Valley could form a culture club to put on capital show
Keeping a close eye on life in the Valley
WHEN Liverpool won European Capital of Culture status in 2008, there were many people quick to sneer.
Liverpool is a city which conjures many caricatures in the minds of some, and they weren’t slow to question whether the Mersey city could rise to the occasion.
But rise it did, after a few false starts, and by the time 2008 arrived the city showed it could achieve what some felt was impossible - a year of events which both celebrated the city but which also showed the city could surprise and delight even the most high brow of culture fan.
At the weekend, the Government fired the starting gun on the race to be UK City of Culture 2025, an honour which has so far been bestowed on DerryLondonderry, Hull and Coventry.
What caught the eye about culture secretary Oliver Dowden’s announcement was that entries aren’t restricted only to cities this time.
For the first time, groups of towns will now be able to join together and apply for the title to be awarded to their local area - widening the scope of which areas of the country could benefit.
According to Mr Dowden, towns and cities will need to ‘articulate a strong and unique vision for their future growth’, celebrating local heritage and using culture to bring communities together, build a sense of place and inspire local pride.
Bidders will also be asked to demonstrate how investment in culture and creativity will drive growth, how they will open up access to culture and to develop partnerships and celebrate links with places across the UK.
It might be a stretch to imagine the main towns of Rossendale clubbing together and seeing off competition from established cities, but why not a bid from Pennine Lancashire - the marketing name for East Lancashire? Or a Lancashire- wide bid?
Mr Dowden was keen to stress that the 2025 contest winner would also be an area which would benefit from levelling up culture.
Culture swirls all around us in Lancashire, but could we do with a boost to make the most of it and help make it a vital part of our economy?
You bet.
Indeed, the whole ‘ levelling up’ agenda is built around the premise of creating opportunities away from the South East, and increasingly from major cities too.
Lancashire has a fantastic story from the past to tell here, which can guide what happens in the future.
The Industrial Revolution forged the Lancashire we know today, becoming world-leading and harnessing natural energy - water - to become a powerhouse for industry.
It wasn’t without horrific activity attached to it, notably the slave trade the cotton industry relied on globally and worker conditions in areas like Rossendale - but it is a part of the UK’s heritage which often goes untold.
There are fantastic cultural groups across Lancashire, and brilliant venues too, from the bigger venues in Blackburn, Preston and Blackpool through to brilliant community venues like the Boo in Waterfoot.
There’s so much Lancashire could do in a year of events and activities to showcase the whole county, bring in visitors and provide a long- lasting legacy for culture.
Already, our annual calendar is packed full of events which show what Lancashire can do.
Just imagine what making Lancashire ‘city of culture’ could do. It could be amazing. But it would involve our councils working together and creating a vision which would stun Government, and show what levelling up should really be about.