UK City of Culture 2025 bids explained
The bidding process for UK City of Culture 2025 was the process to award the designation UK City of Culture to a city or area in the United Kingdom, in which the winner hosts cultural festivities through culture-led regeneration throughout 2025. The title is awarded by the UK Government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The 2025 City of Culture is the fourth city to hold the title since the programme began in 2013, following those of Derry~Londonderry, Hull, and Coventry. The competition for the 2025 holder was launched on 29 May 2021, with the deadline to submit bids being 19 July 2021. On 18 March 2022, Bradford, County Durham, Southampton and Wrexham County Borough were the last four shortlisted bids in the competition.[1] [2] [3] On 31 May 2022, Bradford was announced as the winning bid, with the three runners-up receiving £125,000, the first time the runners-up receive a prize.[4]
Bidding process
By the deadline at the end of July 2021, it was reported that a record number of cities and areas had submitted bids to hold the title of UK City of Culture 2025, with the total reaching twenty, a quarter of which are from Wales. The then Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden MP, stated that the sheer number of applicants for the title was a "testament to the huge success of City of Culture". The 2025 bidding competition has allowed for the first time, bids from regions, areas and places, including groups of towns across one or multiple local authorities, and even across the borders of the constituent countries. Those long-listed have been awarded £40,000 to support their bid progressing to the next stage of the competition.[5] The holder was set to be announced in December 2021, but was postponed due to the number of applicants, with a longlist released on 8 October 2021,[6] a final shortlist of bidders was released on 18 March 2022,[7] [8] and the 2025 holder was announced by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries on 31 May 2022.[9] The competition was judged by Sir Phil Redmond, chair of the expert advisory panel for the UK City of Culture 2025 competition, who led visits to each bidder prior to the final announcement.
Winning bid
- Bradford – Bradford announced its bid for City of Culture in July 2019.[10] Winning the designation would "be of benefit for every corner of the district" according to the leader of Bradford Council, Susan Hinchcliffe.[11] The chair of the bid committee, Shanaz Gulzar, said that Bradford would have an opportunity to "collaborate locally, nationally and internationally" to generate more support for the arts if its bid was successful.[12] It won the contest on 31 May 2022.
Other shortlisted bids
On 18 March 2022, four bids of the eight which remained on the October 2021 longlist, was announced. No bids from Scotland and Northern Ireland made onto the shortlist. The four bids, three from England, and one from Wales are as follows:
England
Wales
Failed longlisted bids
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, released the list all of bidders who applied to bid for the title on 20 August 2021, totaling to 20 cities and areas. The longlist of bids was released on 8 October 2021, totaling to 8 cities and areas.
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
- Stirling – Stirling Council submitted their expression of interest for the title.[31] On 25 August, the Stirling partnership was formed to assist the city's bid for UK City of Culture. The partnership includes arts, education, heritage and cultural organisations, such as Artlink Central, Big Noise Stirling, Creative Stirling, HES The Engine Shed, Forth Valley College Creative Industries, Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, the University of Stirling, and Stirling Council.[32]
Unsuccessful bids
Cross-border
England
- Great Yarmouth and East Suffolk – Great Yarmouth and East Suffolk launched their joint bid in July 2021. Steve Gallant, leader of East Suffolk Council said "this is an incredibly exciting opportunity for East Suffolk and Great Yarmouth and will reflect our continuing hard work to ensure the highest quality of life possible." Similarly, Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council stated "our borough and the district of East Suffolk share a very special sense of place and a local distinctiveness which sets us apart as truly unique."[34] In August 2021, street artist Banksy produced work entitled "A Great British Spraycation" across many sites in the region including Great Yarmouth, Gorleston-on-Sea & Lowestoft. Both councils were "delighted" with the work and believed it to be an endorsement of the bid.[35]
