Coventry UK City of Culture 2021

Coventry is a city of invention, regeneration and an international city of peace and reconciliation.

Coventry is a young, vibrant city with an experimental music scene, home to poets and artists and the centre of the UK's motor industry.

Coventry inspired the global twinned city movement, with 26 twinned relationships all over the world – from Kingston (Jamaica), to Dresden (Germany) and most recently, Jinan (China). It is a City of Sanctuary (part of the City of Sanctuary Network), which is a movement throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland committed to building a culture of hospitality and welcome, especially for refugees seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. It is part of the Migrant Friendly Cities Network and has taken more Syrian refugees than any other UK city.

The UK’s City of Culture in 2021

Coventry's vision as the City of Culture 2021 was to focus on inclusion and diversity through programmes and events that encourage activism, civic participation and digital innovation.

Coventry used the City of Culture to improve sustainability, tourism and heritage and making the city an attractive place to live and work. The programme was supported by a vibrant cultural strategy and a wide portfolio of ambitious projects spearheaded by the Coventry City of Culture Trust, Coventry City Council and other key partners, including the British Council.

The British Council was the International Partner for Coventry City of Culture 2021. As part of the partnership, we worked with the UK City of Culture Trust and many cultural and civic partners in the city to support a wide range of international connections. Some of this activity includes:

About our international projects

Active Citizens

Active Citizens is a social leadership training programme that equips people with the skills and tools to tackle the big global challenges and build a more open and inclusive world.

DigiPoems

DigiPoems provided digital artists and poets from Coventry and Southern Africa an opportunity to co-create new art through experimental digital illustrations, animation, and poetry.

FAMLAB

As part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021, the fourth FAMLAB joins forces to work in partnership with Coventry’s The Tin Music and Arts, and Deliaphonic.

A man stands in front of pieces of dyed silk as part of a making workshop

Haus of Kraft

Tackling isolation. Celebrating nature. Supporting sustainability. Launching businesses. The Global Makers workshops and writer's residency were part of the Haus of Kraft programme 2021.

Picture shows the 11 International Changemakers chosen for the bursary

International Changemakers Bursaries

Locally focused, globally connected: the International Changemakers Bursary connects Coventry with the world through the development of 11 digital collaboration projects.

Prototype City

Prototype City is an architecture exchange programme centring on international collaboration to test new ideas in cities around the world.

Rivers of the World

Rivers of the World harnesses creativity, interest in nature and mutual international cultural exchange amongst school students. The programme launched in Coventry in 2019.

Small Bells Ring

Small Bells Ring is a co-created artwork housed in a floating library that serves as a living research vessel and a retreat for writers and readers.

Youthful Cities

Youthful Cities celebrates global civic connections between young citizens, connecting Coventry with Beirut, Bogota, Detroit and Nairobi. Find out more about the new open call.