Having grown up and studied here, and as one of the leading business figures in Sunderland, Gary Hutchinson is a man who knows and cares about his city. As commercial director at Sunderland AFC, chair of the North East England Chamber of Commerce’s Sunderland Committee and chairman of Sunderland Business Partnership, Gary is committed to his city. And as part of the steering board for the Sunderland 2021, he is leading the direction of the City of Culture bid. Here is his thoughts on the future of the city:
Being born and bred in Sunderland, I have always felt completely in tune with the city. Culture is not a word many people would associate with Sunderland but winning this bid would do wonders to change people’s perceptions of the city.
The bid is harnessing our pride in Sunderland and will go a long way to instill that pride in others, not just in those from the area but also people from further afield. It’s our chance to really show off what Sunderland has to offer and shout about it on a much bigger stage.
Not only would winning the bid bring huge economic benefits for the city, it would also throw Sunderland under the international spotlight. We would reap the benefits of a boost in tourism, welcoming more people into the city and creating job opportunities. Our people, businesses, performers, sporting heroes and artists would stand shoulder to shoulder to put Sunderland on the map as a city known for its cultural offer, with theatres, museums, galleries, restaurants and more.
Sunderland AFC is part of that picture. The club is ingrained in the city’s culture already, and we have extended its impact by using the Stadium of Light as a venue for major events. Already this has had a massive impact on the city’s cultural output.
A string of famous names who have chosen to perform at the stadium are evidence of this. Having Beyonce kick off the European leg of her tour in Sunderland is a real coup that has not gone unnoticed – we see the impact that music and the arts can have on that scale, and we know that a successful City of Culture bid would allow us to build on this success and achieve so much more.
Being named UK City of Culture would bring about a year-long celebration, and its legacy would go way beyond than that. We know from previous winners just how beneficial and long-lasting the effects of winning the status can be. We need to celebrate what is special and unique about Sunderland and I believe there are very exciting times ahead.
– Gary Hutchinson, Commercial Director at Sunderland AFC
