Business and senior civic leaders are backing a campaign to make Derby the 2025 海角视频 City of Culture.
The East Midlands city, which is in the middle of multi-million pound regeneration plans, is bidding for the title against cities such as Bradford, Medway, Southampton, Conwy, Armagh and Inverclyde.
Marketing Derby managing director John Forkin said: 鈥淚t is important for cities to show ambition, which is why Marketing Derby supports the bid.
鈥淥ur cultural community already provides a fantastic platform but bidding and, of course, winning would be a gamechanger in repurposing our city of the future."
The bid will be based on the city鈥檚 rich heritage at the heart of the industrial revolution, site of the world鈥檚 first factory and current home to innovators such Rolls-Royce, Bombardier, Toyota and others.
Backers say gaining the special status could boost the city鈥檚 cultural revival in the years coming out of the pandemic, bringing tourism into the city and potentially attracting millions of pounds of investment.
The 海角视频 City of Culture title is held by a city for one year and is administered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
The first holder of the title was Derry in Northern Ireland in 2013, followed by Hull in 2017, which saw an estimated 拢3.4 billion of public and private investment into the city as a result, while Coventry is the current City of Culture.
An expression of interest is currently being drawn up in Derby for submission by July 19, with a number of city organisations indicating their willingness to get behind the bid.
The city previously considered applying to become the first 海角视频 City of Culture in 2013, but it was felt back then the time was not right.
Derby City Council leader Coun Chris Poulter said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e not suggesting that Derby bids as 鈥榯he best cultural city鈥 in the 海角视频 鈥 we鈥檙e bidding as a city of aspiration, and a city of potential, which we know Derby will be able to get behind.鈥
Tony Butler, executive director, Derby Museums, said: 鈥淔or over 300 years Derby has been a centre for creativity, experimentation and making.
鈥淗ere, on the banks of the Derwent, the industrial revolution first took hold, fuelled by the ideas of scientific discovery and enlightenment.
鈥淭hat legacy resonates today as a city that is global in outlook committed to economic innovation.
鈥淓very citizen has the right to participate in cultural life. It helps define who we are and our place in the world.
鈥淚t provides citizens with the agency to create and contribute to making the places where they live. Being inspired by a rich cultural life unlocks individual ambition and generates a sense of collective joy.鈥
A partnership board made up of organisations such as Derby Museums, University of Derby, Derby City Council and Derby College will help drive forward the bid.
Derby South MP Dame Margaret Beckett, along with the city鈥檚 other two MPs Amanda Solloway and Pauline Latham, is backing the bid.
Dame Margaret said: 鈥淒erby has a great deal to offer as a city of culture.
鈥淓specially as it has been a city of so many firsts, particularly the birth of the industrial revolution where the city and the area were the bases of pioneering initiatives.
鈥淚t also sits in an area of considerable natural beauty with much to see and to visit in the locality.鈥
The DCMS guidelines says that 鈥渢owns and cities will need to articulate a strong and unique vision for their future growth, celebrating local heritage and using culture to bring communities together, build a sense of place and inspire local pride.
鈥淏idders will also be asked to demonstrate how investment in culture and creativity will drive growth, how they will open up access to culture and to develop partnerships and celebrate links with places across the 海角视频.鈥
A maximum of six places that submit an expression of interest will get 拢40,000 to develop their full bid application by January 2022.
Three will be shortlisted, visited and invited to present their plan during March and April next year before a winner is announced in May.
