BUSINESSES in Hull are being urged to light the touchpaper for the city's City of Culture 2017 bid.
With the winner set to be announced next month, the leader of the company delivering the 2013 City of Culture programme in Derry-Londonderry is coming to Hull to inspire the business community to support the bid.
Shona McCarthy will speak at Hull and East Yorkshire Bondholders' breakfast next Thursday about Derry-Londonderry's year in the cultural spotlight and how the year-long cultural programme has transformed the city's image, confidence and economy.
Speaking ahead of the event, she said: "From Derry's experience, I can tell you that the potential for Hull is for it to be truly transformational. It's an opportunity to put Hull on the map as a place of cultural vibrancy and to completely galvanise its citizens, across all of the sectors of the community, behind one vision."
Ms McCarthy said the City of Culture programme had transformed perceptions of Derry-Londonderry and believes winning the title would have a similar effect on Hull.
"Externally, we have received really positive coverage in the national media, which had become so accustomed to telling the same old story about Derry – a story of a troubled city with a history of political strife," she said.
"They have come here and seen not just that we have got the year of culture right, we have got it extraordinarily right.
"Internally, people are now seriously walking tall. We are getting emails and messages from people who are saying they have never been so proud of their city.
"That is a step change in how people see their own place.
"The confidence, hope and aspiration that has come from being the UK's first ever City of Culture is really powerful."
Ms McCarthy is visiting Hull just weeks before judges choose the UK City of Culture 2017, with Hull being one of four cities shortlisted to be the country's cultural capital in four years' time.
The chief executive officer of the Culture Company 2013 will also use the event to describe how, even part way through the year, Derry-Londonderry's £16m cultural programme has resulted in at least a five-fold economic return.
Hull 2017 bid director Andrew Dixon and Jon Pywell, Hull City Council's lead officer on the City of Culture bid, will also speak at the event.
Councillor Steve Bayes, Hull City Council portfolio holder for Hull's City of Culture bid, said: "The potential that being the UK City of Culture brings is enormous.
"Being one of the final four candidate cities for 2017 has already brought benefits to Hull, including an increased media profile and the harnessing of city's creative talent behind the bid.
"This event will provide insights into the opportunities that being the next City of Culture will bring for the city and its businesses."
The breakfast is being held on the eve of the Freedom Festival, another showcase for Hull's credentials for the 2017 City of Culture crown.
It is being sponsored by Hull property development and investment company Wykeland and will be hosted at its newly opened Bridgehead business park in Hessle.
Wykeland managing director Dominic Gibbons said: "It would be an enormous economic, social and cultural boost for Hull to be named UK City of Culture 2017 and we're fully behind the bid."
Bondholders members should email esther.damary@hull.co.uk to book a place at the breakfast.