- Medway – Medway launched its bid in July 2019, with Medway Council leader Alan Jarrett calling it "an opportunity to actually increase the recognition of the area".[36] The bid also had the support of the Labour opposition on the council.[37]
- Lancashire – Lancashire announced it would put forward a bid in November 2019, promising the "most ambitious and inclusive cultural plans ever proposed in response to the UK City of Culture competition".[38] Lancashire County Council pledged £620,000 towards the bid in July 2020, with Michael Green, the cabinet member for economic development, saying that the City of Culture "could form a key part of Lancashire's bounce-back" from the COVID-19 pandemic.[39] Lancashire County Council withdrew support in June 2021 due to concerns that underwriting it by £22 million would be a "financial risk".[40] There were calls on the county council to revive the bid,[41] and on 19 July 2021, it was announced that Lancashire would be reviving its bid to become UK City of Culture 2025 but without the backing of the county council. It would be supported instead from some town councils, notably Blackpool, Preston, and Blackburn with Darwen, and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership. The county council had stood by its decision to withdraw its support for the bid.[42] [43]
- Torbay and Exeter – Exeter City Council and Torbay Council announced their joint bid on 20 July 2021. The two Devon councils aimed to showcase their UNESCO recognised attractions, the English Riviera Geopark in Torbay, and the Exeter Book at Exeter Cathedral Library. The councils stated the bid would have aimed to create a "cultural corridor between the places, while also providing the opportunity to for other towns between Exeter and Torbay to play a major role in a focused programme of events".[44] [45]
- Wakefield – Wakefield Council announced its bid on 23 June 2021, with an ambition to make the city a "cultural landmark" for the North of England.[46] The cathedral city hosts three events: Wakefield's Rhubarb Festival, Castleford's Roman Festival and Pontefract's Liquorice Festival, and the district is home to attractions such as the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Hepworth Wakefield, the National Coal Mining Museum, Sandal and Pontefract Castles, and Production Park.[47] [48]
- Wolverhampton – City of Wolverhampton Council announced its bid for the title on 22 July 2021. The council stated that Wolverhampton's bid would be split into four themes. The Event City theme would have consisted of a partnership between private, public and third sectors, and local community groups to host local events to bring the culture of the city to life. The Music City theme aimed to showcase the city's music heritage, support local talent, artists, and the live music industry in the city. The Creative City theme would have been focused on creating a building to serve as a creative workspace and talent developing centre. The Digital City theme would have specialised in building the city's digital infrastructure, embracing technologies such as augmented reality and hologram technology, to deliver innovation to the city's cultural environment. Councillor Ian Brookfield, leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, stated that "Wolverhampton is a fantastic, culturally rich, diverse and dynamic city that’s going places. We have worked hard to create momentum on this to build on the very strong foundations we know we have."[49] The bid was supported by the MP for South Staffordshire and then Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson, in addition to local arts groups. Although Mr Brookfield expressed concern that the judging panel may have been encouraged to award the title to city outside the West Midlands due to the 2021 holder Coventry also being in the region.[50]
Scotland
- Dundee City, Perth and Kinross, Angus (roughly corresponding to the former region of Tayside), and Fife, collectively bidding as "Tay Cities" – Dundee City Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Angus Council and Fife Council submitted their collective expression of interest for the 2025 title as the "Tay Cities", a city region where the River Tay, Scotland's longest river, connects the four council areas. Some cultural attractions in the region include: V&A Dundee, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Arbroath Abbey, and the University of St Andrews – the oldest in Scotland.[51]
Wales
- Bangor and the north-west of Wales – Gwynedd Council, in partnership with Bangor City Council, Bangor University and local partners, launched their bid for the UK City of Culture on 28 July 2021. The bid encompassed the city of Bangor, the newly designated Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site, and areas of Arfon and Anglesey.
