ONE of the city’s oldest and top sporting teams is backing the bid and supporting Coventry’s campaign to become UK City of Culture in 2021.
Coventry vying to become the UK City of Culture in 2021 has the potential to showcase the outstanding qualities the city can offer, with its wide range of talent in the fields of sport, arts and culture.
For this reason, Coventry City Football Club has joined the 2021 Club, in support of the bid.
If successful, it will bring significant economic and cultural benefits to Coventry and our region. It is estimated that being the UK City of Culture 2017 will deliver £60million to Hull’s economy this year alone.
The League One club have pledged their full support and are urging Sky Blues fans and businesses to do the same and back the bid.
The bid is being run by Coventry City of Culture Trust, an independent charity that has been set up to manage the process and take the city on this exciting journey.
CCFC’s commercial manager Tynan Scope said: “I am delighted that we can be a part of the bidding process for the City of Culture in 2021.
“This City has a wealth of talent and culture for people to experience, and we feel it is our duty to help promote that to a wider audience. It is an exciting journey and one we look very much forward to being a part of.”
David Burbidge, the chair of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, commented that the support from the city – and the region – had been incredible so far but now was time to step up a gear.
He added: “We have been doing a huge amount of work in the run up to putting the bid in this year.
“A massive amount of research into the city has been undertaken from a cultural, economic and social point of view so we know exactly what we want City of Culture to achieve for Coventry.
“And the truth is Coventry doesn’t only want to be City of Culture in 2021 – it very much needs this opportunity to help to tackle some of the inequalities that remain and to turn round the city’s visitor economy.
“It would bring so many benefits to the city and the West Midlands. Places like Glasgow, Manchester, Hull and Liverpool have shown how perceptions of the north can be changed. The time is right for the Midlands to stand up and deliver.”
What is the City of Culture?
City of Culture is a competition run by the Department of Culture Media and Sport every four years. Previous winners are Derry/Londonderry in 2013 and Hull who have their year in 2017.
We expect that initial bids will be submitted in spring 2017 with four shortlisted cities being taken forward to a final round in Autumn 2017 with the winner announced at the end of the year.
The winning city will then spend the following years preparing to host one of the largest events in the UK calendar as the world watches.
What to expect
Expect the unexpected! Winning City of Culture 2021 will transform your city forever. The young people that are in our schools right now will grow up in a city with more job prospects, a thriving programme of events to enjoy, more places to eat, shop and visit with a bustling city centre. It’s a lot more than a year of cultural celebration (although trust us, that year will be unforgettable!), it’s about changing the reputation of a city.
We urge you to keep an eye on the news as Hull becomes City of Culture in 2017 and watch just what a difference this will make.
Heritage
Although known for being one of the cities that was worst hit during the bombings in World War II, Coventry has a rich heritage and is full of hidden wonders. Did you know that Coventry was capital of England, not once, but twice?
From the invention of the jet engine, to ribbon weaving and watchmaking, and of course being the centre of the motor industry, our city has constantly re-invented itself to survive and that appetite for invention remains today and will drive us as we bid to be UK City of Culture 2021.
Culture
From Warwick Arts Centre and the Belgrade Theatre to the UK’s first Shop Front Theatre, the Tin Music and Arts, Coventry Cathedral and the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum there is already lots to do and see in the city. Winning UK City of Culture will give us the opportunity to not only showcase and enhance the organisations that we already have but will help nurture new creative industries.
The city also boasts the UK’s largest free family festival with the Coventry Godiva Festival.
Backing The Bid
If you would like more information on how to get involved, please visit the bid’s official website: www.coventry2021.co.uk/
