Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. That’s why we support businesses, artists and freelancers who innovate, use new technologies and stimulate the growth of creative clusters across the country. Birmingham and the West Midlands have a rich industrial history and we place them at the forefront of a potential new industry developing amazing technology that will revolutionize visual effects in film, theater and video games.

The five-year project is funded by investment from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, which has designated the West Midlands as a creative industries hub.

AHRC Executive Chairman, Professor Christopher Smith, said: “The AHRC is delighted to announce a new wave of creative industries clusters which will create vital support for technology and innovation in the industries leading creative companies from the UK and will expand our regional investments.

“They will support artists and creators so they can benefit from new technologies across a wide range of platforms and develop their innovation and business skills.

“Remarkable projects made possible through our creative industries clusters span sustainable fashion, game design and extended reality, and have attracted major co-investment. They have helped solve real-world problems and deliver business benefits to the UK economy, in line with the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

Professor Helen Abbott, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the College of Arts and Law at the University of Birmingham, said: “The University of Birmingham is delighted to be part of this consortium bringing together leading universities from across the West Midlands and cultural organisations, providing research and development expertise to academics and creatives, education and skills development opportunities, job creation and support and boosting the region’s creative industries.