West Midlands

Potteries Museum Stoke on Trent The West Midlands region is situated in the heart of England and includes the major urban centres of Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry. It has a population of 5.27 million (9% of the UK total), 11.3% of whom come from ethnic minorities. Over half the regional population lives in the large conurbations, while over 2 million reside in the region's rural counties, which cover three-quarters of the region's area.

Manufacturing remains an important element in the economy and as the centre of the country's road and rail network the region is a major exporter of goods and services, accounting for approximately 8% of the national total by value.

There are 214 museums in the region attracting over 4 million visits a year.
14 local authorities run 307 static and 51 mobile libraries employing 4,000 staff and receiving 32 million visits per year. Over 50% of the region's population are library members.
There are 24 archives in the region employing some 532 staff and attendance at archives in the West Midlands is the highest of any English region.

Pre-Raphaelite Online Resource

Digitisation of BMAG's Pre-Raphaelite collection has opened up access for interested users worldwide.

Warwickshire Strategic Commissioning

Warwickshire Library and Information Service has been exploring the potential of the strategic commissioning process to attract...

A Shared Museum Service for Worcestershire

A joint museum service has been established to manage the museums of Worcester City and Worcestershire County Council under the

Creative Health CIC

A community interest company (CIC) has been set up in the West Midlands by a partnership of arts organisations with the aim of...

BMAG showcases Muslim cultures

Exhibitions and events at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery leads to new relationships with diverse communities in the West

New Black Country standards

The Black Country Libraries Partnership has developed a new set of standards to ensure families receive a warm welcome and...

Sandwell libraries go local

Developing a new management process has seen Sandwell libraries engage with all of their local community, whatever their ethnic

Wolverhampton’s Sensing Sculpture Gallery

A gallery enabling people to experience art using senses other than sight has been welcomed by blind and partially sighted...

Walsall libraries regenerate

Residents, local organisations and businesses take an active role in the modernisation of the new Bentley library

Responsibilities transfer

From 1st October 2011, this site will not be updated, so please treat it as the static archive it is. This is because <a target="_Blank" href="http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/">Arts Council England</a> has now taken over museums and libraries responsibilities. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/">The National Archives</a> has assumed responsibility for strategic leadership of the Archives sector. Arts Council responsibilities will also now include the Renaissance programme, Museum Accreditation, and Library Development, together with cultural property services such as Export Licensing and the Acceptance in Lieu scheme. The National Archives has assumed responsibility for providing strategic leadership to the archives sector and advising government on its development. The MLA is now winding down, with a skeleton staff remaining until May 2012 to complete the management of existing Renaissance contracts, complete outstanding financial and contractual arrangements and prepare for the appointment of a liquidator. This website will remain live until 31st March so that the public still has full access to the material on it – good practice case studies, toolkits, guidance and a range of other publications. Continue reading