Race to become the UK’s
first City of Culture hots up as Final Fourteen become Fantastic Four
Culture Minister
Margaret Hodge today announced the final four cities vying to
become the UK’s first City of Culture in 2013. They are
Birmingham, Derry/Londonderry, Norwich and Sheffield. They were
shortlisted by an independent judging panel, whose recommendations
were accepted by Secretary of State Ben Bradshaw. The panel will
also make the final recommendation on the winning bid, with that
city to be announced in the summer.
Margaret Hodge said:
“Huge congratulations to the four cities in the final running for
the 2013 UK City of Culture. It’s a testament to their hard work –
and dedication to culture – that they’ve come so far in what has
proven to be a very tough competition. I’m really pleased that we
attracted such a strong and varied field. It just goes to show the
richness of culture across the UK.
“I was very impressed with all fourteen bids and, for those not
shortlisted, I would say take heart from what you’ve achieved and
continue to work on creating a cultural offer which can be enjoyed
by all and which will help to make your cities even more
attractive places in which to live and work”.
Phil Redmond, Chair of the Independent Advisory Panel, said:
“The Panel had both a stimulating but difficult task in
suggesting the short-list as all 14 bidders had realised impact of
becoming the UK’s first City of Culture and what that would bring,
not least the media exposure that would accompany it. This in
itself was a great endorsement for the project as a whole.
In deciding on the four cities recommended - Derry/Londonderry,
Birmingham, Norwich, and Sheffield – the panel was influenced by
the expected step change each city was asked to envisage, if they
gained the title and subsequent media spotlight.
It was a hard choice but also heartening that all bidders had
recognised the power of culture to bring people together; to work
collectively within existing resources for a common goal and bring
into being networks that may not have existed before.
For those not on the shortlist that is still a powerful and
valuable achievement, with a reminder that 2013 is only the first
time the title will be awarded. 2017 is not that far away!”
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Further information on the bidding process thus far can be
found in DCMS press notice 097/09: http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/6256.aspx.
You can find the formal bidding process information on the
DCMS website at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/UkCoC-Bidding_Guidance.pdf
2. The successful host city will be provided with the title
of UK City of Culture for their year, and given rights to the UK
City of Culture brand, with scope to tailor it to their own city
if desired.
3. The timeline for next steps is as follows:
* End Feb –
all cities will received feedback on their initial bids. Full and
final bidding guidance for shortlisted cities will be published
* End May – the deadline for full and final bid documentation
from the short-listed cities
* Summer – the Advisory Panel will receive presentations from
the shortlisted cities and will make their final recommendation to
the Secretary of State for the winner of UK City of Culture in 2013
4. Some key facts and statistics about Liverpool’s year as
European Capital of Culture in 42008, supplied by the Liverpool
Culture Company, is available at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/Reference_library/City_of_Culture_Liverpoolbynumbers.pdf
5. Frequently Asked Questions and other relevant
documentation can be found on the DCMS website at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/communities_and_local_government/6015.aspx
6. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has
appointed an Independent Advisory Panel to review bids for the UK
City of Culture programme. The membership of the Panel is broadly
drawn to include cultural, broadcasting, regeneration, Local
Government, and wider business expertise. The members include
representatives from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and
England. The Independent Advisory Panel will be supported by a
project team within DCMS.
7. The Panel is invited to:
(i) Review the initial bids in February 2010 and make a
recommendation to the Secretary of State on the cities to
shortlist. These initial bids will be submitted by 11th December
2009 and will be assessed in detail by our appointed expert
assessors, Regeneris, in accordance with agreed criteria and
guidance. The best scoring bids will be presented to the
Independent Advisory Panel in January 2010.
(ii) Review the final bids from the shortlisted cities in June
2010 before making a final recommendation for the 2013 UK City of
Culture to the Secretary of State.
8. The Panel is expected to make considered and objective
recommendations to the Secretary of State, who is responsible for
final decisions. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport must
be made aware of any potential conflicts of interest.
9. Panel members will be required to commit to 4 days, which will
be scheduled according to the availability of the Panel members (1
day in December 2009 for an induction with Regeneris; 1 day in
early February 2010 to review the initial bids; and 2 days in June
2010 to receive presentations from the shortlisted bidders and to
review the final bids). The Panel will receive presentations from
the shortlisted bidders before making their final recommendation.
In addition to these 4 days, Panel members will be required to
dedicate some time to reading the cities’ bids before these
meetings.
