This email from Tony Ryan of RnR Organisation in response to Andy Munro’s Digbeth Report seemed worth popping up here. (Follow this link to read the email in full complete with attachments.)
Having read your article on the Digbeth is Good website I have a few additions and comments that you and your group may want to consider. Starting with the end of your document ‘Regenerating Digbeth’ I believe the list of organisations and representatives may need to be re-evaluated with some important additions added, additions from organisations that play an important part in the ‘festival’ and events life of Digbeth.
Capsule, who run Supersonic Festival and The Flatpack festival play an important part in Digbeth’s diverse cultural life – these are specific, and internationally recognised festivals; Shout Festival, which is predominantly based around Hurst Street also adds to this diversity by using venues within the Digbeth area. If a holistic marketing programme is to be developed the reputation of these activities needs to be recognised and utilised.
Besides the research you have quoted there was market research done on the St Patrick’s Festival and Branding research undertaken on Digbeth by Students from Birmingham University College in 2006, 2007 and 2008
- the Festival and the Forum should have this information. I have also attached a report which I was commissioned to write in 2006 by the Irish Forum concerning the Irish Quarter Cultural Strategy
- this work was undertaken following discussions at the Irish Quarter Board concerning what the ‘Irish Quarter Offer’ was to be.
I have also attached a copy of the Irish Quarter Business plan submitted in March 2006 to the board; it was the discussion from this document that produced the commissioning of the cultural and venue development document.
While these document are ‘of their time’ there are still some elements that ring true. Any marketing needs to take account of the huge changes that have taken place in Digbeth since these reports:
- The variety of pubs that now serve the area
- The improvements in the Irish Centre and the development of The Institute.
The reports did not consider the developments along the Custard Factory (Devonshire House), Fazeley Street, Floodgate Street, the Bond, Ikon or Vivid, developments that have increased the diversity of provision as well as organisations and businesses that have established themselves in the area.
Whilst entertainment provision has increased over the past 2-3 years, so has the number of places to eat and stay in – while this has been alluded to in the past, it is now becoming an integral part of people’s visit to Digbeth, the ‘Digbeth offer’.
Lastly, whilst there are a large number of ‘creative and cultural’ organisations, there are also an increasing number of social enterprises being developed utilising the facilities and location of the area – these organisations can only add to the rich diversity of activity and provision offered in Digbeth.
