The Cultural Landscape
Before setting out a vision for the future, it is essential to understand where Coventry stands today. The baseline assessment provides a comprehensive snapshot of the city's cultural assets, participation levels, investment and challenges.
Coventry at a Glance
Coventry is home to two world-class universities, a thriving creative industries sector, and internationally recognised cultural venues including the Belgrade Theatre, the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, and Coventry Cathedral.
Coventry has over 340,000 residents from more than 100 countries, making it one of the most culturally diverse cities in the UK.
Cultural Assets
The city's cultural infrastructure includes major performance and exhibition venues, community arts centres, libraries, parks and public spaces. Coventry Cathedral — rebuilt after its destruction in the Second World War — stands as an internationally recognised symbol of peace and reconciliation.
The city also benefits from a growing independent arts scene, with studios, galleries and maker spaces providing affordable creative workspace for artists and small businesses.
Challenges
Despite its strengths, Coventry faces challenges in cultural engagement. Participation rates in some communities remain below national averages, particularly among disadvantaged groups. Public funding for culture has been under sustained pressure, and the city's cultural offer is not always visible to those outside the city.
The baseline assessment identifies these gaps and provides the evidence base for the strategic goals that follow.