Sheffield and Barnsley are bidding to be crowned the UK's first City Of Culture.
They were yesterday named on the final list of 14 bidders fighting it out become the inaugural City of Culture in 2013.
They will be competing against each other, as well as Hull, Birmingham, Ipswich and the Haven Gateway, Carlisle, Norwich, Chich
ester, Portsmouth and Southampton, Cornwall, Derry, Southend, Durham and Swansea.
There is no predetermined minimum size of population but bid areas must be able to provide a concentrated programme of cultural activities.The winner of the competition, which will be held every four years, will be the location for flagship national events normally held in London - such as the Brits music awards, the Turner Prize and the Bafta TV awards.
The idea was sparked by the success of Liverpool in its year as European Capital of Culture.
One of the seven-strong panel who will assess the merits of the two South Yorkshire bids is Lauren Laverne, a TV presenter, DJ and former singer with indie group Kenickie.
The panel also includes TV writer Phil Redmond - the creator of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks and the creative director of Liverpool's European Capital of Culture year.
It will in February to consider the bids and recommend a short-list to the Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw early in the spring.
He is likely to announce the winner before the general election, expected in May.
Culture Minister Margaret Hodge yesterday said: "Culture changes people's lives and has the power to transform cities and economies.
"This was brilliantly demonstrated by Liverpool last year.
"Becoming City of Culture will help bring people together, both locally and from all over the country, to share experiences of something challenging, enlightening – and sometimes just good fun.
"These 14 bidding areas now have a wonderful opportunity to bring culture into the heart - and to the forefront - of their communities and the country as a whole, pulling in investment and boosting tourism."
Other members of the panel are: Derrick Anderson, chief executive of Lambeth Council, Prof John Ashton, the director of public health in the North West, Anna Carragher, a former controller of BBC Northern Ireland, Margaret Evans, formerly the director of Culture at the Welsh Assembly, Rotha Johnston, an entrepreneur, and Robert Palmer, director at the Council of Europe.
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