MSP urges Capital of Culture bid cities to link up for arts events

A Conservative MSP has called on Dundee to team up with the other cities that were bidding for the 2023 European Capital of Culture title and create their own festival.

Dundee was one of five cities which had been vying for the title.

However, their hopes were dashed in November when the European Commission ruled that British cities could not take part because of Brexit.

The bid teams were preparing to make their pitches to competition judges in London when the plug was pulled.

The City of Discovery was competing against Leeds, Milton Keynes, Belfast and Nottingham for the title.

More than £350,000 had been spent putting Dundee’s bid together while Leeds spent more than £800,000 on its entry.

The disappointment has prompted Leeds council leader Judith Blake to suggest the bid cities work together to produce their own events in response to the snub.

The Labour councillor said: “We’re very keen to keep working with the other four cities. There’s the possibility that if the other cities decide to do similar things that we could have some really good events going on together.”

All of the bid teams are currently in discussion with the Department of Media, Culture and Sport about how to take their respective bids forward, even after the disappointment of the EU decision.

North East Scotland MSP Bill Bowman has given his backing to the proposals for the five cities to work together on some projects.

He said: “I was delighted to hear Leeds take such a positive approach out of such a disappointing decision by the European Commission.

“This was despite the fact that other countries outside the EU have won the competition.

“Dundee’s bid writers spent thousands of hours preparing for a great result.

“The city council leader should get in touch with his Leeds colleague Judith Blake, who has expressed great willingness for other cities to come on board.

“Imagine a UK arts tour connecting Nottingham, Milton Keynes and Belfast to our two cities.”

Piotr Gudan, of Outdoor Explore, says there will be a much larger market for businesses to target when the new museum opens. Picture: Kim Cessford.