Exeter joining UK City of Culture 2029 race

21 hours ago

Chloe ParkmanDevon

News image — City council leader Phil Bialyk said the UK City of Culture 2029 title would help raise the profile of Exeter

BBC A general view of a busy street in Exeter. Crowds of people are walking along the pavements. Some people are crossing the road. Tall buildings line either side of the street. A mural of a woman's face is painted on the side of one building. — City council leader Phil Bialyk said the UK City of Culture 2029 title would help raise the profile of Exeter

Exeter is putting in a bid to become the UK City of Culture in 2029.

The city council said it would be submitting an expression of interest, joining other locations including Plymouth, Bristol and Portsmouth in the race to win the title.

The winning city will be awarded £10m in funding to create a year-long celebration of arts and culture.

Council leader Phil Bialyk said the bid would help raise the city's profile and show Devon is not just about "scones and cream". The deadline for entries is 8 February.

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The council said its bid followed five months of extensive engagement and consultation with artists, creatives, cultural organisations and residents to shape a five-year Cultural Strategy for Exeter.

Bialyk said it was a fantastic opportunity for the city and added "it's a chance to put Exeter once again on the national and international map".

He said the city already had "so much going on" in terms of arts, culture and leisure.

"Following two rugby world cups in the city - the men's in 2015 and the women's last year - we have more than demonstrated Exeter's ability to rise to the occasion and host big international events that put culture at the heart of our offer," he added.

"We want to grow, we want good jobs, we want good people, we want homes and we believe the City of Culture will be exactly the right thing for Exeter."

Analysis from Miles Davis, BBC Devon political reporter

It's the timing of this announcement that is most interesting - coming only two weeks after Exeter City Council's leader told members he was asking the government to cancel elections due to be held in May.

When he announced that decision, the Labour leader Phil Bialyk said it was to save money and that council staff were overloaded with work trying to prepare for the reorganisation of local government which will see Exeter City Council and many other councils abolished by April 2028.

But now it seems there are staff and resources available to prepare a bid to become the UK City of Culture.

The potential rewards are clear but with cities and towns from Plymouth to Blackpool all entering the contest - competition will be fierce.

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