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Post by Nowhere Man on Sept 21, 2009 20:29:52 GMT
Following on from Liverpool's very successful year as EUROPEAN Capital Of Culture, you may have heard that the Government has announced a UK version, a sort of "local" one you may say. The candidates are:Aberdeen, Barnsley Belfast Birmingham Bradford Brighton and Hove Carlisle Chester Chichester Chorley Council Bath Cornwall County Durham Derby Derry City Gloucester and Cheltenham Hull Ipswich and Haven Gateway Leicester City Manchester Norwich Oxford Pennine Lancashire Reading Sheffield "The Countryside" Urban South Hampshire and Wakefield. Love the "The Countryside" one, that just about covers it.... and "Urban South" hmm, I think they need to be narrowed down a bit. Some interesting ones there, notably, Bradford and Oxford both having another go, having failed to make the shortlist for the 2008 prize in 2003. Also, no NewcastleGateshead who came second to Livepool, instead being replaced by County Durham, who I think would be a good bet to win as they would rely on Newcastle and maybe even Northumberland to see them through.
Yawn, no surprise Manchester is there and will no doubt do well.
Carlisle and Chester could be good outside bets.
But what do you think? How many of the above have you been to and found a cultural haven?
Maybe this needs a poll-thingy, but I don't know how to set them up! Al, please feel free to alter this post if you want.
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alix
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 340
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Post by alix on Sept 22, 2009 13:09:26 GMT
says it all about mine & Rhi's home town. the only way there's enough culture in the city of Gloucester is if we pair up with Cheltenham Spa! I mean don't we have enough culture, there's a Cathedral where Harry Potter, Doctor Who and that 90's TV series about a boys choir was filmed, the Historic Docks where other Dramas were filmed (ok actually Glos council have wrecked the Docks) occasionally championship winning Rugby & Cricket team, one of the few Beatrix Potter stories not set in the Lake district is the Tailor of Glos (ok so the true version of that story isn't so cutsey) Dick Whittington (ok so he left glos to make his mark in the world - these kids stories really don't help our tourism board) Some odd bits of Roman architecture & now i'm struggling. But it's not like Cheltenham has much more a 3rd devision footie team, a key centre for the Arts & Craft movement, the Race Course and Gold Cup week the Literature festival (BTW Peter Blake talking this year ) Jazz Festival Science Festival Music Festival birth place of Gustav Holst childhood home & final resting place of Brian Jones Regency architecture hmm, so on reflection why they dragging Cheltenham down by tacking Gloucester on?
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Post by The End on Sept 22, 2009 13:31:41 GMT
Let's not go to Gloucester!! LOL
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rhian
And That's A Start
Posts: 23
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Post by rhian on Sept 22, 2009 18:12:41 GMT
says it all about mine & Rhi's home town. Dick Whittington (ok so he left glos to make his mark in the world - these kids stories really don't help our tourism board) I sent you my story about that, right?
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Post by Moonraker on Sept 22, 2009 22:37:25 GMT
I might be living in Cheltenham come 2013! What do they mean by "urban south"? And precisely *which* 'countryside'. Where's Wakefield and why is Hampshire pairing up with a place I've not heard of when it's probably enough on it's own with Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth to boast of? I can't comment on the northern cities I know very little about up there unfortunately.
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Post by Nowhere Man on Sept 23, 2009 18:00:13 GMT
the only way there's enough culture in the city of Gloucester is if we pair up with Cheltenham Spa! I would not worry, Newcastle joined forces with Gateshead across the Tyne win they bid for the 2008 prize and became NewcastleGateshead... they still lost (we did not need Birkenhead ) I reckon this will be won by a region, not any particular town or city, or joint bid. I think it will need to be, as being the UK's first attempt at this, it will need to appear to be a large scale event, hence spread across a county. County Durham is a clear winner for me, it's not down south and so won't have calls of "Fix! - they get everything". And part of this whole set-up is to prove that there is "Culture" - however you measure that(?) outside of London and Southern England. Also, it's not in the North West, with Liverpool winning the big European prize, I can't see another north west region winning, as Phil Redmond (Liverpool Culture Company MD) is on the judging panel, if anywhere else in the north west were to win, there would be more calls of "Fix...!" Add to that, it's a consolation prize for all the moaning that came out of NewcsatleGateshead when the 2008 European award went to Liverpool. I also think that Co. Durham will rely on nearby Newcastle and the countryside and castles of Northumberland to add to it's portfolio. Having said all that County Durham has a lot to offer is capable of staging some major events. If you live in any of the areas listed above (ie Cheltenham & Gloucester) I would urge you to to get involved in what the area has to offer and not just think "There is nothing here". It's a lot of fun finding stuff out what is on your doorstep, live where you live like a tourist and see what new stuff you can find! Maybe post them within this thread. Also, don't forget, the winning bid would be awarded an amount of money to fund and stage events, so to a degree would "import" culture and events to cater for all tastes. Good luck to Cheltenham & Glouster!
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alix
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 340
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Post by alix on Sept 24, 2009 23:18:59 GMT
Actually got a text from my mum this afternoon - apparently Cheltenham is getting cooler by the year - The Overtures are doing a gig there next Feb. (day before my mum's birthday so I think I may be a good daughter and take some time off work and visit my parents ) Rhi - can't remember if you ever managed to send me the Glos tourism board short story, do remember us talking about it. if you find send it across i need a good laugh. Seriously you'd have a lack of civic pride if from childhood you'd been taught that doctors only go to glos once, education is so good you'll think your cat talks and precious metals are used in paving slabs and oh yeah mice sow waistcoats! But the mice had one thing wrong the note read in very small hand writing "no more twist" and 2013 move to Cheltenham- that's planning ahead. You do realise it may have been washed away in a flood by then?
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