Sheffield looks to next stage of City of Culture 2029 bid
The winner will be revealed early next year
After months of work, the focus is now turning to the next stage of Sheffield's bid to be crowned UK City of Culture 2029.
Yesterday the shortlist was revealed which included Sheffield among three other locations; Wrexham, Milton Keynes and Blackpool.
The next stage of the competition will see shortlisted places welcome the expert panel of judges to each city and present their proposals, before the eventual winner of UK City of Culture 2029 is announced in early 2027.
The winner will receive a £10 million prize from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, while each of the three runners-up will receive £125,000 to take forward elements of their bids.
This means Sheffield will receive funding regardless of the final outcome.
However many people believe the city has what it takes to win the title
Reverend and the Makers singer Jon Mcclure is supporting the bid:
"We gave the world football in 1857, and I'm very proud to be the chairman of the world's oldest football club.
"Then we gave the world three, four genres of music, and I think other cities where they shout about ourselves, it's probably not been culturally appropriate for us to do that, but I think we've got to change that.
"I think it can be self harming if we don't go you know what this city is brilliant.
"This city is incredible and sooner or later somebody is going to have to recognise that.
"It's not news to say years ago we have had the highest proportion of alumni who stay in the city.
"That's not an accident, it's because people love the city, the people, the culture, the independent spirit."
Sheffield City Council say the bid has been built on the contributions of 1,400 people which it says reflects Sheffield’s world-renowned creative heritage, as well ambitious future plans.