Southampton aiming to become UK or European city of culture

The Daily Echo can today reveal ambitious bids for Southampton to become UK or European City of Culture.

• Where else has been European Capital of Culture? >>>

A successful bid for either of the prestigious titles could hugely enhance the city’s international reputation – as well as having huge economic benefits.

An extra 9.7 million visits, 2.7 million from abroad, were made to Liverpool as a result of it being European Capital of Culture in 2008, providing a boost of £753.8 million to the local economy.

And civic chiefs are also hoping it is third time lucky in the city’s bid to become UK City of Culture, after two failed joint bids with Portsmouth.

The cultural prestige and economic benefit of finally seizing the coveted title could have a major impact on Southampton, with more than £80 million invested in major improvements in 2013 UK City of Culture Derry, which hosted a string of major cultural events.

Kingston-upon-Hull, the UK’s city of culture for 2017, will see its economy benefit by at least £60 million with scores of jobs set to be created as a result.

The Southampton Cultural Development Trust, an organisation working to boost the city’s cultural offering, is working on a strategy before any formal bid is considered, but it already has the backing of city council chiefs and local MPs.

They are about to start consultation on a “cultural manifesto” for the city which will set out how a successful bid can be achieved.

A meeting to launch the consultation is taking place at Mettricks Tea and Coffee in Guildhall Walk at 5pm on May 19.

While the team want to aim for the UK 2029 City of Culture title, they may bid for earlier ones, while there are currently opportunities to become European City of Culture in 2027 and 2030.

Over the next decade a string of new developments worth hundreds of millions of pounds will dramatically change the face of Southampton forever.

Studio 144, the city’s new art complex in in Guildhall Square, is the centrepiece of the new Cultural Quarter and boasts new galleries, auditoriums and other art facilities.

Phase one of the new £90 million Watermark WestQuay, with dozens of restaurants, bars and a new town plaza, is due to open later this year, while the city’s waterfront could be completely transformed if the £500 million Royal Pier development, below, is approved and completed by 2023, as planned.

And now civic chiefs and leading figures from Southampton’s cultural scene want to learn lessons from past failures and ensure the city follows them to become UK or European City of Culture in the 2020s.

Former city MP and chairman of the Southampton Cultural Development Trust John Denham said: “I think it gives us a tremendous chance to celebrate all that is really good, we’ve got tremendous assets.

“There’s a fantastic heritage, an increasing focus on developing young artists and thousands of people going to events like the Mela and Common People, there’s a huge amount in terms of culture going on in the city.”

Trustee and John Hansard Gallery director Professor Stephen Foster said: “Hull is the next UK City of Culture and enormous sums of money are being put into it, from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport first, and then from local and national businesses.

“It gets buildings built and boosts businesses, particularly in the creative industry, which is the largest growing industry in the UK.”

City council cabinet member for culture Satvir Kaur said: “It’s an ambition of the cultural board. We’re trying to build pride in Southampton and culture is a key player in that.

“With time energy and effort there’s no reason why we shouldn’t win and the new cultural quarter will play a large part in it.

“You only have to look at our events – [the music festival] Common People brought in more than £1 million into the city. Our cultural offerings bring people out of their homes and waves of people from outside investing in hotels and restaurants as well as creating a lot more jobs.

“I’m really excited – one of my things will be raising the profile of homegrown talent and people like Craig David (below) – we’ve got such amazing talent.

“The council will be very supportive and happy to work with the relevant bodies to make sure it’s a success. It’s going to need people with drive and passion and I truly believe we have those people.

“We’ve got so many more cultural events and buildings than we had in 2013.”

Stewart Dunn, chief executive of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “I think we’ve got a great opportunity.

“I think it would help put us on the map, fund improvements, boost the economy and create jobs.”

Royston Smith, Southampton Itchen MP, said: “With the new Arts Complex completing the picture, Southampton would be an obvious choice for City of Culture.

“A successful bid would put Southampton on the map culturally and would provide a huge boost to the city’s economy.”

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said a successful bid would "get national and international attention for what we have been doing, and the potential for the future."

What do you think?

Do you think Southampton should launch another bid to become City of Culture?

Send your views to us at letters@dailyecho.co.uk or write to Letters, Southern Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton, SO16 9JX.