Birmingham is a World Craft City. Jewellery is why.
1 – 31 May 2027
Birmingham
The Designation
Recognised by the world. Rooted in Birmingham.
In 2025, Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter was awarded World Craft City status by the World Crafts Council, a UNESCO-affiliated organisation and one of the most respected voices in global craft recognition. Birmingham joined a select group of just eight cities across Europe to hold the designation, alongside global craft capitals including Kyoto and Jaipur.
How it happened
A bid built on 250 years of proof.
The bid was led by the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust and co-submitted with Birmingham City University, supported by Birmingham City Council and the Goldsmiths Company. An international panel of judges visited Birmingham in April 2025, touring Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery, the Birmingham Assay Office, Cooksongold, and the historic Coffin Works – meeting businesses, educators, and makers across three days.
“Here, the City Council, the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust, and Birmingham City University have come together to shape a shared vision for crafts. This is precisely the kind of ecosystem we dream of for every World Craft City.”
Sa’ad Al-Qaddumi, President, World Crafts Council
What comes next
A launchpad, not a finish.
The designation has already opened new doors. Birmingham City University has since signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Crafts Council to explore the creation of a World Crafts Academy – a global initiative connecting universities, artisans, and cultural institutions across five continents, with BCU named as a founding partner.
For Birmingham’s makers, educators, and businesses, World Craft City status signals to the world that this city is a destination for craft at the highest level.
The Birmingham Jewellery Biennial is the first major event to build on that status.
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