Birmingham's tourism economy has received a boost after the city was chosen to host an international arts festival.
Serendipity Arts Festival is working with Birmingham City University on its event which will come to the city next summer and showcase South Asian culture through performance, visual and culinary arts and fashion.
It will be offering mostly free events at venues and outdoor spaces across the city and students from Birmingham City University will play a large role in running the festival.
Serendipity, which was launched in India in 2016, chose Birmingham ahead of rival bids from Dubai, London and other cities to be the 2025 host following a competitive process that examined its facilities and infrastructure and commitment to nurturing the arts.
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Among the venues already lined up to host are Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, The Rep, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Town Hall and the city's public squares.
Serendipity Arts Festival is an annual event which usually takes place in multiple venues throughout Panaji in the state of Goa over eight days in December.
The 2024 edition will feature more than 200 events, showcasing creations of more than 1,800 artists.
Coming to Birmingham marks the first time the festival will be held outside of India and is expected to welcome more than 60 events, exhibitions and performances across its ten-day run.
Founder Sunil Kant Munjal said: "Birmingham is the ideal place to bring the Serendipity Arts Festival to the international stage for the first time.
"The city is synonymous with culture and creativity and also exceeds all the requirements needed to stage a multicultural global event at this scale."
Birmingham City University vice-chancellor David Mba added: "I am incredibly proud that our university will partner with Serendipity to host the festival for the first time outside of India.
"Since our founding almost 180 years ago, arts, design and performance have been at the core of our university and our education provision remains rooted in the city's diverse cultural landscape.
"All the while, we have continued to deepen our ties with India and the rest of the world.
"This event, which promises to be a very special one indeed, will not only cement Birmingham's position as a cultural destination of choice but will build on the talents and aspirations of our students and university."
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said: "Arts and culture can have an incredibly positive impact on the wellbeing of individuals and a unique ability to bring diverse communities together.
"So it's an exciting moment for the West Midlands to be chosen as the first international host of the Serendipity Arts Festival.
"I've placed our creative industries at the heart of my plan to get our region's economy growing again in a way that benefits everyone.
"The festival will provide a brilliant opportunity for the exchange of creative ideas between our own ambitious artists and those coming to Birmingham."
The 2025 Serendipity Arts Festival will run from May 23 to June 1 at venues across Birmingham
