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Eight places in the running to be UK City of Culture 2025
Bidders will each receive £40,000 to develop their applications
Eight places across the UK – including counties, cities and towns – have been longlisted for the UK City of Culture 2025 title.
Announced last week by culture secretary Nadine Dorries, the bidders to host the year-long cultural festival are:
- Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Northern Ireland
- Bradford, Yorkshire, England
- Cornwall, south-west England
- Derby, East Midlands, England
- Southampton, south-east England
- County Durham, north-east England
- Stirling, central Scotland
- Wrexham County Borough, north Wales
For the first time, the longlisted places will each receive £40,000 to develop their applications. The bidders will work with a panel of experts and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to finalise their bids before a shortlist is announced early next year.
Winning the title enables hosts to attract additional investment, create jobs and draw thousands of visitors to their local area. Previous title-holders include Derry-Londonderry (2013), Hull (2017) and this year’s City of Culture, Coventry.
Dorries said: “Winning the UK City of Culture competition has a hugely positive impact on an area, driving investment, creating jobs, and highlighting that culture is for everyone, regardless of their background.
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“This year’s focus is on levelling up access to culture across the country and making sure there is a legacy that continues for generations to come. I look forward to seeing what this brilliant longlist has in store as they continue in the competition.”
Phil Redmond, chair of the City of Culture Expert Advisory Panel, said: “For the first time, each longlisted city will receive financial support to help them develop their vision. Each is different. Each has its own story to tell. All share a common aim: to demonstrate how culture can act as the creative catalyst for change. I am really looking forward to seeing how each story develops.”
The competition is delivered by DCMS in collaboration with the offices for Scotland and Wales and the Northern Ireland Executive.