Black Country Multicultural Day

What have you or your organisation learnt from this project?

Learning:
BCMD 2025 reinforced the value of strong planning combined with flexibility. The rain could have disrupted the day, but contingency measures (gazebos and covered spaces) ensured the programme ran smoothly. We also learnt that running the eight-week “Black Country You’ve Got Talent” competition beforehand created momentum, drew in new audiences, and gave local artists a pathway to the main stage – something we will look to repeat.

What could have worked better:
Although marketing reached a wide audience, survey comments showed some people only heard about the event late. Earlier and more targeted promotion through schools, community groups and grassroots networks would have helped maximise attendance. On the day, weather conditions affected some outdoor acts, highlighting the need for an additional covered space in future.

Challenges:
The main challenge was the weather, which required rapid adjustments to keep audiences comfortable and performers safe. Delivering the multi-week talent show across different venues was also resource-intensive and relied heavily on volunteers. Rising production costs also created budget pressures, though support from partners and sponsors enabled us to deliver the full programme.

Unexpected outcomes:
One positive outcome was the breadth of diversity among attendees. Survey results showed engagement across ethnicities and age groups, confirming the festival’s reach beyond our core audience. Another unexpected outcome was the wider social benefit: the event raised £300 for Black Country Foodbank, while also giving them a platform to share their work. The festival also sparked new partnerships, with performers and groups connecting and planning future collaborations.

What we would do differently:
For future events we would:

• Start promotion earlier, especially through schools, faith groups and local organisations.
• Strengthen weather planning with more covered areas for both performers and audiences.
• Provide more structured support and training for volunteers.
• Explore longer-term funding and sponsorship to reduce reliance on late contributions.
• Build in opportunities for cultural dialogue after performances to deepen engagement.

Summary:
We learnt that the combination of cultural celebration, emerging talent, and strong community partnerships creates lasting impact. BCMD 2025 not only delivered as planned, but also demonstrated its potential as a platform for unity, dialogue, and wider community benefit.