UK City of Culture to continue
Competition will be held to find title-holder for 2017.
A nationwide competition to find the UK’s City of Culture 2017 will be launched later this year.
Derry-Londonderry will become the first ever UK City of Culture next year and will stage a series of high profile cultural events throughout 2013, as well as being part of the London 2012 Festival.
As a panel of experts visited the city today to find out more about plans for next year’s celebration, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey announced that another city will get the chance to shine.
“As well as highlighting the fantastic artistic talent that thrives in every corner of the United Kingdom, culture can transform our communities,” Mr Vaizey said. “Next year, Derry-Londonderry will open its doors to new visitors - it could be a real springboard for future economic success.”
Derry-Londonderry was selected as the first city to hold the title by an independent panel chaired by TV producer and screenwriter Phil Redmond, who was on the board of the Liverpool Culture Company, set up after Liverpool became the European Capital of Culture 2008.
“I have seen first-hand the enormous impact culture had in driving change in Liverpool,” Mr Redmond said. “I can sense that building in Derry-Londonderry as they look poised to make the most of the opportunity.
“Being here today, I can see the huge efforts that are going in to plan a fantastic year of culture. It is great news that the competition will be repeated and UK City of Culture is set to become a key event in the cultural diary of the UK.”