Exeter City Council has confirmed plans to submit a bid for the UK’s City of Culture title.
The move to submit an expression of interest (EOI) will see Exeter compete with other cities including Plymouth, Ipswich, Bristol, Wrexham, and Portsmouth for the award.
According to the council, the bid comes after five months’ worth of ‘extensive engagement and consultation’ to help produce the local authority’s new five-year Cultural Strategy for Exeter.
It was formed in collaboration with creatives, artists, residents, and cultural organisations, with the latter participating in the delivery of the strategy alongside the council.
The council has confirmed that the strategy will outline its ambitions for success in becoming a prominent city of culture, with the goal of ‘delivering a lasting legacy to ensure Exeter becomes a place where everyone feels creative confidence’.
Council leader Phil Bialyk said the bid is a ‘a chance?to put Exeter once again on the national and international map’.
Highlighting the city’s thriving sports, leisure, literature, and art scenes, Cllr Bialyk said the council has ‘more than demonstrated Exeter’s ability to rise to?the occasion and host big international events that put culture at the heart of [its] offer’.
Chief Executive, Bindu Arjoon, added: ‘We are a city that thinks differently. Exeter is a?youthful, growing city and a regional capital. When it comes to culture, we believe Exeter has so much to offer.
‘Culture has to matter in everyday life, for residents and visitors across the city and that’s at the heart of our bid. We want Exeter to be a city where people feel they belong, where opportunities are shared, and where place really matters.’
