Destinations drive new business to Birmingham agency
Birmingham-based PR agency, EAST VILLAGE, is celebrating a raft of new business wins including two of the region 's best-loved destinations.
MAC (Midlands Arts Centre) and The Heart of England Forest are among new clients to have joined the agency 's portfolio.
Having recently reopened its doors following the lifting of the latest Government guidelines, MAC is one of the region 's most popular destinations, welcoming more than one million visitors each year.
The pioneering arts complex, which is located at Cannon Hill Park, houses performance auditoria, media studios, a cinema, visual arts spaces, accessible artist studio, a ceramics studio and its refurbished in-house restaurant KILN.
The destination is regarded as one of the UK 's leading arts and culture destinations for more than half a century.
Debbie Kermode, CEO and artistic director at MAC, said: “In the lead up to MAC 's 60th anniversary year in 2022, we 're excited to share stories about our proud history and exciting news about our future projects, with Birmingham residents.
“MAC is passionate about ensuring our work reflects the wonderful diversity of our city - through our dynamic artistic programme, which welcomes everyone and asks audiences to get involved with our work from volunteering to art making and employment opportunities.
“Key to this celebration year is what our new partnership with the brilliant team at EAST VILLAGE. brings, whose philosophy and approach to community engagement, inclusion and wellbeing connects directly to the DNA of MAC.
“This terrific collaboration will see us reach new audiences and help MAC to continue to grow and thrive. ”
The agency has also been appointed to support The Heart of England Forest with PR, as it continues its mission to create and conserve a 30,000 acre broadleaf forest.
Based in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Forest is an exciting and ambitious charity that focuses on enhancing the environment, protecting wildlife and providing a space for the community.
Covering a mosaic of habitats, The Heart of England Forest has planted nearly 1.9 million trees across its 7,000 acres of land in Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
A much-loved destination, it boasts eight waymarked trails including a specially designed accessible route that 's suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and people with limited mobility.
Tara Tomes, founder and managing director of EAST VILLAGE, said: “As the world reopens for business again, it 's amazing to be working with two incredible locations who share our passion for making experiences accessible to everyone.
“There has never been a more important time to stand out from the crowd, of course, but what we love about both MAC and The Heart of England Forest is that they offer so much more than a day out.
“They 're about regaining connection - with each other and the environment - and they want to create legacies that last. I can 't think of anything more exciting when it comes to working with organisations who share that purpose. ”
These two client wins join a host of successful regional charities represented by EAST VILLAGE., including the Midlands ' largest grant-giving charity Heart of England Community Foundation, which has announced its largest year of giving having awarded over £4.2 million to 813 organisations since March 2020.
In addition to Living Well UK, a consortium of over 40 mental health charities across Birmingham and Solihull, which provides free support to the region 's residents including a helpline delivered in partnership with Birmingham and Solihull CCG and Birmingham Mind.
EAST VILLAGE. has also welcomed Oaks Consultancy to its client family, a Birmingham headquartered business that provides strategic planning, fundraising support and income generation for socially-minded organisations.
Pictured: The EAST VILLAGE team