When two tribes go to war...

Perth and Paisley bid for City of Culture title

TWO Scottish communities are battling it out to be named UK City of Culture 2021.

Paisley and Perth are rivals for the prestigious accolade which brings with it a huge economic boost.

Both contenders have already shown they are serious about claiming the title by spending millions on culture. And today we examine both bids, with the case for each camp put by a key proponent.

There is a significant legacy to be claimed, as shown by the many towns and cities which have thrived after receiving similar awards.

Glasgow’s fortunes were transformed after it was named European City of Culture in 1990.

Now, it is the third most-visited city in the UK, has a booming nightlife and retail sector, and has hosted the Commonwealth Games.

It attracts four million visitors every year, compared to tens of thousands before it secured City of Culture status.

During the city’s seven-year campaign for the title £32 million was spent, including £5.1m on community events and £3.7m on social work and education.

The UK title, established to rival the European award, is similarly beneficial. Bid chiefs in Hull, which won the bid for 2017, estimated that for every £1 invested, £5 would be generated for the local economy.

It’s no wonder, then, that a clutch of cities such as Coventry, Hereford, Sunderland and Stokeon-Trent are vying for the title.

And the Scottish rivals have already demonstrated their commitment to the culture cause.

Perth Theatre is undergoing a £16.6m renovation while Paisley

has allocated £56.7m to transform the town’s museum.

Perth Provost Liz Grant said the city had “a fantastic wealth of culture and heritage as well as a distinctive cultural landscape”.

She added: “The bid will allow us to cultivate new talent and make the area a place where artists, the creative industries and business innovation can flourish.

“It is a great opportunity to showcase and further amplify our unique character.

“We have two world-class venues in the heart of the city of Perth: Perth Concert Hall which has just celebrated its tenth anniversary and Perth Theatre which will reopen in 2017 following restoration and redevelopment.

“With our varied entertainment programme and extensive creative learning activity throughout the community, Perth is well-placed to be the UK City of Culture in 2021.”

Renfrewshire Council leader Mark Macmillan said: “We would use UK City of Culture 2021 to turbo-charge our plans to tackle third and fourth-generation poverty and deprivation, by recognising the intrinsic value of culture, and the nourishing impact of culture on children and families experiencing the greatest hardship in our communities.”