Derry~Londonderry City of Culture bid comes to Belfast

Last night the UK City of Culture 2013 presentation bid for Derry~Londonderry came across the Glenshane Pass to Belfast City Hall for a glitzy media presentation. Some have said that the distance between Derry and Belfast is shorter than the distance between Belfast and Derry. Those chips on shoulders may still be there but the message last night was this is a bid for the whole of Northern Ireland, not just the host city.

The Lord Mayor of Belfast Naomi Long, Mayor of Derry Paul Fleming, and the First and Deputy First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness were there, and each threw their weight behind the bid. I was mc-ing the event and found myself playing musical chairs on the podium. As each speaker got up I took their seat, (you know where this is going!!!) and when it came to Peter Robinson's turn he thanked everyone for being there and remarked that I was the second woman to take his seat in as many weeks! It got the biggest laugh of the night!

The bid is due in this Friday the 21st May, and for the person taking it over there's a seat booked on the plane and, belt and braces for that ash cloud, a place on the ferry.

It gets a big send off in Derry tomorrow night. It's going to be some party but the work is only just starting. The promise of the bid proves the cultural riches here. Bill Drummond said to me recently that there's an assumption that London is a cultural centre but really in his opinion it gets things handed to it. He's more interested in places outside the metropolis that have created their own culture. That's where the real creativity is at.

For the judges of the City of Culture 2013 they have a hard job as the four bidding cities all believe they have it.