County’s bid for City of Culture gears up with invite to Lancashire citizens to get involved
On 29 May 2021, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden launched the search for UK City of Culture 2025 and, for the first time, the competition will welcome bids from groups of towns joining together to win the bid for an area.
Lancashire will bid for the title of City of Culture 2025, the first time a county has re-imagined itself as a virtual city with a mission to produce an ambitious, inclusive cultural programme that will be woven together to integrate the urban, the coast and the countryside.
The citizens of Lancashire are at the heart of the bid and as part of the bid process, Lancashire 2025 is now recruiting a Citizen’s Advisory Panel; a unique opportunity for citizens from all walks of life to help shape and influence the county’s submission, reflecting the many points of view and rich diversity of citizens in the county.
Individuals that represent cultural links, business, technology, education, skills, rural groups, grassroots, volunteer coordination, charity groups and bodies focusing on inclusion and representation are being asked to apply to join the Lancashire 2025 Citizen’s Advisory Panel.
Loz Kaye, Citizen Engagement Manager for Lancashire2025 said: “Lancashire’s strength is its amazingly creative people who will be at the heart of our bid for UK City of Culture bid and it is vital that we hear the county’s voices in what we do.
“We are looking for people who are passionate about a positive future for Lancashire, and the role played by culture, arts, nature and digital technology.
“People who are committed to improving Lancashire and have strong links to their communities, whether that’s in a small rural village or in a busy urban centre. This bid aims to link all kinds of communities through culture, creativity and participation.
“The Citizens’ Advisory Panel is a great chance to be part of something really ambitious. Something that will bring investment and the cultural future our county deserves.”
Delivered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in collaboration with the devolved administrations, the UK City of Culture competition 2025 will use culture as a catalyst for levelling up areas outside London and put culture at the heart of their plans to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
To learn more about Citizen’s Advisory Panel go to Lancashire2025.com and follow all the latest news on Twitter @Lancashire2025 #ImagineLancashire
Those interested in joining the Citizen’s Advisory Panel should contact Citizen Engagement Manager Loz Kaye at [email protected] for more information and an application form. The recruitment will close on Sunday 4th July.