Last night, hundreds congregated in Sunderland Minster for the The Journal Culture Awards 2016. The ceremony saw 16 awards given out as well as performances from Barry Hyde, The Lake Poets and Ladies of Midnight Blue. Councillor Mel Speding, chair of Sunderland Cultural Partnership opened up the second half of the night with this exciting speech about Sunderland’s ambitions:
Sunderland is a city that is proud and excited to be bidding to be the next UK City of Culture in 2021. Those of us who know and love the city will be aware Sunderland is a city undergoing huge changes and winning this bid would bring about even more opportunities that could transform Sunderland culturally, socially and economically.
With our strengths in visual arts, glass and independent music, as well as impressive cultural landmarks like Keel Square, The Empire, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens and National Glass Centre, we see Sunderland as being a strong, confident and well-placed contender for the title.
There are lots of exciting and ambitious projects already happening around our city. From the regeneration of the new Music, Arts and Culture Quarter, to the restoration of significant heritage sites like Hylton Castle and Roker Pier and Lighthouse. Building on all of this energy and momentum, now is the perfect time for Sunderland to stake a claim as the next UK City of Culture in 2021.
At the heart of bid is an unprecedented and exciting city-wide partnership between Sunderland City Council, The University of Sunderland and the MAC Trust. Working together we can help lead the way to this title.
We don’t just see this as Sunderland’s bid, winning will have an impact across the North East bringing new opportunities and millions of visitors to our beautiful region. As tonight [The Journal Culture Awards] shows we really deserve this title here in the North East. Over the last decade we have seen two very impressive bids put in by our North East neighbours which whilst being denied the ultimate award nonetheless resulted in some brilliant cultural and artistic projects. So we definitely think now is the North East’s turn and we hope you will join with us is seeing this as the North East’s bid.
Councillor Mel Speding, chair of Sunderland Cultural Partnership
27th April 2016
More information about The Journal Culture Awards and who won can be found here: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/culture-awards-2016-full-rundown-11247101
