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City of Culture Bid Launch

Subscribe to RSS RSSSunday, 1st November, 2009

Wednesday December 9 2009
5.30-7pm (presentations at 6pm)
The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre
Thorp Street, Birmingham B4 4TB

Birmingham Cultural Partnership will officially launch the City's bid to be the first UK City of Culture with a media event on Wednesday December 9. 

The theme of the bid is Big City Culture, reflecting both Birmingham’s status as a global city with a world class programme of cultural activities and our local heart - the richly diverse grass-roots Birmingham scene.

Speakers at the launch will include:
Cllr Martin Mullaney (Chairman of the Birmingham Cultural Partnership)
Helga Henry (Fierce Festival)
Stuart Rogers (Birmingham Rep)
Dan Howard (Birmingham City University)

The bid, to be managed through the Birmingham Cultural Partnership, must be formally submitted by December 11, with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to draw up a shortlist in January 2010.

Leading cultural organisations across the city are backing the ‘Big City Culture’ bid and a recently launched interactive website (www.canvasbirmingham.com) is asking residents for their views and ideas.

Shortlisted cities will have until May 28 to submit a final bid.

Cllr Mullaney said: “Holding the title would help us to raise our profile nationally and internationally as well as encourage more local people to become active in culture, bringing enormous benefits to the local economy and to the quality of life in Birmingham.”

Bid partners will be available for interview at the launch event.