ARTS minister John Glen is visiting the new UK City of Culture 2021 today, as the winning bid adviser said: “The world is looking at Coventry now. Nobody will be sent here, they’re just going to come.”
Those words came from the successful bid adviser, Andrew Dixon, as it was confirmed the arts minister will be here today to find out more about the city which has been handed the baton from Hull.
The city’s bid “impressed the judges with its focus on youth, diversity and the scale of impact not only in Coventry but across the UK as a whole,” said Mr Glen’s department.
It added: “The minister will meet the bid team to congratulate them and find out more about the new City of Culture and the projects that will be developed over the next four years. He will see the FarGo Creative village, Herbert Art Gallery and Museum and the Cathedral.”
Mr Dixon also said: “Coventry has been underrated and undervalued but it won’t be now.”
He said the spotlight would be on the city for seven years.
Phil Redmond, the chair of judges and former TV screenwriter of ground-breaking soap Brookside, said Coventry’s bid had something ‘special’.
He added: “All five cities could have returned a great year. This is the start of the hard work. There’s now a clear sense of responsibility. You’ve got to push the bar above what these guys (Hull) have done.”
