A record 20 places from across the UK have put in a bid to become the UK City of Culture 2025, taking over the baton from the 2021 winner Coventry to become the UK’s cultural spotlight.
The competition, delivered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in collaboration with the devolved administrations, uses culture as a catalyst for levelling up areas outside London and putting new parts of the UK on the cultural map internationally.
Entrants have been tasked with proving they can put culture at the heart of their plans to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
Bidding for the title has been shown to have a positive impact on a place, with previous longlisted bids using the process to bring together lasting local, national, and international partners, share a vision for their area and attract investment.
To ensure as many places as possible can take up the opportunity, DCMS are awarding grants of up to £40,000 to the successful longlisted places for the first time to support their long applications.
The winner, who will be announced next year, will receive a range of benefits, attracting millions of visitors and investment and bringing communities together to showcase the place where they live.
Culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: ‘This record number of applications from all four corners of the country is testament to the huge success of City of Culture in generating investment, creating jobs and boosting local pride.
‘This prestigious prize creates a fantastic opportunity for towns and cities to build back better from the pandemic and I wish all bidders the very best of luck.’
Sir Phil Redmond, chair of the City of Culture Expert Advisory Panel, said: ‘From Derry-Londonderry to Hull and Coventry it has been a difficult and rewarding challenge to select the next UK City of Culture, and the list of potential candidates for 2025 indicates that life in the immediate future is going to be even more challenging!
‘The three previous title holders have demonstrated the transformative and catalytic effect culture can bring about, even within places that have been ultimately unsuccessful but have gone on to develop collaborative and sustainable partnerships.
‘The list for 2025 also demonstrates the breadth of ambition, aspiration and innovation that exists from coast to coast and nation to nation across the UK and I am looking forward to that challenge of immersing myself once again in the UK’s rich seam of creativity.’
An interactive map will the full list on entrants can be viewed here.