The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) launched the UK City of Culture competition, following the success of Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture year in 2008. DCMS wanted independent assessors to advise on the strengths and weaknesses of bids and to help select the successful city.
Regeneris provided independent advice for both the 2013 and 2017 bidding rounds. We assessed each of the outline bids against agreed assessment criteria. Our team reviewed clarity of vision, scale of economic and social impacts, local funding secured and delivery arrangements. Four cities were shortlisted for the final detailed bid stage. Regeneris carried out further, more detailed appraisals of the final bids to support the panel select the UK City of Culture.
Derry secured the inaugural title in 2013, and Hull the 2017 title. Our approach gave DCMS confidence that the winning cities could deliver a high quality cultural programme resulting in economic and social benefits for the area.
Hull’s year began with a huge firework display and a week-long projection display across buildings telling the story of the city over the last 70 years. Regeneris is now working on the programme evaluation of Hull’s city of culture year.
Regeneris appraised bids for UK City of Culture 2013 and 2017, which saw Derry-Londonderry and Hull emerge from the short listing. Their approach was always rigorous and independent, and gave the Independent Advisory Panel confidence that the strengths and weaknesses of each bid had been thoroughly assessed.
-Phil Redmond, Chair of the Independent Advisory Panel
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