Portsmouth hopes to become City of Culture 2029
Portsmouth City Council's preparing a bid to the government, aiming to be named City of Culture in 2029
Portsmouth's hoping to become a City of Culture as new applications open up.
Portsmouth City Council's preparing a bid to the government, aiming to be named City of Culture in 2029.
The City of Culture is a competition run every four years by the Department for Digital, Culture and Sport, inviting areas to celebrate and use their culture as a catalyst for economic growth, opportunity and community pride.
The winning city is awarded the title and uses the designated year to deliver a programme of cultural activities rooted in its unique identity, highlighting local strengths and stories.
Research shows that the UK City of Culture programme so far (not including Bradford 2025) has stimulated additional investment of more than £1bn.
When asked what the status would mean for Portsmouth, Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of the council, said it would bring “recognition. A vote of confidence and also understanding.”
The city’s “legendary civic pride” would be reinforced, he added, and would “bring all of our communities together and inform the next steps of the journey that the next generation wants us to take, building a strong sense of who we are and who we can be.”
“On a more direct level, it will bring £10m in government funding and Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture last year, showed just how much additional investment the title can bring, attracting a total of £45m over and above any local council contribution.”
He added that “Portsmouth has a powerful story to tell”, being a “gateway to the world for nearly a millennia” thanks to its port, and has a “strong community and creative sector to tell it brilliantly”.
Gosport Borough Council are also backing the calls for Portsmouth to become a City of Culture.
Gosport Borough Council Leader, Cllr Peter Chegwyn, said: "I am very aware of the significant impact securing such a prestigious accolade will have not only for Portsmouth but also for the wider region, particularly Gosport because of the strong physical, economic and community links that we have with our city neighbour.
“The bid presents a unique opportunity to highlight culture through all its different facets across all communities, providing a uniting thread to celebrate and inspire.
“If successful, I look forward to working together to help maximise the positive impacts and longer-term legacy of the year-long programme for the wider region, including Gosport.”