Plymouth misses out on 2017 City of Culture but sets sights on Mayflower 2020

Plymouth has not been selected in the shortlist of four regional centres hoping to host the 2017 City of Culture, it was revealed in an announcement today (Wednesday 19 June).

Plymouth was one of eleven entrants into the competition which was whittled down to four by the judging panel. The four successful cities are Dundee, Hull, Leicester and Swansea Bay (covering Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath, and Port Talbot).

But the bid committee has pledged to continue promoting Plymouth as a creative hub and to focus now on the 200th anniversary of Mayflower celebrations in 2020.  Speaking via Twitter, they said:

"HUGE shame - but we're all clearly ready, so, ... #Plymouth2017 becomes #Plymouth2020. This time we don't have to wait tho'. All starts now."

The shortlisted locations will be asked to submit fuller, detailed bids for consideration before the overall winner is announced in November.

The other unsuccessful bids are Aberdeen, Chester, East Kent (covering Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Thanet), Hastings and Bexhill on Sea, Portsmouth and Southampton and Southend on Sea.

Plymouth's bid team led by its Chair (and Chief Executive of the Theatre Royal), Adrian Vinken OBE, began work on the initial 30-page vision document in January and submitted the bid on 30 April.

The bid, supported by Plymouth City Council, sparked a vibrant campaign across the city and via social media to encourage Plymouth people, organisations, businesses and celebrities such as home grown Olympian, Tom Daley to 'back the bid'.

Plymouth 2017 said on Twitter:

"Bad news. We didn't get it. Good news - Plymouth is ready NOW to be a cultural hub... this has proved it. Working towards Mayflower 2020.

"Congratulations and good luck to Hull, Leicester, Dundee and Swansea Bay"

Adrian Vinken said via the Plymouth 2017 Twitter feed: "It is important we remain proud of having put together a really credible bid, true to the Plymouth we all know and love."

Is this just the beginning of a confident new cultural vibrancy in our city? Tell us about your favourite cultural place, venue or event in Plymouth. Write a blog, a review or news article, or post an event on The Plymouth Daily.