- Conwy County Borough – Conwy County Borough Council submitted its expression of interest in the competition on 20 July 2021. The bid would have had its flagship town as Conwy, but the bid would have also extended to include various historical and contemporary assets across the county borough, including the town's 13th century town walls, Conwy Castle (part of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd World Heritage Site), the Great Orme goats of Llandudno, and Gwyrch Castle near Abergele. Wales rugby head coach Wayne Pivac had announced his support for Conwy's bid.[52]
- Newport – Newport City Council submitted their bid on 20 July 2021, and stated that in the event of a successful bid, that the benefits of holding the title would be spread out across the city and wider Gwent region.[53]
- Powys – Powys County Council's bid covered the entire county of Powys, and was one of the larger bids in the competition.
Unsubmitted bids
Withdrawn bids
- Northampton – Northampton Borough Council expressed interest in bidding for City of Culture in April 2018, seeing it as part of its initiative to "brand Northampton as an exciting place to visit". On 11 June 2019, it deferred its bid to the 2029 title.[58] [59] In June 2019, the town's bid team chose to instead focus on winning the 2029 City of Culture, seeing it as more "pragmatic".[60] [61]
- Norwich – In November 2017, Darren Henley, the Chief Executive of Arts Council England suggested that Norwich was well placed to launch a City of Culture bid and that it should be "a very strong contender".[62] Norwich City Council ruled out a bid in May 2021.[63]
- Tees Valley – The Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) first announced its bid for the 2025 City of Culture in July 2015.[64] [65] A plan allocating £1.8 million in funding for a bid was approved in March 2017.[66] In January 2021, it was reported that a formal bid had been met with "a lot of apprehension" when plans were set before the TVCA scrutiny committee. In June 2021, the TVCA announced they had dropped their City of Culture bid after continued hesitation on plans for the bid process, especially over the cost (estimated to be between £20–25 million).[67] Shane Moore, the TVCA cabinet member for culture and tourism, said that the region would instead seek to strengthen its cultural sector without making "any type of formal bid" for the City of Culture title.[68]
- Luton – Luton announced it was preparing to make a "credible and attractive bid" for City of Culture in February 2017.[69] In January 2020, Luton dropped their bid after poor attendance at events aimed at boosting the town's profile; a "town-wide creative skills project" was announced instead.[70] [71]
- Gloucester – Gloucester City Council announced their expression of interest on 7 July 2021, described as the "Gloucester for Gloucestershire" bid, it is being led by the city of Gloucester.[72] On 22 July 2021, the bid was withdrawn.[73]
Table
Notes and References
- Web site: City of Culture 2025: Bradford, County Durham, Southampton and Wrexham County Borough revealed as four areas in the running for title . 2022-03-18 . Sky News . en.
- Web site: 2022-03-18 . The final four contenders for the UK City of Culture 2025 title . 2022-03-18 . The Independent . en.
- Web site: UK City of Culture 2025 shortlist revealed . 2022-03-24 . GOV.UK . en.
- Web site: Bradford crowned UK City of Culture 2025 . 2022-05-31 . GOV.UK . en.
- News: 2021-08-20. Record number of bids for UK City of Culture 2025. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-08-24.
- Web site: UK City of Culture 2025 longlist revealed. 2021-10-07. GOV.UK. en.
- Web site: 2022-03-18 . UK city of culture 2025: Southampton and Bradford among those on shortlist . 2022-03-18 . The Guardian . en.
- News: 2022-03-18 . UK City of Culture 2025: Derby misses out on shortlist . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-03-18.
- Web site: Date for City of Culture announcement revealed - how to watch live . 2022-05-27 . Bradford Telegraph and Argus . 26 May 2022 . en.
- News: Title has huge cultural, social and economic potential for district . Clayton . Emma . . 29 July 2019 . 24 September 2019.
- Web site: UK City of Culture 2025: Bradford to bid for title . . 15 June 2021 . 29 July 2019.
- Web site: Bradford, where culture shines out of an industrial past . Arts Industry . 15 June 2021 . 1 October 2020.
- Web site: County Durham launches bid to become UK City of Culture 2025 - Durham County Council. 2021-08-25. www.durham.gov.uk.
- News: 2021-07-19. UK City of Culture 2025: Durham puts in bid for status. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-08-25.
