There is always so much positive news to shout about in Plymouth, and this is no exception. We are bidding to become the 2029 UK City of Culture, a real chance to put ourselves on the culture map for once and for all.
I always says that in Plymouth we are not good at telling our story, we hide our light under a bushel then we hide the bushel, well this shows that that is changing.
We have had a decade of sustained investment into arts and culture in the city, our time is now. Securing the title will give Plymouth the opportunity to celebrate the people and places that make the city so vibrant, while supporting the city’s wider ambitions for inclusive growth and regeneration. Plymouth City of Culture 2029 will celebrate our proud city shaped by the sea and its dynamic histories.
The prestigious national competition is led by the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and runs every four years. Bradford currently holds the title, with previous winners including Derry/Londonderry (2013), Hull (2017) and Coventry (2021).
Longlisted places will receive £60,000 to support the development of their bids, with the overall winner receiving £10 million in prize funding. The competition has a strong track record of unlocking long-term cultural, social and economic benefits for places, helping to drive regeneration, civic pride and inclusive growth.
Experience from previous host cities shows that the title can also help attract significant additional investment, supporting jobs, skills, infrastructure and community development well beyond the programme year itself.
We have brilliant events here in the city, from the Theatre Royal Plymouth, to The Box and our Summer Sessions on the Hoe. Plymouth has been home to several wonderful artists, including Joshua Reynolds, Beryl Cook (currently an exhibition of her work at The Box), and Robert Lenkiewicz as well as many more.
We should all the Backing the Bid and shouting about our fantastic cultural offer here in Plymouth!