Hull is celebrating today after being shortlisted to become the UK's City Of Culture 2017.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced that Hull had made the final four in the race to take the title and will face off against Dundee, Leicester and Swansea Bay.
Hull will now need to submit a detailed bid by September, showing how it could logistically host the City Of Culture and what programme of events it would stage.
The winning city will be announced in November.
Steven Bayes, Hull's portfolio holder for cultural events, said: "I'm very pleased. I'm actually more relieved than elated. It's been a lot of hard work to make this come to fruition but it's been worth the effort.
"It demonstrates that the judges have seen the potential in Hull and that every part of the city has come together to work in partnership to show what we've got to offer."
Councillor Bayes said it will be a hard task to clinch the actual title against Dundee, Leicester and Swansea, adding he was surprised by the eventual shortlist.
He said: "I'm surprised there was no one there from the south coast. What we have to do now is get together a more detailed bid and that means raising our game again.
"Whatever the final result, it is important that we have already made progress here in Hull and will go on to keep improving what the city has to offer."
Bid adviser Andrew Dixon said: "Our plan to make a serious bid and emerge slowly as a real contender seems to have paid off, with the judges seeing that Hull can make the most of what City of Culture 2017 has to offer.
"This is a huge vote of confidence in the work of the council and the cultural sector. The hard work starts here and we want to bring partners locally, regionally, nationally and internationally along with us.
"We will continue to promote culture made in Hull to celebrate our quirkiness, our links to freedom and explore our roots and routes to re-establish our place in the UK, Europe and the world."
Culture 2017 steering group member Adrian Friedli, interim director of ArtLink, said: "Hull has a lot to gain from being shortlisted and being a contender to win the title.
"The work to further build our capacity through the £3m Creative People and Places Programme will help people form across the city to get involved in culture which will help to enrich people's lives and bring benefits in terms of health and wellbeing."
Hull North MP Diana Johnson said: "I am delighted that Hull has been shortlisted for the next stage of City of Culture 2017.
"With Hull City's footballers back in the Premiership, making the top four for City of Culture is a great opportunity, alongside green energy, to bring business and much-needed jobs to Hull. I'm sure that everyone in Hull will now step up the efforts to win that bid."
Culture minister Ed Vaizey congratulated the four shortlisted cities.
He said: "I want to congratulate the four shortlisted cities who have made it this far, and indeed all 11 cities who put time and great effort into submitting bids.
"The events in Derry-Londonderry over recent weeks highlight just how much of an impact being 'City of Culture' can have. It brings together communities, encourages economic growth, and inspires social change and the shortlisted cities should be very proud of the bids they have put together so far."
If Hull could take the title it would mean an £11m investment in cultural events across the city, including 1,500 events, 25 festivals, 12 artist residencies –including one on the Humber Bridge – and collaborations with partner cities such as Rotterdam and Reykjavik.
TV writer Phil Redmond, who chaired the panel that chose the shortlist, said: "It was incredibly difficult to decide on a shortlist as all the bids recognised the power of culture to bring about social change and offered innovative and interesting programmes.
"In the end the panel thought the four shortlisted cities offered plans that were ambitious, realistic and would not only deliver for their communities, but would also maintain the momentum created around the success of Derry-Londonderry."
The announcement, which was made at 11am, has met with an enthusiastic response on Twitter.
Fashion business WedgeWelly tweeted: "OMG we're literally dancing around with excitement!"
Hull Truck Theatre said: "Well done Hull! Great day for the city!"
The office of police commissioner Matthew Grove tweeted: "Congratulations Hull! Shortlisted for city of culture 2017. Great news for the city. Get behind it!"
Follow Hull's City Of Culture bid on Twitter at @Hull2017.
• Ian Midgley on Hull's City of Culture bid
