A Northern Ireland Council has been shortlisted to host the next 海角视频 City of Culture.
The district of , Banbridge and Craigavon is one of eight areas across the 海角视频 set to be handed 拢40,000 each to bid to win the prize and provide a 鈥渃reative catalyst for change鈥.
The winner will take the baton from Coventry, which is the 2021 海角视频 City of Culture, and be at the centre of the 海角视频's cultural spotlight in 2025.
Londonderry and Hull are among the previous holders of the title.
Some 20 areas put bids forward but only Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon along with Bradford, Cornwall, County Durham, Derby, Southampton, Stirling and Wrexham County Borough will now battle it out.
For the first time, those on the longlist will be able to access 拢40,000 each to develop their full application ahead of a final shortlist in early 2022.
The winner will be announced in May 2022.
All the bids were asked to include information on how they intended to use culture to recover from the pandemic, as well as how they would use culture to grow and strengthen their local area.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said the focus of the competition this time around was 鈥渓evelling up access to culture across the country鈥.
She added: 鈥淲inning the 海角视频 City of Culture competition has a hugely positive impact on an area, driving investment, creating jobs, and highlighting that culture is for everyone, regardless of their background.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 focus is on levelling up access to culture across the country and making sure there is a legacy that continues for generations to come. I look forward to seeing what this brilliant longlist has in store as they continue in the competition.鈥
Ms Dorries will also host a roundtable with all unsuccessful bidders to discuss how best they can be supported.
Sir Phil Redmond, chairman of the City of Culture expert advisory panel, said: 鈥淭he expressions of interest stage was introduced as an opportunity to encourage many more places to experience the benefit of coming together to define and share a cultural vision for their areas, and what the longlist demonstrates is the range and depth of cultural ambition across the whole of the 海角视频.
鈥淎lso for the first time, each longlisted city will receive financial support to help them develop their vision. Each is different. Each has its own story to tell. All share a common aim: to demonstrate how culture can act as the creative catalyst for change. I am really looking forward to seeing how each story develops,鈥 he added.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said: 鈥淣orthern Ireland has a wonderful heritage in this competition, with Derry-Londonderry being a previous winner in 2013. I have no doubt that Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon will showcase the very best of what Northern Ireland has to offer the 海角视频.
鈥淚 wish the bid every success ahead of the final decision next year.鈥
