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With Sunderland’s bid to<br />
become UK City of Culture<br />
2021 making headlines almost<br />
daily in and around the city,<br />
talk has turned to what a win<br />
would mean for the average<br />
man and woman who lives or<br />
works here.<br />
One thing about the bid is<br />
certain – it will only happen<br />
if organisations and people<br />
from all walks of life get fully<br />
behind it.<br />
The Bridges<br />
supports culture<br />
in Sunderland<br />
“Sunderland needs<br />
culture, it needs to<br />
embrace it.”<br />
The Bridges Centre Director Andy Bradley<br />
That’s just one of the reasons why the<br />
Bridges is a huge supporter of the plans to<br />
get the city to win the coveted title, at the<br />
same time understanding what it will also<br />
mean to the economy of Sunderland.<br />
Centre Director Andy Bradley believes<br />
everyone who lives, works or just spends<br />
leisure time in the city should be getting<br />
behind the bid, as he feels it will have a huge<br />
and lasting impact.<br />
“Sunderland needs culture, it needs to<br />
embrace it,” he said. “The bid is all about<br />
embracing cultural opportunities.<br />
“Vibrancy is the key. We want to improve as<br />
a city, bring more people and businesses in<br />
which would lead to a much more eclectic mix<br />
in the future, which is something we all want.”<br />
The Bridges has already played host to<br />
several cultural events in the last few years,<br />
including the Month of Photography, the<br />
Digital Zoo exhibition, the Beamish roadshow<br />
and the Caravan Gallery tour.<br />
Events like these showcase the fact that<br />
cultural activities aren’t confined to art<br />
galleries and museums and that a successful<br />
bid will offer the opportunity to explore<br />
culture in its broadest sense.<br />
“City of Culture bids don’t go to cities where<br />
there is already a massive cultural heritage,”<br />
said Andy.<br />
“Successful bids go to places with potential,<br />
which are prepared to open their arms to<br />
culture.”<br />
Putting Sunderland on the national –<br />
and international – cultural map can only<br />
be good for retail in the city, which is already<br />
benefiting from a host of new arrivals.<br />
The newest arrivals include Footasylum,<br />
Yours Clothing and Holland Barrett and<br />
plans have been submitted for new 45,000<br />
square foot NEXT store which would be built<br />
as an extension.<br />
Andy Bradley believes it shows a growing<br />
confidence in the city, which he feels would<br />
be strengthened further should Sunderland<br />
be awarded the title in 2021.<br />
“We’ve already got an amazing platform to<br />
build on here thanks to the big investments<br />
which have already been made and now we<br />
need to push forward even more and look<br />
to make Sunderland a better place to live,<br />
work and enjoy.<br />
“I believe we are already seeing a change in<br />
peoples’ attitudes and how the bid can make<br />
a big difference. I think more focus now needs<br />
to be on striving towards a more vibrant,<br />
cultural city.”<br />
“Here at the Bridges we are fully supportive<br />
of the initiative and we are looking forward<br />
to embracing every opportunity that comes<br />
up to boost the cultural experience for<br />
visitors.”<br />
vibemagazine.co.uk | @Sunderland<strong>Vibe</strong> | Sunderland<strong>Vibe</strong> 41
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