Newcastle-Gateshead has been chosen to host the 2018 Great Exhibition of the North.
Culture secretary Karen Bradley announced today the north eastern city has been selected to showcase the creative, cultural and design sectors of the north.
The other shortlisted bidders included Blackpool, Bradford and Sheffield.
The Government is contributing £5m towards the exhibition itself and a further £15m into a legacy fund to attract further cultural investment in the Northern Powerhouse.
‘The Great Exhibition of the North is fantastic news for Newcastle-Gateshead,’ said Ms Bradley.
‘It will showcase the dynamic arts, cultural and design scenes in the city and across the whole of the North.
‘It’s so important that, regardless of where you’re from in the country, everyone is able to enjoy and access great culture.
The culture secretary emphasised the exhibition would bring ‘enormous benefits’ to the region, including regeneration, increased tourism and cultural engagement.
‘Congratulations to Newcastle-Gateshead on their successful bid - I’m excited to see what summer 2018 will bring,’ she added.
The Tyneside bid was declared the winner on the recommendation of the Great Exhibition Board chaired by Sir Gary Verity.
‘Newcastle-Gateshead put forward an exciting and innovative bid to host the Great Exhibition of the North,’ said Sir Verity.
‘Their ambitious plans will showcase fantastic venues across the city and highlight their unique heritage, culture and design. People from across the country can expect an amazing show in summer 2018.’
Sir Verity also thanked the other towns and cities who bid to host the exhibition and said he was looking forward to working with them to ensure that the exhibition has ‘the widest possible reach across the whole of the North.’
News that Newcastle-Gateshead has been chosen to host the Great Exhibition has been welcomed by a number of celebrities from the north east.
Ant and Dec, the hosts of reality TV show I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, tweeted the below congratulations which was retweeted by Newcastle City Council.