Southampton and Portsmouth unite to be culture capital (From Daily Echo)

Southampton and Portsmouth unite to be culture capital

4:22pm Friday 11th September 2009 in News Review By Matt Smith, Politics and business reporter

THEY have historically been arch rivals. But cultural chiefs in Southampton and Portsmouth hope their united maritime histories will propel them to jointly become the UK’s next capital of culture.

Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw yesterday revealed Urban South Hampshire was among 29 locations in the running for the prestigious accolade in 2013.

They face competition from cities such as Birmingham and Manchester and regional bids from Cornwall and “The Countryside”. But council leaders reckon they have the makings of a strong challenge.

The Hampshire bid, under the working title “Marriage of Maritime”, will draw on Southampton’s heritage as the home of the Merchant Navy and Portsmouth’s role as defender of the realm.

Bid chiefs will express the culture of the cities through their people, authors, artists, and football teams as well as their theatres, galleries, architecture, and attractions.

They say the exercise could rebrand the Solent as a premier waterfront destination challenging Bournemouth and Brighton.

And to help shape the final bid the public will be consulted through polls, public meetings, radio phone-ins and newspapers to come up with the “hot ten reasons” why it deserves to win.

Southampton City Council’s Tory Cabinet member for leisure and culture, Councillor John Hannides, said both Southampton and Portsmouth had cultural strengths that “very much complement each other”. He said: “I think we’ve got a very strong case”.

By 2013 Southampton should have built its £15m Sea City Museum to mark the centenary anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic as part of an emerging £175m cultural quarter, including a revitalised Guildhall Square and new arts complex.

A Spitfire tribute monument and the refurbishment of the Tudor House museum should also have been completed.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth is building a Mary Rose museum, has its historic dockyards, Gunwharf Quays and the iconic Spinnaker Tower.

Portsmouth’s Lib Dem Cabinet member for culture and leisure, Councillor Lee Hunt, said: “By joining forces we stand a much better chance of succeeding and the region will benefit enormously.

“We will offer something different. Together we have a much more exciting story than a big city.”

The two city councils have already announced a bid to become a European Capital of Culture.

However, Europe’s expanding borders mean a British city will not have the chance to compete for the European title again until 2032 at the earliest.

The UK’s home-grown version will allow a different city – or partnership between closely linked urban areas – to use the title for one year every four years.

While there will be no public money involved, it is estimated the status could bring the cities £100m in investment and tourism.

As well as a programme of its own events, the winner will host a range of national events and ceremonies.

Ministers hope this would include events such as BBC Sports Personality of the Year, The Brit Awards, The Electric Proms, The Turner Prize for contemporary art and the RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture.

Southampton City Council’s head of leisure and culture, Mike Harris, said the bid would not just feature physical buildings and attractions but would be based around the people who take part in cultural activities across the cities, from amateur dramatics to musical theatre and media workshops.

It will draw on the activities and events already showcased through the cultural Olympiad, an annual national celebration of culture in the run up to the 2012 London Olympic Games.

In Portsmouth this included its internationally-renowned Arthur Conan Doyle collection, while big celebrations are planned in 2012 for the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’s birth.

Southampton had more events than any comparable city at last year’s Olympiad which impressed national Olympic organisers. And its programme of public art and outdoor performance it set to be expanded.

Mr Harris said he was not worrying about the competition.

“It’s not just about the size of a city but it’s about its local people. We have a heck of a lot of cultural activities going on.

“We are confident we can put together a really strong bid and have been encouraged to do so.”

Adrian Hunt, from the John Hansard Gallery in Southampton, said: “I think the two cities combined will offer more than the sum of our parts. If we win it will be incredible but there will be some tough competition.

“But anything that brings together and highlights what’s going culturally has got to be a good thing.”

Plans for the competition emerged following Liverpool’s success as European Capital of Culture in 2008, which is said to have brought 3.5 million extra visitors to the city over the year, and generated a £800m boost to the local economy.

Mr Bradshaw said: “Liverpool’s experience last year proves that cultural life most definitely does not begin and end within the M25.

“It also shows that a cultural spotlight on a city can have a fantastic effect on inward investment, and give a real lift to local morale and community spirit.”

TV mogul Phil Redmond – who will chair the judging panel for the competition – was the architect of Liverpool’s year as European City of Culture in 2008.

An outline bid will be submitted next month with further deadlines in December ahead of a shortlist next spring. The winner will be announced later next year.

They will have to show how culture is put at the heart of the city agenda, how it will raise the profile of the city, engage residents, and stimulate the economy. Bidders will also have to show a track record of hosting large events.

additional reporting by Sam Woods