Paisley makes shortlist in UK City of Culture 2021 bid

THE team behind Paisley’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2021 has said they are “in it to win it” after becoming the sole Scottish place shortlisted.

The Renfrewshire town is up against Coventry, Stoke, Sunderland and Swansea for the title after the 11 places bidding were narrowed down to five.

The only other Scottish entrant was Perth, which has not made the shortlist.

The UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will announce the winner at the end of the year.

The Paisley 2021 Partnership Board which placed the bid claims if Paisley is chosen it could provide a £172 million economic boost to the town and create the equivalent of 4,700 jobs over a 10-year period.

Board chairman, Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson, said: “For the judges to have shortlisted us is a major endorsement of our ambitions for Paisley and Renfrewshire – and we are in it to win it.

“I know local people will be absolutely thrilled at this news – we want to thank every one of them as they are the ones whose incredible contribution made it happen.”

He said more than 30,000 people joined in with the bid, equivalent to almost half the town’s population, and that winning the title would be a “major boost”.

He added: “Aside from hosting some of the world’s best performers and bringing more than a million people to Paisley in 2021, it would over the long term create thousands of new jobs, and allow us to attract massive investment and build a new town centre economy with tourism and creativity at its heart.”

Paisley 2021 bid director Jean Cameron added: “There’s never been a Scottish winner and we would be thrilled to be the first – we are now Scotland’s bid and would love to see the whole country get behind us.”

Watch: David Tennant, Paolo Nutini, Gerard Butler and more name-checked in new Paisley 2021 video

The winner of the award, which comes with a £3 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant, will be chosen in December. Due to the preparation required for the tenure, UK City of Culture status is only awarded every four years.

After making the announcement on Friday, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, John Glenn, said: “We have received strong bids from across the UK and now have a fantastic shortlist of five that reflect the diversity and cultural ambition of our towns and cities.

“I want to congratulate all eleven bids which offered brilliant examples of how to celebrate their own unique culture and heritage, and showed just how prestigious and coveted the UK City of Culture is.

“The strength of the competition showed us how valuable our cultural assets are to our towns, boosting tourism and jobs in local communities.

“I have seen first hand how Hull has embraced its status as City of Culture 2017, and how beneficial it has been for the area. I am looking forward to seeing what will come in 2021.”

Phil Redmond, chair of the UK City of Culture panel, added: “The quality, commitment and enthusiasm that came across from the eleven bidders made deciding a shortlist to recommend to ministers as difficult as it was for the two previous UK City of Culture competitions.

“The appetite for using culture to bring about regeneration and to strengthen communities is clearly stronger than ever.”

Within months of winning the title for this year, Hull opened more than 450 events, exhibitions and activities, prompting at least 1.4 million visits.

“We’re only halfway through the year and we’re already seeing the huge benefits Hull is enjoying, said Martin Green, director of Hull 2017.

“But what has impressed me the most is how the people of this city have taken ownership of their year, with 90% trying at least one cultural event in the first three months.”

The shortlisted areas now have until the end of September to submit a final bid and unsuccessful entries will be offered feedback and support from ministers and officials.