City celebrations as culture race hots up
WORK BEGINS ON THE NEXT STAGE OF SUNDERLAND’S CULTURE BID AFTER CITY MAKES FINAL FIVE IN NATIONAL
Ha’way Sunderland – the city has been celebrating this week after the announcement that we’ve been shortlisted in the competition to be named UK City of Culture 2021.
Sunderland is now in the final stages of the contest and will battle it out against Swansea, Paisley, Coventry and Stoke-on-Trent to win the coveted culture crown.
Work now begins on the second stage bid, which will be submitted in September, before the overall winner is announced in December.
Rebecca Ball, director of Sunderland 2021, said: “This is fantastic news for the city and we couldn’t have done it without the support from the people of Sunderland and the North East. It is down to their support and hard work that we have made it this far.”
Paul Callaghan of the MAC Trust, who are behind the emerging culture quarter in the city centre, said: “Confidence in Sunderland has never been higher. As a city, we are brimming with a pride and passion that runs in our veins.
“Like so many people from Sunderland, I am immensely proud of our city and I do think we have a great chance of bringing this accolade to Sunderland in 2021.
“Reaching the final of this competition is absolutely incredible, and is huge testa- ment to the Sunderland 2021 team, all of those who have worked alongside them to develop the first-stage bid, and most importantly, to the people of Sunderland and the North East, whose enthusiasm has shone through since we announced our intention to go for this title.”
Winning City of Culture status could deliver a multimillion-pound boost to Sunderland.
This year has seen 2017’s UK City of Culture Hull see £1billion in investment since winning the title in 2013. It is estimated Hull’s economy will see a £60million rise in this year alone.
Rather than just celebrating what already exists, the UK City of Culture title is designed to use culture as a catalyst for economic and social regeneration and to raise the profile of arts and creativity.
It also helps cities develop a broader arts and culture sector, as well as attract increased business investment.