Part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival Sites, the cultural heart of the city attracted regular commuters, local residents and visitors who had come especially for the Games. The site was designed to complement the existing architecture with striking interventions such as a beautiful floor painting designed by local artist Anjuli McKenna and the Fountain Stage, a triangular stage structure framing the River Goddess fountain.
The programming reflected the versatile nature of the space from commuters joining morning stretching sessions to families coming to meet Perry the mascot and local, national and international visitors enjoying a varied music programme later in the day. This was created in collaboration with six local musical organisations, showcasing emerging talent from Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Victoria Square Festival Site also hosted two special events. The Queen’s Baton Relay Homecoming Celebration was a colourful, fun-filled evening of entertainment to celebrate the final stage of the Queen’s Baton’s journey around the Commonwealth. The event, designed and produced by OPUS, brought together dance, music and performance from the city’s rich and diverse communities. On July 30th, Victoria Square was the finish line for all Marathon events - one of the most iconic moments of the Games.
The beating heart of the city, transformed by colour and movement
Commissioner
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games //
Birmingham 2022 Festival
Created by
Outdoor Digital Productions, a collaboration between
OPUS - Programme Producers
JA Productions - Production
ADI - Technical
Music Programme Partners
Amplify Sounds, B:Music, Big Bear Music, Girl Grind UK, Muzikstan, VNS Productions
The hub in the heart of the city was throbbing amid a gloriously warm August afternoon, packed full of people either passing through or stopping to listen, and dance, to the live music put on by organisers as part of the festival aspect of these Games. Some were also watching the sporting action showing on the huge television located to the side of the performance stage. It was just what we needed, our collective senses well and truly gripped, and that would remain the case throughout our three-day visit.