UK City of Culture contestants down to 22
There are now 22 bids in the running to become the UK’s first ‘City of Culture’ in 2013, down from 29 in September, as final deadline for applications approaches next month.
In September, as many as 29 cities were said to have expressed an interest in competing for the title. However, a number have now withdrawn from the contest, with only 22 so far putting in outline applications.
The final date for initial bids is December 11. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is so far considering applications from Aberdeen, Barnsley, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton and Hove, Cheshire West and Chester, Chichester, Cornwall, Derry, Durham, Gloucester and Cheltenham, Hull and East Yorkshire, Ipswich and the Haven Gateway, Lancaster, ManchesterSalford, Norwich, Pennine Lancashire, Portsmouth and Southampton, Sheffield, Southend-on-Sea, Swansea Bay, and Wakefield.
Culture minister Margaret Hodge commented: “The UK City of Culture competition has caught the imagination of people all over the country. The city or place winning the title for 2013 will enjoy a golden opportunity to have the spotlight of national attention focused on them. They will have the chance to show the rest of the UK what they have to offer. So there’s everything to play for, and the prospect of a really good competition in the weeks to come. I can’t wait to see what each place has to offer, and which ones go into the next round.”
A shortlist will be drawn up in January 2010 and those chosen will have until May 28, 2010 to submit a full and final bid. The winning city or place will be announced in the summer.
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