- News: Southampton to bid for UK City of Culture 2025. Southern Daily Echo. 16 July 2018.
- Web site: Southampton officially launches City of Culture bid . . 15 June 2021 . 7 October 2020.
- Web site: Southampton's global links strengthened by new partnership with India Business Group as city bids to become UK City of Culture 2025 . India Business Group . 16 December 2020 . 15 June 2021.
- Web site: Support pledged for ambitious UK City of Culture 2025 bid . . 15 June 2021 . 17 December 2020.
- Web site: Funding to back Southampton 2025 UK City of Culture bid approved . . 15 June 2021 . 17 March 2021.
- Web site: Wrexham Council look to 'explore City Status bid' and apply for 'City of Culture 2025'. 2021-08-24. Wrexham.com. en.
- Web site: Hopes raised that Hollywood profile boost could help Wrexham's City of Culture bid. 2021-08-24. Wrexham.com. en.
- Web site: Cornwall prepares City of Culture 2025 bid . . 15 June 2021 . 14 June 2021.
- Web site: Mike Bedigan . Cornwall announces bid for City of Culture 2025 . . 15 June 2021 . 14 June 2021.
- Web site: Edward Church . Dawn French backs Cornwall bid to become City of Culture 2025 . Cornwall Live . 15 June 2021 . 14 June 2021.
- Web site: Ryan Morwood . Cornwall to bid for City of Culture 2025 . . 15 June 2021 . 14 June 2021.
- News: 2021-07-05. Derby enters race to become UK's City of Culture 2025. en-GB. DerbyshireLive. 2021-08-25. 0307-1235.
- Web site: Derby to bid for City of Culture - Derby City Council. 2021-08-25. www.derby.gov.uk.
- Web site: Shields. Claire. ABC Council to Bid for UK City of Culture 2025 - Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. 29 June 2021 . 2021-08-25. en-GB.
- Web site: Coyle. Rachelle. It's Official! Armagh City is on the list for UK City of Culture 2025 - Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. 20 August 2021 . 2021-08-25. en-GB.
- News: 2021-08-20. Armagh makes bid for UK City of Culture. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-08-25.
- Web site: 2021-08-20. Stirling aiming to be named 2025 UK City of Culture. 2021-08-25. 103.1 Central FM. en-US.
- Web site: McNeill. Alastair. 2021-08-25. Partnership formed to take forward Stirling City of Culture bid. 2021-08-25. Daily Record. en.
- News: 2021-07-20. Cross-border City of Culture bid is launched. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-08-24.
- Web site: 13 July 2021. Great Yarmouth Borough and East Suffolk Councils launch exciting bid to become UK City of Culture 2025. 24 August 2021. East Suffolk Council.
- News: 2021-08-11. Banksy-style art is 'endorsement' of City of Culture bid. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-08-14.
- Web site: 19 July 2019. UK City of Culture 2025: Medway announces bid for honour. 15 June 2021. BBC.
- Web site: Ed McConnell. 25 July 2019. Medway's City of Culture bid gets backing. 15 June 2021. Kent Online.
- Web site: 27 November 2019. Lancashire launches UK City of Culture 2025 bid. 15 June 2021. BBC.
- Web site: Olivia Baron. 9 July 2020. Bid for Lancashire to be UK City of Culture in 2025 receives £620k of support. 15 June 2021. Lancashire Live.
- Web site: 29 June 2021. Lancashire scraps UK City of Culture 2025 bid. 30 June 2021. BBC.
- News: 2021-07-02. UK City of Culture 2025: Lancashire axed bid 'should be revived'. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-08-24.
- News: 2021-08-20. UK City of Culture 2025: Lancashire hopes 'uniqueness' could help win title. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-08-24.
- News: 2021-07-19. UK City of Culture 2025: Lancashire submits last-minute bid. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-08-24.
- Web site: UK City of Culture 2025: Exeter and Torquay submit joint bid. 2021-08-25. BBC News. 20 July 2021 . en-GB.
