We believe that Cardiff is ready to bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2023, when the UK next hosts this prestigious accolade. The capital region of Wales, with its unique cultural life, can represent the best of the UK to the world.
When Liverpool was UK Capital of Culture in 2008, it brought in £75.8m to the economy, seeing an additional 9.7 million visitors over the year. Cardiff is more than capable of making the most of this exceptional opportunity to show off our culture on a global stage for the benefit of Wales, the nation and its people.
Over the last fifteen years, Cardiff, Newport and the surrounding valleys have changed beyond all recognition. We have a wonderful arts and cultural landscape in the city region, especially given the addition of National Theatre Wales, Wales Millennium Centre, Artes Mundi, Sŵn festival, BBC’s Roath Lock drama village and Hoddinot Hall, Newport’s Riverfront venue, Literature Wales, Diffusion: Cardiff International Festival of Photography, RWCMD’s new facilities, and much more. Plus the city has successfully hosted world music expo, WOMEX, in 2013. And in 2018, Cardiff will welcome the Eisteddfod to the city. Cardiff city region benefits from a culture of collaboration across its arts infrastructure that could maximise the benefit of such additional European investment. Taking pride of place as Capital of Culture will not only bring in the visitors but involve all our people in making and enjoying all kinds of creativity.
The capital region of Wales is booming. The Metro is a grand infrastructural project that will join up the 10 city region authorities that comprise 48% of the population of Wales; arts, culture and shared heritage are the things which bring us together.
We want to work with the Cardiff Capital Region Board, the City Deal local authorities and partners, and Welsh Government to make this bid a reality.
Yvette Vaughan Jones, CEO of Visiting Arts and chair of No Fit State Circus
Laura Drane, independent creative producer, co-founder of What Next? Cardiff, and chair of Theatr Iolo
David Drake, ffotogallery and Diffusion festival
Andrew Miller, RWCMD
David Anderson, Amgueddfa Cymru/ National Museum Wales
Michael McCarthy, Music Theatre Wales
Yvonne Murphy, Omidaze and co-founder of What Next? Cardiff
Wiard Sterk, freelance and RSA Cymru
Ed Thomas, Fiction Factory Films
Prof Olwen Moseley, Cardiff School of Art and Design/ Cardiff Met
Hilary Boulding, RWCMD
Kevin Lewis, Theatr Iolo
Rabab Ghazoul, Artist, Campaigner, Cardiff Without Culture? and Cardiff People’s Assembly
Gareth Jones, CEO and founder, Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise
Geraint Talfan Davies
Steve Blandford, Emeritus Professor of Theatre Film and TV, University of South Wales and trustee, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
Carole-Anne Davies, Chief executive, Design Commission for Wales
Clare Williams, Chief Executive, Hijinx
Kate Strudwick, Head4Arts
Greg Cullen, Shock n Awe Performance Co
Glenn Davidson, Artstation
Lleucu Siencyn, Literature Wales
Simon Harris, Lucid/ Culture lab
Leonora Thomson, WNO
Carole Strachan, Music Theatre Wales
Blanche Rowen, trac
Rebecca Gould, British Council Wales
Sophie Lewis, Sinfonia Cymru
Michelle Carwardine-Palmer, National Theatre Wales
Lisa Maguire, National Theatre Wales
Kully Thiarai, National Theatre Wales
Mathew Talfan, Photomarathon
Ed Talfan, Severn Screen
Helen Protheroe, trustee National Dance Company Wales and Greenman
Alison Woods, No Fit State Circus
Michael Garvey, BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales
Hannah Firth, Chapter
Sarah Tanburn, Sarah Tanburn Associates
Carl Grainger, Artes Mundi
Paul Kaynes, National Dance Company Wales
Ruth Garnault, RawFfest GwylGrai, Youth Arts Festival Cymru
Sara Pepper, Creative Cardiff, Cardiff University
John Rostron, Swn festival and Welsh Music Prize
Wendy York, Artis Community
Phil George, chair of Arts Council of Wales
Miranda Ballin, Valleys Kids
Ann Davies, RCT Carers Creative Writers Group
Ian Jones, S4C
Jem Treays, Run Ragged Productions