Culture bid in place for 2017
STOKE-ON-TRENT will bid to become the UK's cultural capital in 2017.
The shortlist for cities bidding for the honour to become the first capital of culture in 2013 was published last week.
Stoke-on-Trent was not on the list, but, as reported by The Sentinel in May, the city council always believed that date was too early to prepare a bid likely to be successful.
City council leader Ross Irving said: "It was not a formal decision, but it was a discussion between myself, the chief executive and officers.
"We want to put together a successful bid and to do that takes a long time. The feeling was that 2013 was too early. We believe we could have a very good chance in 2017."
In May a delegation from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) visited Stoke-on-Trent to see what attractions were on offer.
During the visit, DCMS director of culture Mick Elliott told representatives from the city council that they should submit a bid to become UK City of Culture in 2017.
2 Comments
by LAZARUS, NORTH STAFFS
Monday, September 14 2009, 4:15PM
“The Council should really rethink about the way in which they are actually announcing these sorts of handouts, after dismissing any bids for 2013 and delaying for a further 4 years seems folly to me. They really ought to get the begging bowls out sooner dont you think? How pitiful.
We have Big Brother, we have "the Big Fund from the Lottery", we have to accept the excruciating daily drivel of the bidding society on T V from who deserves a Wedding more than another, which Chav can sing better than the next one, some tripe involving some owd rockers bride, his brats are some form of Adrenalin Junkies, and then we get this. Its pitiful begging.
I have always identified the word "culture" with its alternative meaning, something obnoxious growing on a petri dish, bacteria, a virus something else worse maybe, and the process of bidding and competing against other sadly, badly run Councils somehow epitomises the depth this Nation has sunk too.
We now have the sad spectacle of Central Government, and in places the European Parliament controlling Local Govrnment like a Dinner Ladty controls the kids in the Play Ground, "whoo me,me ,me I want a sweetie , look I can jump higher than anyone else give it to me."
God Help us.”
by Andi, Stoke
Monday, September 14 2009, 10:22AM
“These comments from councillors are different than the comments on friday when the news broke (on other reputable news sources) that the 2013 bid had been pulled , as the council wanted to focus on more regeneration ! Obviously it depends on who is contacted at the council as to what the reason for pulling out of the 2013 bid . At least now they have got an additional four years to come with another reason as towhy they have pulled out of another bid !”