- Web site: Torbay and Exeter launch bid to become City of Culture 2025. 2021-08-25. news.exeter.gov.uk. en-US.
- Web site: Norden. Jasmine. 2021-06-24. Wakefield announces bid for City of Culture 2025. 2021-08-25. YorkshireLive. en.
- Web site: Wakefield City of Culture 2025: Everything you need to know as district bids for UK culture title. 2021-08-25. www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk. en.
- Web site: Media. Insider. Wakefield launches City of Culture bid. 2021-08-25. Insider Media Ltd. 24 June 2021 . en.
- Web site: Wolverhampton bids to become next UK City of Culture City Of Wolverhampton Council. 2021-08-25. www.wolverhampton.gov.uk. 23 July 2021 . en.
- News: 2021-07-22. Wolverhampton enters race to become 2025 UK City of Culture. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-08-25.
- Web site: Rae. Steven. UK City of Culture 2025: Tay Cities unite in first joint title bid. 2021-08-25. The Courier. 20 August 2021 . en-GB.
- News: Wales coach Pivac backs City of Culture bid. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-08-24.
- Web site: Newport makes bid for City of Culture 2025. 2021-08-24. www.newport.gov.uk.
- Web site: Ben Hatton . Could Cambridge, Ely and Peterborough become the joint UK City of Culture in 2025? . Cambridge Independent . 15 June 2021 . 2 June 2021.
- News: Chelmsford sets sights on being UK's City of Culture. Metro. 16 July 2018.
- Web site: Hannah Kane . Chelmsford is preparing a bid to become the City of Culture within a decade . Essex Live . 15 June 2021 . 16 October 2017.
- Web site: Alex Green . Plymouth may submit bid to become UK City of Culture 2025 . Plymouth Live . 15 June 2021 . 8 June 2021.
- Web site: Northampton's UK City of Culture bid to be deferred until 2029. 2021-08-25. www.northamptonchron.co.uk. en.
- News: 'Don't drive through... stop and visit': Council aspires for Northampton to win City of Culture 2025. Northampton Chronicle & Echo. 16 July 2018.
- Web site: Northampton delays its UK City of Culture 2025 bid . . 15 June 2021 . 11 June 2019.
- Web site: James Averill . Northampton's UK City of Culture bid to be deferred until 2029 . . 15 June 2021 . 11 June 2019.
- Web site: Emma Knights . Andrew Stone . Momentum grows for Norwich to bid for UK City of Culture 2025 . . 15 June 2021 . 28 November 2017.
- Web site: Dan Grimmer . Norwich rules out bid to be UK City of Culture 2025 . . 15 June 2021 . 29 May 2021.
- Web site: Tees Valley to bid for City of Culture . Key Cities . 15 June 2021 . July 2015.
- Web site: Sarah Dale . UK City of Culture: Teesside declares intention to bid in 2025 . Teesside Live . 15 June 2021 . 28 July 2015.
- Web site: Dave Robson . Crackers or aspirational? Teesside bid to be City of Culture 2025 gets the go-ahead . Teesside Live . 15 June 2021 . 22 March 2017.
- Web site: Alex Metcalfe . 'We don't need someone to give us a pat on the head': Tees Valley 2025 City of Culture bid is axed . Teesside Live . 15 June 2021 . 10 June 2021.
- Web site: Tees Valley City of Culture 2025 bid dropped . . 15 June 2021 . 11 June 2021.
- News: Luton to bid for City of Culture in 2025. BBC. 16 July 2018.
- Web site: Luton drops bid to become City of Culture 2025 . . 15 June 2021 . 15 January 2020.
- Web site: Councillors drop Luton City of Culture 2025 bid . . 15 June 2021 . 16 January 2020.
- News: 2021-07-07. Gloucester 'serious contender' for UK City of Culture. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-08-24.
- Web site: Gloucester ditches UK City of Culture 2025 bid . . 24 August 2021 . 22 July 2021.