As the previous favourite, how do Perth's chances compare?
Perth lies in a unique position, both as Scotland’s oldest city and it’s youngest, ancient crowning place of the monarchs of Scotland, historic home of the Stone of Destiny and the gateway to the Highlands. Perth is now working on a bid to become UK City of Culture 2021, hoping to boost investment, visitor numbers and regeneration to an area reliant on tourism and agriculture – both traditionally low-wage industries.
The city is already benefitting from a massive investment in the arts. Perth and Kinross Council has already committed £20 million with a further £10 million sought as part of the Tay Cities Deal. The disused City Hall will be transformed into a state of the art, modern cultural attraction. Perth Museum and Art Gallery will be revitalised and a new collection store built to house artefacts appropriately and the former St John’s School will be redeveloped to house a business incubator, encouraging those working there to support innovation in the creative sector. As part of the bid, Perth 2021 will use these regeneration projects as a foundation from which to launch an ambitious programme of cultural events, from seeking the loan of The Stone of Destiny, commissioning a digital tapestry, developing a Young Heritage Ambassadors programme and a programme of cultural involvement in schools, as well as many opportunities yet to be announced.
As part of the bid, Perth 2021 will use these regeneration projects as a foundation from which to launch an ambitious programme of cultural events, from seeking the loan of The Stone of Destiny, commissioning a digital tapestry, developing a Young Heritage Ambassadors programme and a programme of cultural involvement in schools, as well as many opportunities yet to be announced.
The bid team, consisting of members of Perth and Kinross Council and representatives from arts, culture, civic and heritage trusts are hoping that a successful bid would give the city and surrounding area a significant economic boost, drawing in visitors who might otherwise have bypassed the city. The bid team note that the process of developing a bid itself is a valuable means of drawing together people and organisations to create a cultural programme that will have a lasting legacy regardless of the outcome of the bid.
They also have the example of close neighbour, Dundee, which lost out to the city of Hull to become UK city of Culture 2017 but nevertheless continued to bring a Scottish branch of the V&A to the city and is now eyeing the opportunity to become a European Capital of Culture in 2023. Likewise, the huge programme of investment already committed in Perth will continue regardless of the success or failure of the bid and stand the city in good stead for the future.
