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16/10/2009
Belfast Won't Bid For 'City Of Culture'
The City of Derry is to go a 'clear-run' in a UK-wide race for a prestigious cultural title.
Belfast City Council's Development Committee announced yesterday - after voting for a second time - that it has decided not to bid for the title of UK City of Culture 2013, leaving the way clear for a bid by Derry.
Although Belfast was one of the 29 locations that originally expressed interest in achieving the title, most councillors have changed their mind because Belfast is not in a position financially and culturally to make an effective candidature.
The Committee considered that a credible bid could not be developed by the 11 December deadline set by central government.
Moreover, in the current economic situation, it is not considered appropriate to commit the council to the expenditure involved in a bid.
Ulster Unionist Councillor Bob Stoker said he believed a bid would cost around £1m.
He stated: "I don't think we can do justice to the city of Belfast within such a short period of time."
"Would the ratepayer be getting value for money if we put £1m into a bid that is highly likely to fail?," Cllr Stoker added.
The decision will now go before the next full meeting of Belfast City Council for ratification.
However, councillors have not ruled out entering Belfast in the next award competition in 2017.
Some of the top cities across the UK that have placed bids for the title are Aberdeen, Birmingham, Manchester, Reading and Sheffield.
Derry City Council has also entered the contest and at the moment is planning to press ahead with its bid.
The winning city, which will be announced next Spring, will host big ticket national cultural events and also will be able to put on a year-long programme of their own.
(CL/BMcc)
Belfast City Council's Development Committee announced yesterday - after voting for a second time - that it has decided not to bid for the title of UK City of Culture 2013, leaving the way clear for a bid by Derry.
Although Belfast was one of the 29 locations that originally expressed interest in achieving the title, most councillors have changed their mind because Belfast is not in a position financially and culturally to make an effective candidature.
The Committee considered that a credible bid could not be developed by the 11 December deadline set by central government.
Moreover, in the current economic situation, it is not considered appropriate to commit the council to the expenditure involved in a bid.
Ulster Unionist Councillor Bob Stoker said he believed a bid would cost around £1m.
He stated: "I don't think we can do justice to the city of Belfast within such a short period of time."
"Would the ratepayer be getting value for money if we put £1m into a bid that is highly likely to fail?," Cllr Stoker added.
The decision will now go before the next full meeting of Belfast City Council for ratification.
However, councillors have not ruled out entering Belfast in the next award competition in 2017.
Some of the top cities across the UK that have placed bids for the title are Aberdeen, Birmingham, Manchester, Reading and Sheffield.
Derry City Council has also entered the contest and at the moment is planning to press ahead with its bid.
The winning city, which will be announced next Spring, will host big ticket national cultural events and also will be able to put on a year-long programme of their own.
(CL/BMcc)
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