Plans for an urban cultural festival ...

Plans for an urban cultural festival are expected to get the green light from Birmingham City Council next week. The city has won £2.1 million from the Arts Council and lottery distributor the Millennium Commission for the idea after it lost its bid to become European capital of culture in 2008. The council has also applied for £2 million from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands for the festival, which would run from January 2005 to February 2006.