Updated: Southampton has been unsuccessful in its bid to become UK City of Culture 2025, losing out to Bradford.

 

The winner was approved by culture secretary Nadine Dorries based on independent advice from a panel of experts led by TV writer-producer Sir Phil Redmond.

The decision was announced last night (May 31) on the BBC’s One Show.

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The experts visited each of the four shortlisted places, which also included County Durham and Wrexham County Borough, to learn more about the bids before making their final recommendation.

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. The grant will “help pave the way for a year of unforgettable cultural activities and events”, said the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, which runs the competition

For the first time in the history of the UK City of Culture competition, each of the runners up will also receive a grant of £125,000 to support the bidding team in taking forward some of the most exciting elements of the bid.

Southampton City Council leader Satvir Kaur tweeted after the decision: “Southampton… I couldn’t be prouder! On my part, I’ll continue to champion the south and how we cannot afford to be forgotten to the north - on your part, please continue to believe that we can #MakeItSO… because together we will xx”

 

Southampton… I couldn’t be prouder! On my part, I’ll continue to champion the south and how we cannot afford to be forgotten to the north - on your part, please continue to believe that we can #MakeItSO… because together we will xx https://t.co/fyb7QrxN9j

— Satvir Kaur (@LabourSatvir) June 1, 2022

 

On the council’s website she added: “We will now put our energies into taking forward the galvanising work of the Southampton 2025 Trust to address our needs and become that thriving, dynamic place we know that Southampton can be! And we thank the brilliant team at Southampton 2025 Trust for their magnificent work for the city, under its inspiring leader, Claire Whitaker OBE. Our ambition to 'Make it SO!' very much lives on.”

Claire Whitaker OBE, director of Southampton 2025 Trust, said:“I want to personally thank the people of Southampton, our friends and neighbours and our myriad of local, regional, national and international partners who have given their unwavering support. We are naturally very disappointed but know that we gave the process everything we could have and that the bid has brought us together like never before. I would like to thank Southampton City Council, Solent University and the University of Southampton for continuing to support the Southampton 2025 Trust and ensuring that culture remains at the centre of our city and wider region.”

1/6/22 16:40 Subsequently updated with last two quotes

Video: BBC