Greetings from Derry-Londonderry!
As you may know, Leicester has been shortlisted down to the final four cities (alongside Dundee, Hull and Swansea Bay) for the second ever UK City of Culture title. The winning city will curate and create a year of major cultural activity in 2017.
It’s my absolute honour, privilege, and slight terror to have been invited by the Steering Committee for Leicester’s bid (entitled “Illuminating Culture”) to serve as Director for the final presentation, which will be made today before a panel of international cultural leaders. We’re in the current City of Culture, Derry, to make the final presentations and witnessing first hand the inspiration, pride and energy that is galvanised through the the title.
I’ve been working closely over the past few weeks with the Bid Team to help craft a presentation that presents the bid intimately and personally through the voices and perspectives of six people who best represent culture for Leicester, ranging from our City Mayor, through to the creator of the Leicester Comedy Festival and my own Chief Executive at Curve.
Whatever the verdict, the process has harnessed so much creativity and passion across the city already, and has set in motion some quite brilliant plans that will happen regardless… Watch this space.
UPDATE: Sadly, Leicester was pipped to the post for the UK City of Culture 2017 title. Congratulations to the Hull team on their victory, and the exciting plans they have created for a city that stands to gain enormously from the investment and profile of the award. Personally, I’m honoured that the official feedback from the judging panel commented that the quality of the presentation by the Leicester team team added “credibility and really brought aspects of the bid to life”, and I’m excited about the plans that will shortly be announced for a citywide programme of cultural celebration inspired by the positivity of the campaign so far.
Suba Das Directs 