As part of a high-profile international trade mission, Leopard Co was proud to host a dynamic Creative Industries Roundtable that brought together some of the brightest minds from Birmingham and Leipzig’s cultural and creative sectors. Held at Albert Schloss in the heart of Birmingham, the two-hour session was chaired by Leopard Co’s Chief Marketing Officer, Anthony Tattum, and formed a cornerstone of the Leipzig delegation’s three-day visit to the city.

The trade mission - organised by Birmingham City Council in partnership with West Midlands Combined Authority, the West Midlands Growth Company, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce - welcomed ten delegates from Leipzig, each representing a vibrant cross-section of the city’s creative industries, including animation, visual art, photography, immersive tech, and creative education.

Creative Cities, Shared Ambition

Birmingham and Leipzig have been twin cities since 1992, a partnership built on cultural, educational and economic collaboration. Following a visit by Birmingham’s Lord Mayor to Leipzig in November 2024, the March 2025 return mission offered Leipzig-based creatives the chance to connect with their counterparts in Birmingham—a city increasingly recognised for its diverse and fast-growing creative scene.

Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Ken Wood, reflected on the importance of this relationship:

“I was delighted to lead the recent visit of Birmingham tech businesses to Leipzig and welcome the reciprocal visit to Birmingham. These current exchanges will develop further opportunities for business, trade and investment collaboration in the Creative Industries sector, which is a key priority for both cities.”

Setting the Tone for Creativity

The roundtable, hosted by Leopard Co, kicked off with networking and introductions, before moving into a lively agenda designed to share insights, spark ideas and begin shaping potential international collaborations. Attendees heard scene-setting talks from:

  • Councillor Ken Wood, with reflections on the Leipzig visit

  • Ines Dietrich from Kreatives Leipzig, who introduced Leipzig’s creative economy and events such as MACHN Festival

  • Fiona Latter, Programme Manager at WMCA, who spotlighted Birmingham’s creative ecosystem

Anthony Tattum encouraged an open, energetic atmosphere: “This session wasn’t about financial support or fixed outcomes. It was about ideas, people and potential—the foundations of meaningful creative collaboration.”

Spotlight on Collaboration

Two focused themes shaped the discussion:

Cross-City Arts & Event Collaborations

The conversation explored how Leipzig creatives could participate in major Birmingham events such as Flatpack Festival, Birmingham Design Festival and the Film & TV Market. Delegates were invited to share ideas for artist exchanges, collaborative programming, and co-hosted installations.

Ines highlighted Leipzig’s Car Sculpture project and MACHN Festival, encouraging Birmingham organisations to pitch content and join the city’s growing international creative network.

Digital & Emerging Creative Technologies

The second half of the session explored how immersive storytelling, XR, and creative technology can open new pathways for shared innovation. Delegates heard from Birmingham practitioners working at the cutting edge of mixed reality and discussed ideas for knowledge exchange, training programmes and co-creation.

Pamela Aculey, among others, shared examples of how immersive content has been used to bring books and cultural narratives to life.

From Talk to Action

The roundtable wrapped with each delegate sharing a key takeaway or action—from developing a joint digital showcase to exploring international artist residencies. Anthony, alongside representatives from WMGC, DBT and GBCC, helped surface next steps and pledged support to keep momentum going. “At Leopard Co, we believe that creativity thrives on connection,” said Anthony Tattum.

“Hosting this roundtable gave us a real sense of how Birmingham’s strengths in design, storytelling and immersive tech can align with Leipzig’s rich creative heritage and entrepreneurial spirit. We were proud to help facilitate the start of what we hope will become many long-term collaborations.”

A Mission with Impact

The roundtable was just one part of a packed three-day schedule for the Leipzig delegation, which also included visits to:

  • Birmingham Open Media, where delegates explored immersive bootcamps supported by WMCA

  • Holosphere, an XR agency leading global immersive projects

  • STEAMhouse, part of Birmingham City University, offering cutting-edge creative tech facilities

  • VentureFest, where delegates joined a session on European partnership opportunities

  • Digbeth’s creative quarter, including the Custard Factory and BAFTA-nominated Second Home Studios

The visit concluded with networking at The Old Crown, Birmingham’s oldest pub—a suitably historic location to end a mission focused firmly on the future.

What’s Next?

The delegation is already exploring ways to build on the relationships formed during the roundtable, including potential collaborations at Leipzig’s MACHN Festival and ongoing dialogue with creative leaders in both cities.

If you’d like to connect with any of the international creatives who joined us - or want to explore how Leopard Co can help bring your creative vision to life - get in touch.

Credit: Photography by Antje Gildemeister: www.gildemeister-fotografie.de.