10. Short biographies of the members of the Independent Advisory
Panel are as follows:
Prof Phil Redmond CBE (Chair)
Phil Redmond CBE founded Mersey Television in 1981 which
rapidly became one of Britain's biggest permanent
employer in the independent production sector. He is a Fellow of
Liverpool John Moores University where he is also a Member of the
Board of Trustees and Chair of the International Centre for
Digital Content. Phil Redmond became Chair, National Museums
Liverpool in August 2008.
He was Deputy Chair of the Liverpool Culture Company board 2008
and was Creative Director of Liverpool’s year as European Capital
of Culture in 2008. Phil Redmond Chaired the Working Group which
advised on the desirability and feasibility of the UK City of
Culture proposal.
Derrick Anderson CBE
Derrick
Anderson CBE is the Chief Executive of Lambeth Council and has
twenty-five years' management experience in local
government. He was awarded a CBE for services to local government
in January 2003 and holds honorary doctorates from Staffordshire
University for work on social inclusion and cultural policy and
from Birmingham University.
Derrick is currently Committee Member of Voluntary Service
Overseas (VSO) UK Committee and Vice President of UK Youth, and
his past engagements include: Non-executive director on the Home
Office Board; Board Member of Sport England – London; Member of
Arts Council England; Secretary Black Country Local Authority
Consortium 2000-04; Non Executive Director West Midlands Passenger
Transport Executive; Non-Executive Director of the 2012 Olympic
Bid Company and Chair of Sports England West Midlands 2004-06.
Prof John Ashton CBE
Professor
John R Ashton CBE is Director of Public Health and County Medical
Officer, Cumbria PCT. He holds chairs in the Liverpool Medical
School, Liverpool John Moores University, the Liverpool School of
Tropical Medicine, Manchester Medical School and the Valencia
Institute of Public Health in Spain.
He was awarded the CBE in the Millennium New Year’s honours list
for service to the NHS. His work primarily covers the North West,
and he is based in Manchester and lives in Liverpool.
Anna Carragher Anna Carragher was Controller
of BBC Northern Ireland from 2001 to 2006, and Head of Programmes
for BBC Northern Ireland from 1995 to 2001. She has worked as a
journalist and producer for the BBC in London and Northern Ireland
on programmes including; Today, Newsnight, Question Time and Any
Questions and as Editor of European and Correspondent Programmes.
She has been Chair of the Grand Opera House Trust in Belfast
since April 2007 and a Trustee since 2001. She is also currently a
member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
Margaret Evans Margaret Evans was formerly
the Director of Culture, Welsh Language and Sport at the Welsh
Assembly Government (now retired). She has extensive experience
and knowledge of the arts sector in Wales and the UK as a whole,
and was involved in Cardiff's bid for European Capital of
Culture.
She currently sits on the Advisory Panel of the UWIC (University
of Wales Institute, Cardiff) School of Art and Design, is a
Trustee of National Dance Company Wales, and former Director of
The Prince's Trust Volunteers for Wales and the West.
Lauren Laverne
Lauren Laverne
began her career in indie band Kenickie while still at school.
Following the group's split in 1998 Lauren moved into
broadcasting. In radio her highly acclaimed stint as a DJ for
leading London radio station XFM was followed by a move to BBC
6Music, where she has just started a new daily show.
Lauren also has successful and varied on-screen career,
presenting TV shows such as Transmission, The Culture Show, Style
on Trial and coverage from music events including Glastonbury and
The Mercury Prize.
She has a weekly column in Grazia magazine and is currently
writing her first book.
Rotha Johnston CBE
Rotha
Johnston CBE is an entrepreneur in commerce and property, with
extensive experience in the public and private sectors. She was
awarded a CBE in 2005 for services to business.
She is the BBC Trustee for Northern Ireland. She combines various
non-executive directorships with her role as Trustee and stepped
down as Deputy Chair of Invest Northern Ireland (the Economic
Development Agency for Northern Ireland) in March 2009.
Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer is
currently Chair of Visiting Arts (London) and Director of Culture
and Cultural and National Heritage at the Council of Europe
(Strasbourg, France). He has been heavily involved in European
Capitals of Culture and is the only person to have been the
Director of two – Glasgow (1990) and Brussels (2000). In addition
he undertook a major evaluation of European Capitals of Culture
(1985-2004) which was published by the European Commission in
2004, and has been an advisor to many cities aspiring to and that
have won the designation of Capital of Culture.
His previous roles include Director of Performing Arts for the
City of Glasgow and Director of Drama and Dance at the Scottish
Arts Council. He has undertaken cultural projects, including
projects concerned with the development of cultural policies and
the management of festivals in over 20 countries in Europe,
Canada, and South-East Asia. His most recent book
"Eventful Cities" will be published in spring
2010. He has won various awards for his work in the UK, Belgium
and France.
Ref: 025/10
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