Leicester's rivals for 2017 UK City of Culture title revealed
The list of places vying with Leicester to be crowned the 2017 UK City of Culture has been revealed.
Last week the Mercury revealed bosses form the city's arts scene, businesses and politicians were preparing a bid to land the title currently held by Derry in Northern Ireland.
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Curve Leicester will be one of the venues to benefit if the city is crowned 2017 UK City of Culture
They hope winning the Government competition will raise the national and international profile of the city attracting huge numbers of visitors, creating tourism jobs and boosting the local economy by millions of pounds.
It was already known that Aberdeen and Plymouth would be among Leicester’s rivals for 2017 and today culture Minister Ed Vaizey revealed the other contenders.
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They are: Chester, Dundee, East Kent ( covering Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Thanet) Hastings and Bexhill on Sea, Hull, Portsmouth and Southampton, Southend on Sea, and Swansea Bay (covering Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath and Port Talbot).
Mr Vaizey said: “This is fantastic news and shows the appetite for the prestigious City of Culture title is in healthy supply right across the length and breadth of the country.
“The competition brings together communities and creates economic and social benefits and I am pleased to see so many local authorities and different partners coming together.
All 11 places have until April to submit their initial bids which will be considered by an independent advisory panel which will then decide on a shortlist which will be announced in June.
The winner will be announced in November.
Chairman of the independent advisory panel Phil Redmond said:
“The UK City of Culture can be a real catalyst for change and I’m delighted so many places have registered their interest in the competition for 2017. Together with the panel I’m looking forward to receiving some ambitious and dynamic bids that highlight the very best of local cultural talent, along with delivering a realistic programme that will appeal to as wide an audience as possible.”
Chief executive of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce Martin Traynor is a member of the consortium putting together the city’s bid.
He said: “Our city has such a rich variety of cultures and that is a great strength.
"There will be some very strong bids from other cities but I think we have a very good chance of winning. If we can clinch it then the benefits for this city will be huge. We have already seen what a massive impact it has had in Derry in terms of visitor numbers and their spending and they are just two months into a year-long programme.”
5 Comments
by Graham_LE8
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 5:54PM
“I still don't get what it's all about - were Leicester to be successful in their bid, will the King Power stadium host the closing stages (semi-final or final) of the 2014 F A Cup? - No. Will the Curve stage the Royal Command Performance? - No.
I doubt very much (other than some new street banners to replace the 'one Leicester' ones), nothing of any note will happen that would not have taken place anyway, so all in all the whole shebang is simply a vehicle for the usual suspects' to indulge in a huge aggrandizement of their local and national political celebrity. And it'll cost us a whole wodge of cash in the process...”
by Carty2020
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 4:36PM
“Plymouth, East Kent, 'Swansea Bay, for me.”
by DBLeicester
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 3:37PM
“Looking at the competition Leicester faces, I'm not sure what is more worrying - the shame of losing to the listed ram holes, or winning an award where only cesspit cities are nominated. Shouldn't this award be called the 'City In Need Of Regeneration - Here's My Begging Bowl' award?”
by Graham_LE8
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 1:47PM
“I wonder if Derry can quantify how beneficial the title of 'UK City of Culture' has been to them, indeed has there been a significant increase in tourism and such like to the local economy?”
by zygote3
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 8:19AM
“I think when an area like 'East Kent' or 'Swansea Bay' is going for the title of 'city of culture', then you know that the concept is in trouble. Surely, that rules them out at the starting post?
My money would be on Chester, its a proper city and Phil Redmond has his connections with it - its a lovely place, but duller than Leicester.
Leicester can certainly hold its head up against that competition.”