UK City of Culture longlist revealed

Eight places have been longlisted for the UK City of Culture 2025 title, with each longlisted bidder receiving £40,000 to develop a full application.

The winner will be announced next year and will be at the centre of the UK’s cultural spotlight in 2025.

The longlisted locations are Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Bradford, Cornwall, County Durham, Derby, Southampton, Stirling and Wrexham County Borough.

Culture secretary Nadine Dorries said: ‘Winning the UK City of Culture competition has a hugely positive impact on an area, driving investment, creating jobs, and highlighting that culture is for everyone, regardless of their background.

‘This year’s focus is on levelling up access to culture across the country and making sure there is a legacy that continues for generations to come. I look forward to seeing what this brilliant longlist has in store as they continue in the competition.’

All bids were asked to explain how they would use culture to grow and strengthen their local area and recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The winner will follow Coventry’s tenure as UK City of Culture 2021.

Sir Phil Redmond, chair of the City of Culture Expert Advisory Panel, added: ‘The Expressions of Interest stage was introduced as an opportunity to encourage many more places to experience the benefit of coming together to define and share a cultural vision for their areas, and what the longlist demonstrates is the range and depth of cultural ambition across the whole of the UK.

‘Also for the first time, each longlisted city will receive financial support to help them develop their vision. Each is different. Each has its own story to tell. All share a common aim: to demonstrate how culture can act as the creative catalyst for change. I am really looking forward to seeing how each story develops.’

In related news, the next phase of the Temple Quarter and St Philips’s Marsh regeneration project can move forward, following a funding strategy approved by Bristol City Council this week.

Photo by Haseeb Jamil