27/03/2002

Belfast presents its capital of culture bid

Belfast has officially launched its bid to become the European Capital of Culture in London on Wednesday March 27.

The Lord Mayor presented the bid, entitled 'oneBelfast', to a group of young Belfast people who contributed to the programme – Melanie Lyttle, Cliona Branney and Edmund Yao. The trio then were taken to Belfast International Airport in a taxi decked out in the Capital of Culture colours and flown to London by British European – the official airline of the Belfast bid – where they presented the bid to the culture ministry in Whitehall.

Chief Executive of Imagine Belfast 2008, Shona McCarthy, said: "The European Capital of Culture is not just about a colourful sideshow which will come to Belfast for one year, then move on. The lead up to 2008 will demonstrate that culture has the capacity to effect real and positive change. With creative thinking and vision 2008 will be a spectacular year and the legacy will be a Belfast transformed both in our own eyes and in the eyes of the world."

The bid is divided into four themes – One Belfast, Through the Eyes of a Child, Made in Belfast and To Live Without Walls – and offers a framework to develop an improved cultural programme over the next six years.

Lord Mayor of Belfast Jim Rodgers said: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the city – for the benefit of everyone in Belfast I hope that the magnificent work that has been done by so many on the bid will be rewarded."

Singer Brian Kennedy will join the Lord Mayor, councillors and members of the Imagine Belfast board at a reception in the City Hall to mark the bid's submission.

The shortlisting will take place by October and the final decision over a shortlist submission will be announced in March 2003.

(GMcG)

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