Durham Takes the lead from Liverpool in the bid for Culture

 George Garlick, CEO of Durham County Council and Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of Visit County Durham attended a seminar in the city to learn more about the criteria that the judging panel, headed up by Phil Redmond, creator of Brookside will be basing its scores on.

 

The seminar also gave Durham’s bid team the opportunity to meet its rivals as representatives from 28 other cities and areas vying for the title attended.

 

As well as learning more about the bidding process, Durham’s delegates were able to witness first hand the positive effect that a cultural led regeneration has had for Liverpool and the region of Merseyside.

 

Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of Visit County Durham and creative lead for the bid says: “Liverpool demonstrates that regeneration led by culture can be the most successful and durable and this is what we want for Durham and the North East region.

 

“A visit to Liverpool has proved invaluable in gaining inspiration for Durham to become the UK’s City of Culture in 2013 and has further affirmed our belief that Durham has world-class heritage and a set of outstanding cultural assets worthy of the title.”

 

The seminar held at Liverpool John Moores University included presentations from Mick Elliot, director of culture for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and TV writer, Phil Redmond, who was announced as Chair of the judging panel and led Liverpool to victory in its 2008 bid for European Capital of Culture.

 

County Durham’s bid to be the first UK City of Culture in 2013 spearheads an ambitious programme which aims to attract more visitors, generate investment, create jobs, and give the county’s residents better prospects for the future.

 

The bid will provide benefits for the whole of County Durham and the wider North East region through a cultural programme which will go ahead even if the title is not won.