Being named UK City of Culture 2025 would propel Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon onto the world stage, unleash its huge creative potential and put in place the foundations for an inclusive, diverse and culturally-rich society for future generations, a London event showcasing the region has heard.
Attended by key stakeholders supporting ABC25 – Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon’s bid to be named UK City of Culture 2025 – the showcase heard how the borough’s unique mix of a historical city, classic market town and 1960s New Town would provide a rich programme of events for the year, making a compelling case for a winning bid.
The event – held in the House of Commons in Westminster – follows news last year that the Borough’s bid had reached the final eight in the race to take the title of UK City of Culture 2025, clearly demonstrating the significant benefits that a win would have for the region and Northern Ireland.
Attendees heard how the investment which would follow the accolade would help level up public investment in cultural regeneration in the borough which is currently far behind comparative regions in both the UK and Republic of Ireland by aiding the development of new creative projects, investment in economic and digital infrastructure, and engaging and exciting more people to experience all that the borough has to offer . In addition, a win would provide a voice for the smaller cities across the UK to be heard in the race for investment in cultural place making to create longterm generational change.
It would also help boost an underperforming tourism economy through the development of additional accommodation, the reimagining of public spaces, and by attracting both public and private investment, while also championing a stronger sense of civic pride and environmental awareness by making sustainability a core theme within the planned year of events.
Crucially, success for ABC25 would stem the continuous flow of young people leaving the region by creating employment opportunities, and breathing new life into cultural places and spaces to build a vibrant economy for the next generation to flourish.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Alderman Glenn Barr, said: “It is hard to over estimated how transformational it would be for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon to be named UK City of Culture 2025. I firmly believe we already have all the ingredients needed to make a major impact on the world stage due to our historic foundations, cultural aspirations, and intriguingly diverse traditions. All we need is the opportunity that winning this title would bring, to allow us to reach our true potential.
“Whether it is the deep rooted heritage, architecture and traditions of Armagh City, the bustling market town of Banbridge or the industrious new town of Craigavon, we have a diverse spread of conurbation and rural settings which will reap the benefits of ABC25. We can’t wait to show the judges just what we have planned, not just for 2025 but for the generations which follow.”
Designed by artists, cultural practitioners, communities and even creative bureaucrats, the event programme for 2025 has been developed following extensive creative and community consultation and is built around the themes of Nurture and Nature, Traditions for the Future, and Provoking Thought.
The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport longlisted Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon as one of the last eight in the competition to be named UK City of Culture 2025 in October 2021. Others on the list include Bradford, Cornwall, Derby, County Durham, Southampton, Sterling and Wrexham County Borough.
The successful entrant will benefit significantly from millions of pounds of investment in social, economic and culture-led regeneration initiatives and events that will be extensively promoted across the UK and internationally.
