Stratford congratulates 'City of Culture' Coventry

THE leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council has congratulated Coventry after it was named the next UK City of Culture.

The council, along with the other five councils in Warwickshire, contributed £2,000 towards the cost of the bid, which was led by the Coventry City of Culture Trust, Coventry City Council and the University of Warwick.

Cllr Chris Saint said: “The district council would like to extend its sincerest congratulations to the team behind the bid, who have worked so tirelessly to put this bid together and especially with partners across the whole region and we’re proud to have supported the bid.”

Coventry beat off strong competition from Paisley, Stoke, Sunderland and Swansea to win the prestigious national title in 2021 and was named the winner live on BBC TV on Thursday night.

Work will start straight away to deliver the plans for an incredible 12 months that were set out in the city’s bid to the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport.

Laura McMillan, manager of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “This is a win for Coventry, a win for young people and a win for diversity. The economic impact will be huge for the city and the West Midlands.

“It’s been a bid by and for the people of Coventry. It has brought so many people and organisations together and this is just the start. Over the next three years we will ensure that everyone in the city, which has been moving people by cycle car and jet engine, is now moving people through culture.”