A record 20 places from across the UK have submitted an expression of interest to become the UK City of Culture 2025, an all-time high of entries for the competition.
The competition, delivered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in collaboration with the devolved administrations, uses culture as a catalyst for levelling up areas outside London and putting new parts of the UK on the cultural map internationally.
Entrants have been tasked with proving that they can put culture at the heart of their plans to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Regions and groups of towns have been encouraged to apply, with a number stepping forward from across the UK.
Bidding for the title in its own right has been shown to have a hugely positive impact on a place.
For example, previous longlisted bids have used the bidding process to bring together lasting local, national and international partners, share a vision for their area and attract investment.
To ensure as many places as possible across the country can take up this opportunity, DCMS are awarding grants of £40,000 to successful longlisted places for the first time to support their long applications.
The winner, which will be announced next year, will take on the baton from Coventry, the 2021 UK City of Culture, and be at the centre of the UK’s cultural spotlight in 2025.
The government said the benefits to the winner of the title are ‘huge’, as it attracts millions of visitors and investment, as well as bringing communities together to showcase the place where they live to the country and the world.
Throughout the history of the competition, the winning cities have always benefited from financial support to ensure the programme’s success and lasting legacy.
Coventry has received over £15.5m from the government to directly support its year as UK City of Culture.
Commenting, Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden said:
“This record number of applications from all four corners of the country is testament to the huge success of City of Culture in generating investment, creating jobs and boosting local pride.
“This prestigious prize creates a fantastic opportunity for towns and cities to build back better from the pandemic and I wish all bidders the very best of luck.”
Chair of the City of Culture Expert Advisory Panel, Sir Phil Redmond added:
“From Derry-Londonderry to Hull and Coventry, it has been a difficult and rewarding challenge to select the next UK City of Culture and the list of potential candidates for 2025 indicates that life in the immediate future is going to be even more challenging.
“The three previous title holders have demonstrated the transformative and catalytic effect culture can bring about, even within places that have been ultimately unsuccessful, but have gone on to develop collaborative and sustainable partnerships.
“The list for 2025 also demonstrates the breadth of ambition, aspiration and innovation that exists from coast to coast and nation to nation across the UK and I am looking forward to that challenge of immersing myself once again in the UK’s rich seam of creativity.”
Coventry as the UK City of Culture 2021 is providing a blueprint for how culture can be at the heart of social and economic recovery.
The city has already attracted over £100m so far in capital investment to support cultural projects, such as Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Cathedral and Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, among many others.
City of Culture status also had a huge impact on Hull and Derry-Londonderry.
Hull saw more than 5.3 million visits to over 2,800 events, cultural activities, installations and exhibitions when it was UK City of Culture.
75% of those who visited Hull in 2017 stated that it changed their perception of the city for the better and nine out of ten people in Hull thought that UK City of Culture had a positive impact on the city.
Also, more than 90% of Hull’s residents took part in at least one cultural activity during this period.
The twenty bidders will be reduced to an initial longlist of bidders in the coming weeks and then cut down further to a final shortlist in early 2022.
The winner will be announced in May 2022.
Full list of bidders by UK nation/English region:
Scotland
Stirling: The Tay Cities region
Scotland and North East/North West England
The Borderlands region (comprising Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, Northumberland, Cumbria and Carlisle City)
North East England
County Durham
North West England
Lancashire
Yorkshire and the Humber
Bradford: Wakefield District
East Midlands
Derby
West Midlands
City of Wolverhampton
East of England
Great Yarmouth and East Suffolk
South East England
Medway: Southampton
South West England
Cornwall: Torbay and Exeter
Wales
The City of Bangor and Northwest Wales: Conwy County: City of Newport: Powys: Wrexham County Borough
Northern Ireland
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
