Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 is a designation given to the city of Coventry, England, between 2021 and 2025 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
The city has received more than £15.5 million in support from the UK Government to support the annual festivities, with a further £100 million raised in capital investment for the city to support city cultural projects such as Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry Cathedral and Belgrade Theatre.
In July 2020 it was announced that the start of Coventry’s year as City of Culture had been put back to May 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic
Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 has shown that the title has the power to engage people from across the whole community, including by training 1,515 City Hosts who contributed almost 36,000 volunteering hours. The title also helped attract £172 million in inward investment.
What is UK City of Culture?
UK City of Culture is a competition run by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) every four years. For a period of one calendar year the successful bidder hosts cultural festivities through culture-led regeneration for the year.
The UK-wide programme, which is administered by the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in collaboration with the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, is to “build on the success of Liverpool‘s year as European Capital of Culture 2008, which had significant social and economic benefits for the area”. Bids solely in Greater London are excluded from the competition, although boroughs and places in the UK capital may submit a joint bid with a city or place outside of Greater London.
Events and Exhibitions
- Herbert Gallery
- New Cathedral
- Old Cathedral Ruins
- Grammar School
- Transport Musuem
- Parade
- Our Wilder Family
- Repetitive Beats
- Assembly Gardens
- Radio 1 Weekend
- Godiva Festival
Videos About City of Culture
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The Reel Store
The Reel Store is the UK’s first permanent, digital gallery which explores the relationship between digital technology, visual arts, and people.
It is located at the former home of the coventry evening telegraph newspaper right acros the Belgrade Theatre
The Reel Store
Telegraph Hotel
Upper Well Street
Coventry CV1 1GU
Previous City of Culture Title Holders
Derry 2013: At a special televised ceremony in Liverpool on 15 July 2010, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey announced that Derry would be the first ever UK City of Culture in 2013. A total of 14 cities had applied
Hull 2017: The next city to win the bid was Hull, it was announced on 20 November 2013. Other bidders for the title included aberdeen, Dundee, Colchester, Derby, Leicester, Plymouth, Stoke on Trent, Swansea, Hull, York, Portsmouth, Southampton, East Kent (Canterbury, Ashford, Folkestone, Dover and Thanet), Hastings and Bexhill-on-Sea.
Next City of Culture Title Holder
Bradford has been crowned UK City of Culture 2025, taking on the prestigious title from Coventry UK City of Culture 2021.
Bradford will now receive £275,000 in initial seed funding to make sure the city can hit the ground running and get the wheels in motion early as it develops its plans for 2025. This grant will help pave the way for a year of unforgettable cultural activities and events.
As part of its status as UK City of Culture 2025, Bradford will be eligible for a £3 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and now has three years to prepare for a year of groundbreaking cultural activities.
Bradford is a young and vibrant city with a rich heritage and its impressive bid drew upon its wide-range of local cultural assets including the Bronte Parsonage, Saltaire UNESCO World Heritage Site and the National Science and Media Museum.
Quotes on City of Culture
We are delighted that Bradford has been given the prestigious title of City of Culture 2025. We are looking forward to working with Bradford to make their programme an amazing success and to help share its fascinating heritage on a worldwide stage.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund
I am confident that Bradford will prove an outstanding City of Culture. I am fortunate enough to have visited Bradford over the last two years. The city’s political, business and cultural leaders have a passionate commitment to creative innovation. Together they demonstrate that culture has the power to increase a place’s vibrancy and civic pride. Coventry’s success has shown that culture also has the power to drive major inward investment.
Lord Mendoza, the Commissioner for Cultural Recovery & Renewal
Spirit of 2012 is proud to have supported the UK City of Culture Programme for many years, investing in Hull 2017 and Coventry 2021. It’s not an exaggeration to say that major events like this have the power to transform people and places, building community pride, inspiring volunteering and creating opportunities for everyone to take part. And, it’s not just Bradford who wins today. We’re looking forward to working with some of the long and shortlisted places to ensure that their bid is a spark for volunteering programmes that build empathy, pride and connection, the key ingredients for the wellbeing of people and their places.
Ruth Hollis, Chief Executive, Spirit of 2012
Creativity is all about telling stories and this title unlocks a whole new narrative for a city. We saw it in Hull, we’ve seen it again in Coventry. As Bradford takes over, I’m excited to see how this great city will soar to new creative heights between now and the end of 2025 thanks to the work of brilliant artists, performers, creators and curators.
Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England
A massive Congratulations to Bradford for being selected as the next City of Culture 2025. This year-long celebration will showcase Bradford’s unique qualities and open its cultural life to the rest of the world, the UK and local communities. The British Council look forward to supporting Bradford’s international ambitions and seeing the city’s culture, creativity and artistic excellence put firmly on the map
Skinder Hundal, Director Arts, British Council
Thanks to National Lottery players, we’ve been able to fund large-scale projects at past City of Culture award holders, Hull and Coventry. We have witnessed first-hand the transformational effects that this title can bring, creating a deeper sense of place, pride and identity. We look forward to the exciting opportunities it will bring to the people of Bradford now and into the future. Congratulations Bradford!
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Bradford crowned UK City of Culture 2025
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bradford-crowned-uk-city-of-culture-2025#:~:text=Bradford%20has%20been%20crowned%20UK,UK%20City%20of%20Culture%202021.
