City of Culture 2017 Reveals Shortlist

According to reports, Swansea Bay has been named on the shortlist of Dundee, Hull, Leicester and Swansea Bay (covering Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath and Port Talbot) in the running to become the UK City of Culture 2017.

The chosen area will succeed Londonderry, which is UK City of Culture 2013 and the first place to be awarded the title.

Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot hope their joint bid will create economic and social benefits.

Before the shortlist announcement Meryl Gravell, Carmarthenshire's executive board member for regeneration, said: "It would be wonderful news for the region if we were to win the bid.

"West is certainly best when it comes to culture, and Carmarthenshire offers not only fantastic areas of natural beauty, but also a whole variety of cultural attractions including new and historic theatres.

Ali Thomas, Neath Port Talbot council's leader, said the region had "much to offer both in terms of its cultural heritage and a thriving contemporary creative scene.

"Neath Port Talbot alone can boast a galaxy of stars familiar to audiences around the globe and the wider Swansea Bay area shares a fine tradition of punching above its weight within the world of culture and the arts."

The bookmaker William Hill has Swansea at odds of 4/1 to take the title, ahead of the shortlist being published.

Making the announcement on Wednesday morning, UK Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: "I want to congratulate the four shortlisted cities who have made it this far.

"It brings together communities, encourages economic growth, and inspires social change and the shortlisted cities should be very proud of the bids they have put together."

The bids have been considered by an independent panel chaired by Phil Redmond, creator of popular TV series including Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks.

"It was incredibly difficult to decide on a shortlist as all the bids recognised the power of culture to bring about social change and offered innovative and interesting programmes," he said.

"In the end the panel thought the four short listed cities offered plans that were ambitious, realistic and would not only deliver for their communities, but would also maintain the momentum created around the success of Derry-Londonderry."

When Swansea Bay's bid was announced, retired Swansea University lecturer and historian Peter Stead - who was on the panel which chose Liverpool as City of Culture - said Swansea had a good chance.

"This isn't culture in the elite sense," he added. "This is the regeneration of the people living in Swansea."

He said the area had built up to the bid for a number of years, and the success of Swansea City in the Premier League meant the area was being talked about around the world.

To post a comment, you must register and login.