City of Culture bid: Send us your pictures to show off best of Hull

COUNCILS and committees don't make culture. People do.

So while Hull's bid to become the UK's City Of Culture in 2017 may have the paperwork completed by official bodies, campaign co-ordinators and councillors with auspicious-sounding portfolios, when it comes down to it, it is everyday people on the ground who bring life, laughter and excitement to the city's streets.

From gig nights at Hull's legendary Adelphi club and Humber Street art exhibitions to big-name comedians at Hull City Hall and internationally-acclaimed exhibitions at the Ferens Art Gallery, Hull is already a hotbed of culture – involving thousands of people every week, whether they consider themselves culture vultures or not.

And now we want you to tell us what culture in Hull means to you.

As part of the Hull's bid for City Of Culture status, bid organisers are asking you to send your pictures of what you think culture is – whether that's a treasured snap taken at The Freedom Festival, a concert or dance recital you attended or simply a picture of your favourite place to relax in the city.

For the next two weeks, until April 8, the Mail will feature your photos in the paper and online with the best ones going forward to feature in the official bid document itself.

But we don't just want your photos. We want your ideas, too.

Members of the public are being asked to submit three-word slogans to encapsulate why Hull deserves to win the culture bid.

Today, to get the ball rolling, we kick off with a three words from local playwright Dave Windass who sums up his vision of Hull with the slogan: "Unlike anywhere else".

You can submit your pictures and slogans via email, Twitter, Facebook or upload them directly to our website (see below for details) – the only guideline is to get involved.

Councillor Steven Bayes, Hull's portfolio holder for economic regeneration and employment, says a successful bid would bring financial benefits to the city – but it first needs to prove to judges it has widespread support.

"Culture is about people," said Cllr Bayes. "Bodies like the council can help facilitate and organise things like the bid, but at the end of the day, it is people that make culture.

"Culture's not just about the big things, the big events that we all know about, but about all the events that people across the city organise every day.

"We want people to tell us what they are doing and what they want us to do.

"A city's bid is only as strong as the people in that city and we want to show the judges the range and depth of talent we have in Hull."

Cllr Bayes said becoming the UK's capital of culture could see an influx of thousands of visitors and events into Hull, stimulating the economy and promoting the city's image across the country.

"It's a virtuous circle," he says. "The more events we put on, the more people come into the city, the more events are put on. It will inevitably help stimulate the service sector, the bars, restaurants and nighttime economy that sometimes struggles.

"But it's also about changing perceptions of Hull. We have a huge amount of hidden talent in Hull and we need to shout about that to the world."

Hull is now battling ten other cities including Hastings, Dundee, Leicester, Plymouth, Chester and Southend to make the final shortlist of four.

An initial bid will be made to the Department for Culture and Media (DCMS) at the end of April, incorporating your best pictures and slogans, with the final quartet going on to make more in-depth presentations.

It is thought winning the City Of Culture title could bring in millions for cultural events from funding bodies such as the Arts Council and National Lottery.

Organisers point to Derry, in Northern Ireland, which has become the UK's inaugural city of culture this year, and is hosting a £16m programme of events designed to cater for both locals and tourists.

And with a track record that includes recent events such as the Freedom Festival, the Da Vinci exhibition at Ferens, the Humber Street Sesh, Hull Comedy Festival, The Clipper Round The World Yacht Race and the Larkin toads, there's no reason why Hull shouldn't be a front-runner for the culture title, says Jon Pywell, Hull City Council's assistant head of service of economic development and regeneration.

This week, for instance, Hull Truck is hosting the world premier of Opera North's The Firework-Maker's Daughter, which will debut at the Ferensway theatre before moving on to London and New York.

Mr Pywell said: "If you look at the Da Vinci, Hockney and Warhol exhibitions at the Ferens, together they attracted somewhere in the region of 210,000 people into Hull. Those are people who otherwise wouldn't have come here.

"That's the power of culture. And people who have never been before often say how surprised they are at what it's got to offer.

"Research shows about 73 per cent of people who come to Hull come back again – that's a lot of repeat business.

"We're targeting a threefold increase in the number of visitors to Hull in the next ten years – that will help create jobs, boost the economy and create a really positive image of the city. The City Of Culture Bid is an important part of that."

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