Vibe Autumn 2016

the
Each edition of Vibe has a theme and for this With this momentum
bidBut building, and with cultural we have confidence in our talented team
edition, our theme is how we can all back the
city’s exciting bid to become UK City of
Culture 2021.
assets like National Glass Centre and the
Empire, there’s never been a better time for
Sunderland to win.
from the University of Sunderland, MAC Trust
and the city council putting our bid together.
We see the bid as a great opportunity for
Sunderland to establish itself as a national
centre for arts, heritage and culture.
Our partners have donated space in this
edition to outline their support and explain why
the UK City of Culture 2021 title would mean so
much to the city.
There is renewed energy and confidence in our
cultural sector, and a growing sense of
ambition across Wearside. From Keel Square
and the new bridge taking shape across the
Wear, to Siglion’s regeneration of the Vaux site,
and from the MAC Trust’s redevelopment of
the old Fire Station, to the exciting prospect of
the Tall Ships arriving on the Wear
2018, the city is changing.
A successful bid would put us firmly in the
cultural spotlight, attracting millions of pounds
into the city through investment in the arts,
and through what would be a huge increase in
visitor numbers. It is estimated that Hull’s
successful bid to be City of Culture 2017 will be
worth more than £60m to the city.
Four years of innovation and creativity would
culminate in a year-long programme of cultural
and artistic events the likes of which the city
and the region has never seen.
Competition for the prized title will be tough
and several places such as Coventry, Stoke,
Paisley, Hereford, Perth and Warrington have
expressed an interest.
We know something the judges will be looking
for is passion. And that is one thing that
Wearsiders have in abundance. We need to
show the judges the city is as one behind the
bid and that we really want the honour of
being UK City of Culture 2021.
So it’s not just up to the organisations,
companies and bodies who have already
expressed their support for the bid.
It’s up to us as individuals, as communities to
show our backing.
Now’s the time to back the bid … now’s the time
for Sunderland 2021.
Rob Lawson,
Editor, Vibe Magazine
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