Trade mission sparks new creative partnerships between Birmingham and Leipzig
Leading film, visual art and animation businesses from Leipzig in Germany were able to build links with leading organisations in Birmingham during a trade mission.
Birmingham and Leipzig established a partnership in 1992 which led them to become twin cities.
The partnership has resulted in a formal agreement between the two cities which aims to foster cooperation and understanding through cultural, educational and economic exchanges.
Birmingham’s Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Councillor Ken Wood and Barbara Wood were invited to Leipzig in November 2024 to attend the Leipzig Opera Ball, a prestigious event in the city which was first held in 1693.
Each year the annual Leipzig Opera Ball celebrates one of its partner cities.
In 2024 the focus was on Birmingham, which presented an opportunity to deepen the business ties between the two cities.
Ten creative companies from Birmingham accompanied the Lord Mayor on a Birmingham delegation to Leipzig, and the reciprocal visit to Birmingham provided Leipzig creatives the opportunity to visit the city well known for its diverse and thriving creative and cultural scene.
Councillor Ken Wood, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, said: “Our cities have been twinned since 1992 and during this time there have been numerous exchanges on a range of topics including economic regeneration, education, culture and public health to mention just a few.
“These current exchanges will develop further opportunities for business, trade and investment collaboration in the Creative Industries sector, which is a key priority for both cities.”
Ten delegates representing companies delivering products and services from within the creative sector and based within the city of Leipzig had the chance to visit prominent organisations to discuss potential collaborations.
The three-day trip, organised by Birmingham City Council in conjunction with partners West Midlands Combined Authority, West Midlands Growth Company, Department of Business and Trade, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, worked closely with Kreatives Leipzig, an organisation founded in 2010 to provide self-employed people and businesses from Leipzig’s creative industries the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with other creative partners in different nations and regions.
The businesses met with representatives from Birmingham’s creative and cultural ecosystem, beginning with a roundtable hosted by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
Delegates from Leipzig had the opportunity to engage with representatives from the Birmingham Design Festival, the Birmingham Film and TV Market, Flatpack Film Festival, Birmingham Open Media, and the Birmingham Music Archive.
The discussion was chaired by Anthony Tattum, chief marketing officer of marketing communications agency, Leopard Co.
Ines Dietrich, a representative of Kreatives Leipzig, also briefed attendees on the upcoming MACHN Festival – a Tech, Business and Art Festival scheduled to take place in June 2025 in Leipzig – and extended an invitation for Birmingham creatives to showcase their work. The Leipzig delegation was also invited to participate in the 2025 Birmingham Film and TV Market, as well as the 2026 Birmingham Design Festival and Flatpack Film Festival.
The trade mission also included visits to Birmingham Open Media to find out more about their work in the immersive and tech space, XR specialists Holosphere, Birmingham City University’s STEAMHouse and a tour of Digbeth which is home to many of Birmingham’s creative businesses and spaces.
Among those taking part was Antje Gildermeister of Gildermeiser Fotographie who said: “The wonderful welcome we received from the creative community in Birmingham is something I will never forget nor some of the visual impressions left upon me from the city most notably around Digbeth and along the canal network.
“I’m already planning my next visit to Birmingham with my son who has an interest in developing a career within the creative technologies sector.”
Ines Dietrich, board member of Kreatives Leipzig said: “Following on from this Mission, Kreatives Leipzig are already in talks with two Birmingham based creative companies about appearing at this years MACHN Festival in June in Leipzig, and we are in the process of arranging for a Film Commissioner from Leipzig to attend this years Birmingham Film and TV Market also in June in Birmingham.”
Pictured: Lord Mayor Cllr Ken Wood welcomes the delegation to the Council House
Photography by Michael Hermann and Thomas Meid
