The title of UK City of Culture 2021 is now up for the taking, and 11 towns and cities have put in their bids.
They are:
- Coventry
- Hereford
- Paisley
- Perth
- Portsmouth
- St David’s and the Hundred of Dewisland
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Sunderland
- Swansea
- Warrington
- Wells.
The current City of Culture is Hull. The status was inaugurated in 2013, with Londonderry.
The Heritage Lottery Fund has already committed £3 million to the 2021 title holder.
Culture minister Matt Hancock says: “UK City of Culture helps boost tourism and raises the profile of arts and culture.”