The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is one of the largest cultural institutions in Coventry. Its Coventry Transport Museum is free to enter. It houses one of the largest collections of British-made road vehicles in the world, including world speed record-breaking cars. In 2004, the museum was refurbished as part of the Phoenix Initiative, which made it a finalist for the 2005 Gulbenkian Prize.
The demographics of Coventry City are not typical. Approximately 66% of the city's population are White British, while 7.2% are non-British. Of those, 5.5% are black, and over 16% are Asian. The city has a high proportion of Christians; 53% of Coventry residents identify as Christian. Islam is the second most-followed religion. Twenty percent of the population does not identify with a religion. The city has a large student population; approximately 15,000 students are international.
Coventry is also home to the Coventry Blaze, one of the most successful professional ice hockey teams in the country. The Blaze has won four Elite League championships and plays home games at the SkyDome Arena. Aside from sports teams, the city is also home to several other cultural institutions, including a museum for the local music scene. Aside from the Blaze, the city is home to a number of other notable organizations, including the Bees, Jets, and Cradle.
The history of Coventry begins in the 10th century. The city's prosperity grew during the Middle Ages. Coventry had a strong industrial base and was famous for its cloth and wool industries. Despite its rich heritage, however, the city's prosperity began to wane after the Industrial Revolution. During the 1970s, the British automobile industry crashed, and the city was particularly affected. During the 1980s, the city suffered from high unemployment and crime rates.