ABERDEEN is expected to launch a fresh bid to be the next UK City of Culture after its attempt to be crowned as the Britain’s culture capital in 2017 failed to make the shortlist.
Senior sources in the ruling Conservative, Labour and independent council coalition claim that it will push for the Granite City to re-enter the 2025 competition, with plans due to be debated by councillors next month. SNP councillor Stephen Flynn is also understood to be keen on the proposal.
It is thought that city fathers will have their work cut out for them with bid writers told in 2013 that their ambition to be City of Culture 2017 lacked “coherent vision” and a “wow factor”. The award instead went to Hull.
However, cultural leaders claim that the new bid will be bolstered by increased cultural activity in the city, which has re-introduced the Nuart street art festival, SPECTRA – a light festival due to return for four nights in Feburary 2018 – as well as an annual jazz festival and the Look Again festival of visual art.
Aberdeen’s category A listed Aberdeen Music Hall closed in Spring 2016 to undergo a two year, multi-million pound transformation, while Aberdeen Art Gallery is also undergoing renovations and is due to re-open later this year.
City centre improvements were also recently recognised when Aberdeen was named as the Best Business Improvement District in Europe earlier this month.
The city of culture award must be applied for many years in advance, with a total of 11 British cities and towns applying for City of Culture 2021 this year. Paisley is the only Scottish town – allowed under the rules because of its “clear central urban focus” – to have made the shortlist for 2021 and is hopeful of its chances against bids by Coventry, Stoke, Sunderland and Swansea.
A spokesman for Aberdeen City Council said the local authority’s political administration will report its policy agenda at full council on August 23.
He added: “An Aberdeen bid for City of Culture 2025 has not been the subject of a report to committee or a decision.”
It is understood that one of the key planks of the 25-year city centre masterplan is to boost culture in the city as the local authority looks to draw more tourists and diversify the economy away from oil and gas.
Nuno Sacramento, director of the Peacock Visual Arts Centre, said that an increased volume of cultural activity in the city meant that its chances in a second bid attempt were improved.
“This has been a fantastic year for culture in Aberdeen,” he said. “Even though the city wasn’t selected we can see a much bigger focus on the arts here now, as well as investment in the music hall and the art gallery. It’s not always just about winning the accolade but about the focus that is put on it during the bid.
“This is about moving away from the corporate culture that has had a hold in the city to give the arts more space and visibility. We have the quality here but that is not always seen because the main story is about oil and gas.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said it was “playing its part” to promote culture: “We are always keen to promote Aberdeen and if our partners feel there is an opportunity to submit a credible bid, then we would absolutely get behind it,” he added.
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