UK City of Culture

UK City of Culture is a designation given to a city in the United Kingdom for a period of one year. The aim of the initiative, which is administered by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, is to "build on the success of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture 2008, which had significant social and economic benefits for the area".[1] The inaugural holder of the award will be Derry in 2013.

Contents

History

Establishment

In January 2009, it was announced that then Culture Secretary Andy Burnham was considering establishing a British City of Culture prize and that the winning city might host events such as the Turner Prize, Brit Awards, Man Booker Prize and the Sterling Prize. Phil Redmond was invited to chair a panel set up to consider the proposal, with a remit including deciding how often the prize should be awarded.[2] A working group was established in March and reported in June 2009, suggesting that the designation be given to a city once every four years starting in 2013.[3]

The working group stated in its report that the same calendar of events, such as hosting the Brit Awards, should not be staged by each designated City of Culture. Rather, they suggested that the events held in the city should be decided on a case-by-case basis. The report lists possible core events, including those run by the BBC, Sony, the Poetry Book Society, the UK Film Council, the Tate, VisitEngland, VisitBritain, the Museums Association, the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, Channel 4 and the Arts Council England.[3]

First competition

Following the report of the working group, Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw announced a competition to select the first UK City of Culture in July 2009. The deadline for initial bids was 11 December 2009, with shortlisted cities having until 28 May to make their final bids.[4] A total of 14 cities applied, with four (Birmingham, Derry, Norwich and Sheffield) shortlisted.[5] It was announced in July 2010 that the first UK City of Culture will be Derry, in Northern Ireland, in 2013.[6]

Future years

After 2013, the next UK City of Culture will hold the title during 2017. Local officials from Derby and Stoke-on-Trent have suggested that those cities may bid for the 2017 title.[7][8]

Designated cities

Year Winning city Other shortlisted cities Date announced
2013 Derry Birmingham, Norwich, Sheffield 15 July 2010[6]
2017 TBA TBA

References

  1. ^ "Derry/Londonderry will be UK City of Culture 2013". Department for Culture, Media and Sport. http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/communities_and_local_government/6015.aspx. Retrieved 7 September 2010. 
  2. ^ Jones, Rebecca (7 January 2009). "Plans for British City of Culture". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7814379.stm. Retrieved 7 September 2010. 
  3. ^ a b "UK City of Culture: Working Group Report". Department for Culture, Media and Sport. June 2009. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/ukcc_workinggroupreport.pdf. Retrieved 7 September 2010. 
  4. ^ "The race is on to find UK's first 'City of Culture' for 2013". Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 14 July 2009. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/6256.aspx. Retrieved 7 September 2010. 
  5. ^ "Four UK cities make culture title shortlist". BBC News. 24 February 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8534425.stm. Retrieved 7 September 2010. 
  6. ^ a b "Londonderry named the UK City of Culture". BBC News. 15 July 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-10653989. Retrieved 7 September 2010. 
  7. ^ "Derby considers UK Capital of Culture title bid". BBC News. 9 February 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/8505790.stm. Retrieved 7 September 2010. 
  8. ^ "City to make bid to be UK Capital Of Culture". The Sentinel. 19 May 2010. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/City-make-bid-UK-Capital-Culture/article-1003449-detail/article.html. Retrieved 7 September 2010. 

External links