills
application of effective business models

Artists

Dance Hub Birmingham will work with investors to:

enhance talent development opportunities
stimulate international collaborations and sharing of knowledge
expand the artistic use of digital media

Audience

Alongside existing and new partners, Dance Hub Birmingham will:

build on Birmingham’s reputation for outdoor and site-specific work
use large-scale public events and festivals to grow audiences for dance
increase opportunities for audiences to experience dance, both live and digitally
develop and apply data intelligence to deepen audience engagement

Cross-cutting themes are diversity and representation, along with art form and sector research.

How Can You Contribute?

We will be announcing the detailed Dance Hub Birmingham investment programme soon.
Stay up to date by following us on twitter @dancehub_bham

“With investment from DHB, Sampad has been able to support our creative aspirations, championing the fresh, dynamic and relevant nature of intercultural work. We’re proud to be taking exciting steps forward in our dance careers.”

Vidya Patel, dance artist, on About the Elephant

“DHB funding has enabled me to research and investigate new methods of reaching new audiences both online and in real life settings. In focussing on discovering new audiences, I have made a step-change in my own choreographic practice and crafting.”

Jamaal Burkmar, Extended Play

“DHB funds enabled us to create our first group piece Torus. This trust and investment were vital in giving us the time and resources to make this big step, and in attracting other funders, co-commissioners and international collaborators.”

Rudi Cole and Júlia Robert Parés, Humanhood

“DHB funding has allowed me to reflect on my role as a leader. This has informed the way I communicate and understand communication styles, and has changed my approach as a Director, as a Choreographer, as a Dancer and as a Teacher.”

Laura Vanhulle, Vanhulle Dance Theatre

“DHB investment has supported me in building long-lasting relationships with festival promoters, directors and fellow makers, as well as creating new and exciting partnerships with other arts organisations for the development of current and future work.”

Johnny Autin, Autin Dance Theatre

“Navigate, our Black Choreographers Project funded by DHB, has been a real-life demonstration of the importance of cultural exchange. It has opened doors for artists and given them a purpose and starting point for a conversation they haven’t had before.”

Investment Priorities

Our goals and priorities

Infrastructure

Sector

Artists

Audience

Infrastructure

Sector

Artists

Audience

“With investment from DHB, Sampad has been able to support our creative aspirations, championing the fresh, dynamic and relevant nature of intercultural work. We’re proud to be taking exciting steps forward in our dance careers.”

Vidya Patel, dance artist, on About the Elephant

“DHB funding has enabled me to research and investigate new methods of reaching new audiences both online and in real life settings. In focussing on discovering new audiences, I have made a step-change in my own choreographic practice and crafting.”

Jamaal Burkmar, Extended Play

“DHB funds enabled us to create our first group piece Torus. This trust and investment were vital in giving us the time and resources to make this big step, and in attracting other funders, co-commissioners and international collaborators.”

Rudi Cole and Júlia Robert Parés, Humanhood

“DHB funding has allowed me to reflect on my role as a leader. This has informed the way I communicate and understand communication styles, and has changed my approach as a Director, as a Choreographer, as a Dancer and as a Teacher.”

Laura Vanhulle, Vanhulle Dance Theatre

“DHB investment has supported me in building long-lasting relationships with festival promoters, directors and fellow makers, as well as creating new and exciting partnerships with other arts organisations for the development of current and future work.”

Johnny Autin, Autin Dance Theatre

“Navigate, our Black Choreographers Project funded by DHB, has been a real-life demonstration of the importance of cultural exchange. It has opened doors for artists and given them a purpose and starting point for a conversation they haven’t had before.”

Gail and Ian Parmel, ACE dance and music