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Phil Redmond to be Chairman of judging panel Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw today announced that 29 cities and local areas from across the UK have already put themselves forward as potential candidates to become the first ever UK City of Culture in 2013.

These include Aberdeen, Barnsley, Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton & Hove, Carlisle, Chester, Chichester, Chorley Council, City of Bath, Cornwall, County Durham, Derby, Derry City, Gloucester & Cheltenham, Hull, Ipswich & Haven Gateway, Leicester City, Manchester, Norwich, Oxford, Pennine Lancashire, Reading, Sheffield, ‘The Countryside’, Urban South Hampshire and Wakefield.

One other city has put its name forward but would prefer not to be named at this stage.

The winning place, to be announced next spring, will host big ticket national cultural events, as well as putting on a year-long programme of their own.

Ben Bradshaw also announced that Phil Redmond, the architect of Liverpool’s highly successful year as European capital of Culture in 2008 will chair the judging panel for the City of Culture competition.

Ben Bradshaw said:

“This is a fantastic response. Liverpool’s experience last year proves that cultural life most definitely does not begin and end within the M25. It also shows that a cultural spotlight on a city can have a fantastic effect on inward investment, and give a real lift to local morale and community spirit. And with a number of eye-catching national events set to locate to the winning city during ‘their’ year, I’m sure that even more bids will come in before the final deadline at the end of the year.”

The cities that have come forward so far will attend a seminar today (Thursday 10 september) in Liverpool in which key members of the team behind Liverpool 08 will explain what was behind their success, and potential bidders will receive one-to-one advice on how to prepare for the next stage.

Phil Redmond said:

“To be offered the job of Chairing the Judging Panel is another great privilege for me personally but another testimony to everyone who made Liverpool 2008 the most successful Capital of Culture to date.

“The key message we will be offering on Sept 10th is the power of collective working. Liverpool made 2008 what it was by defining culture as a collective endeavour that focused everyone on one common agenda. That is what we will be encouraging. Defining how each individual ‘city’ can define culture as a collective endeavour to bring about real step change.“

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Ben Bradshaw announced the launch of this competition in July 2009 (DCMS Press notice 97\09): http ://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/6256.aspx

2. We expect bids to be from a partnership from the city or area. This will need to include the relevant local authorities, with a lead organisation (normally a local authority) for the purposes of communication during the bidding process. The definition of ‘city’ is intended to be flexible – what matters is the ability of the host to deliver a substantial programme of cultural activity in 2013, that can demonstrably lead to a step change in the area. There must be a clear central focus to the area, although part of the programme can be delivered in a wider hinterland (as was the case in Liverpool, Capital of Culture 2008). The location that is bidding should have a clear identity for visitors: a city and its hinterland, or a closely linked set of urban areas.

3. The Government welcomes bids from all areas of the UK. The only areas precluded from bidding (at least for 2013) are London as a whole or any part of London. The Government wants the inaugural UK City of Culture to be outside London, not least as the capital will have celebrated the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games the year before.

4. Bids will be assessed in terms of the ability of the proposed City of Culture programme to make a step change in that city. Culture will not be narrowly defined but bidding cities will be asked to spell out their own vision for City of Culture and how they will use that in making a step change. Bidders will need to demonstrate:

a. A high quality cultural programme that reaches a wide variety of audiences, and is a fitting follow-on from Liverpool Capital of Culture and the Cultural Olympiad;

b. A programme that uses culture to lead to lasting social regeneration by engagement, widening participation and supporting cultural diversity;

c. A demonstrable and significant economic impact from the programme;

d. Credibility in their plans (including support from key partners) and track record in delivery; and

e. A clear approach to maximising legacy and being able to evaluate impact.

5. It will be up to bidders to find the necessary resources for bidding from their existing budgets and those of partners. DCMS have engaged the support of Regeneris Consulting to act as expert assessors throughout the process. Regeneris will be providing support to all bidders on understanding and interpreting the bidding guidance. Any information passed on to a potential bidder will be made available to all bidders in due course.

6. The winning city will be provided with the title of UK City of Culture for their year, and given rights to the UK City of Culture brand, with scope to tailor it to their own city if desired.

7. A guidance note for cities wishing to bid was also published today: http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/UkCoC-Bidding_Guidance.pdf

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Contacts:

DCMS Press Enquiries and Out of hours telephone pager
Phone: 020 7211 6263
Mobile: 07699 751153
NDS.DCMS@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Toby Sargent.
Phone: 020 72116276
toby.sargent@culture.gsi.gov.uk