An expression of interest has been submitted for the Borderlands region to become the 2025 UK City of Culture.
In what is believed to be a first for the national competition, an ambitious bid has been submitted by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) on behalf of the five different local authority areas of Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, Carlisle City, Cumbria and Northumberland who make up the Borderlands Partnership.
Discussions have progressed since the idea was first mooted by SOSE, with a Borderlands bid felt to offer a unique and exciting proposal which would shine a cultural light on this significant area of the country.
For the first time, the 2025 UK City of Culture competition is open to areas and places with a clear focus and identity to apply for the award.
As a result, SOSE engaged with Borderlands partners and key influencers, with the bid aligned to the theme of Just Transition to Net Zero, using culture to create new stories for the exciting journey ahead. By exploring the region’s heritage, culture and creativity, the bid will aim to create opportunities for future development and ultimately bring investment into the region.
The City of Culture submission also ties in with the themes of the recently signed Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
The Improving Places theme will capitalise on the heritage, cultural and recreational assets to promote the region as a destination to visit and as a place to live and work, while the Encouraging Green Growth theme capitalises on the green credentials of the region, to facilitate decarbonisation and the creation of new high value jobs supporting low carbon energy generation and carbon reduction schemes.
The potential benefits of being named a UK City of Culture are significant, as highlighted by this year’s winner Coventry.
The West Midlands city is predicted to witness an economic boost of £211million with an additional 2.5m visitors. It is hoped it will attract around 10,000 volunteers and create more than 900 jobs.
SOSE Chair, Professor Russel Griggs OBE, said:
“This truly is a unique UK City of Culture bid and one all partners involved in it believe is worth progressing.
“A successful bid can have a transformational impact for a city or region. By combining the efforts of the Borderlands partners, our bid now has the creative and cultural talent of five areas, providing a significant and varied offering which we believe is worth telling across the country, and beyond.
“Coupled with our natural landscape, our people, our heritage and our joint journey to Net Zero, we believe the Borderlands is the right place at the right time to take forward this exciting opportunity for our region.”
Councillor Stewart Young, Leader of Cumbria County Council and co-chair of the Borderlands Partnership added:
“We are pleased to be part of this unique opportunity which supports and builds on the work of the Borderlands Partnership, following the recent signing of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
“Our shared ambition includes attracting new residents and welcoming more visitors to enjoy the beautiful natural environment and the cultural assets of the region – I hope that this bid will enhance and support our Deal and its projects.”
Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council and Borderlands Partnership Co-Chair, Councillor Elaine Murray, said:
“This would be a natural fit with the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal which has a focus on economic growth through the development of place including the distinctive cultures of our towns.”
The deadline for 2025 UK City of Culture Expressions of Interest was Monday 19 July.
Up to six locations will then be shortlisted, with the successful applicants being announced in September. These locations will then have until January 2022 to submit their full bids. The successful location will be announced in May 2022.
A UK 2025 City of Culture Borderlands bid video is available here.
About Borderlands
- The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal was formally signed on 18 March 2021, bringing in up to £452 million of fresh investment to the Borderlands area. Ministers of the UK and Scottish Governments and representatives of the five councils of the Borderlands Partnership signed the Deal at a virtual ceremony.
- The Deal is truly distinctive, covering the largest geographical area of any regional growth Deal negotiated with the UK and Scottish Governments and it is the first cross-border deal
- The five partners across the Borderlands region are Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council
- More information is available at borderlandsgrowth.com/
About South of Scotland Enterprise
- South of Scotland Enterprise is the economic and community development agency for Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders
- Its support is tailored to individual circumstances
- SOSE is encouraging South of Scotland businesses, community groups and organisations to get in touch if they need help, support or advice
More information is available at www.southofscotlandenterprise.com
