IN IT TO WIN IT: CULTURE BID VOW
FIVE-WAY CONTEST FOR CITY PRIZE
Politicians, arts chiefs and business leaders have reacted with delight after Sunderland was shortlisted in the final five in the bidding to be named UK City of Culture 2021.
Swansea, Paisley, Coventry and Stoke are Sunderland’s rivals for the accolade, with the winner being announced in December.
Having made the final five, work is under way on Sunderland’s second stage, which will now be submitted in September.
Rebecca Ball, director of Sunderland 2021, said: “It is a huge achievement to get to this stage of what has been an extremely-competitive process.
“We are delighted to have come this far, but we don’t have time to be complacent, we are very much in it to win it and there is much to be done to prepare for the next stage of the competition.”
Winning the contest could trigger an economic boost for Sunderland. Hull, named 2017 UK City of Culture, has seen £1billion in investment since it was crowned as winner.
Julie Elliott, MP for Sunderland Central, said: “We must now focus our energy on the second stage of the bid, bringing together all communities in our city to show what brilliant cultural assets we already have and what opportunities are available to us in the future.
“We are a special city with a bright cultural future and are right to be excited by the potential of this bid.”
Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West, said: “We have so much to offer as a beacon of culture for not only the North East, but also the wider UK and indeed the world.
“This is Sunderland’s opportunity to be put on the map as a top cultural destination, and I – like many others in Sunderland – will continue to back the bid and support the team working to achieve this accolade.”
Coun Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Sunderland has a unique energy and ambition, making it the perfect contender for UK City of Culture.”
“We are very much in it to win it, there is much to be done” REBECCA BALL