News focusRedmond plan to copy Liverpool get go-ahead
The government is to go ahead with plans for a UK City of Culture every four years, with the first in 2013, the year after the London Olympics.

But culture secretary Ben Bradshaw warned that there will be no extra funding for the scheme. Costs will have to be met from existing resources.

TV producer Phil Redmond, cultural director for Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008, originally suggested the idea, and the decision to proceed follows a feasibility study by Redmond.

He said the successful cities could expect to see economic and social benefits flow in, as Liverpool had, leaving a lasting legacy.

But the successful bidders need not be cities, Bradshaw said. Bids would also be welcome from closely linked urban areas, provided there is a clear central focus to the area. London, or any part of London, need not apply, at least for 2013.

“Culture is something that we are incredibly good at in the UK. But excellence and innovation in the arts does not begin and end inside the M25 and I believe we have been too London-centric for too long in our cultural life. So this competition aims to find a city or area outside London that has the wow factor, with exciting and credible plans to make a step change in its cultural life and engage the whole country.

“Liverpool’s success last year brought pride, confidence and real economic regeneration to the area. Their triumphant year shows that the title of City of Culture will be a prize very much worth having, with a huge amount to play for.”

A selections committee has yet to be appointed, but Redmond said he was prepared to be its chairman, but he said success of the scheme would much depend on the support of the media, the BBC and local TV and radio stations. What had helped Liverpool last year was high profile media events such as the Turner Prize, the Brits and the Stirling Prize being shifted there from London.

“Liverpool benefited tremendously in 2008, from simply having a badge of authority that allowed people to work collaboratively together to enhance and maximize every event throughout the city” he said. “It also acted as a focal point for every cultural economic and social agenda – including permission to enjoy themselves.

“Culture is not an amorphous concept: it is at the heart of everything we do. To bring about any step change you need to bring about cultural shift and that is where cultural practitioners can help by introducing new ideas and new ways of doing things.”

How it will work
Bidders for the mark have until October 16 to submit outline applications online, with December 11 as the deadline for initial bids. A shortlist will be announced dearly next year, with final detailed plans for the short-listed submitted by May 28. The Secretary of State will announce the winner later in 2010.

Bids will be expected from partnerships from a city or area, including local authorities with a lead organisation to channel communication during the process.

The definition of “city” will be loose, the requirement being that a substantial programme can be delivered to lead a step change in an area.

The only area precluded for 2013 is London, partly because the Olympics will have occurred there the year before.

The criteria the panel will judge by are:

A high quality cultural programme appealing to a variety of audiences
Evidence of culture being used as a tool for lasting regeneration
A demonstrably significant economic impact to come from the programme
Credibility and track record, evidenced by key partners
An approach that maximises legacy and the ability to evaluate impact