Excitement as Sheffield bids to become 'UK City of Culture'
Excitement is mounting after Sheffield was revealed as being in the running to be crowned ‘UK City of Culture’ 2029.
City leaders say the nod is important recognition of the city’s ambition to showcase its creativity, talent and identity on a “national and international stage”.
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As part of the selection process each nominated city will now receive £60,000 to develop a full bid.
Other locations include Blackpool, Inverness and the Highlands, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Swindon and Wrexham.
Councillor Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said the council was “incredibly proud.” He added: “Sheffield inspires and our city has always been powered by creativity.
“We don’t just put culture on a stage, we live it, make it and share it with the world. Grown from the ground up, our culture is shaped by everyone that calls Sheffield home.”
Sheffield city council, citing the city’s legendary music legacy, says its creative sector is one of the fastest growing in the UK.
Nearly 25,000 creatives live and work in the city and wider region, contributing over £1bn a year to the economy.
A council spokesperson said the longlisting recognised the “excellent” work already underway in the city, including music education Harmony Works, Fargate cultural hub Events Central and growth planned for the Castlegate heritage quarter.
Sheffield will now begin developing its full bid and working with partners across the city to shape a programme that is ”bold, inclusive and transformative”, says the council.
The UK City of Culture 2029 winner is expected to be announced later this year.
Reacting to the news, Professor Vanessa Toulmin, director of city, culture and public engagement at the University of Sheffield, said: “Culture and creativity are at the heart of our great city, and this is a wonderful opportunity to show the world that we have the talent, passion and cultural vibrancy to match our ambition.
“Our spirit of home-grown independence sets us apart from many of our counterparts - something that sees us consistently lead the way and punch above our weight on the global stage.
“From our students and colleagues to the people of Sheffield, our cultural offer is incredibly important in bringing people together, attracting visitors to the city, growing the regional economy and creating high-quality jobs.
“We look forward to building on our successes and working with our partners, creatives and communities across Sheffield to turn our City of Culture ambition into a reality.”