Looking from the window of the Fierce offices on a Monday evening in February I find myself wondering why and how I find myself here in Birmingham, but more specifically the West Midlands.
For a little context, I was born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent and I went away to study Drama and Theatre Studies in Chester and then back to Stoke-on-Trent. I didn’t think I’d stay for five years, but then I didn’t plan when I’d leave – but I don’t think of myself as local to a city but local to a region and I’m proud that it’s the West Midlands.
So what do I love?
I love the fact that everywhere feels like home, and that we embrace the diverse cultures that surround us – we can create something from nothing and that we built our region on creativity of individuals that consumes the residents.
To help me find the reasons why I ? the West Midlands I jotted down words that I found summarised the creatives I have worked with, met and the general ethos of the region. Here is the result – we are resourceful, determined, supportive, optimistic, inclusive, innovative and collaborative. We always look for new ways to make work and work together.
The region has an exciting, diverse range of creativity and talent in its midst and by working together, and making our own opportunities in the region we can really make a difference to the cultural landscape locally, nationally and internationally.