With 1,500 events and 25 festivals already planned, this is our chance to put Hull on the map with City of Culture 2017

Malcolm Joslin (right) welcomes Jon Pywell before his presentation to the Chamber’s Hull Area Council.

IT’S our chance to put Hull on the map – with just 32 months to go until 2017, that was the message from the man in charge of delivering City of Culture 2017.

With 1,500 events and 25 festivals already planned, Jon Pywell, Assistant Head of Service, Economic Development and Regeneration for Hull City Council told the Chamber of Commerce’s Hull Area Council that the city won’t get a second chance to get this right and Hull has to deliver.

Mr Pywell told the meeting he had the privilege of putting in the first bid for UK City of Culture in 2009 and although Derry won that, they had then acquired the experience from the first bid to get the bid for 2017 right.

That success is already having a positive effect, putting the city on the map and raising Hull’s profile. The filming of Girls’ Night Out, the story of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret going out to celebrate VE Day with the public, the approval for the planned electrification of the Selby to Hull rail line and the recent Siemens’ announcement are all contributing to the positive attitude in the city at the moment.

However, City of Culture is about much more than just 2017, it’s about the legacy years, Mr Pywell said. “This will put Hull in the spotlight for the next seven years, taking us up to December 31, 2020, and he urged the business community to put themselves in the spotlight and raise their profiles by sponsoring events and activities.

Mr Pywell paid tribute to what he described as the amazing team of people around him and told the meeting that City of Culture can create wealth and jobs for the entire area, is a genuine “game changer” and said he wants to ensure visitors to the area enjoy a high quality experience”.

“Hull needed City of Culture and Hull really wanted it,” he told the meeting. “There was 85 per cent public support even before we won the bid, with incredibly strong backing from the media and local businesses of all shapes and sizes. We are introducing a City of Culture brand and we have to hand that over with integrity to the next winners.

“Key sectors which made this work are the University with its 17,000 students, the council, but significantly, the business community who really got behind the bid. The award has seen major capital investment projects accelerated and will see improvements to the Old Town, the Fruit Market area and the building of the iconic Castle Street footbridge.

“It will also bring an increase in tourism, but there is considerable optimism about the possibility of getting cruise ships to visit the city. There are also plans to attract people from within the M25 and the South East of England with events like the Turner Prize, bringing people to the area who would not normally come here and spend their money.

“Themed short break packages are another ambition in the drive to create one outward facing brand.

“Winning City of Culture is expected to bring a variety of economic benefits including 12,000 jobs, provide a minimum £60-million economic benefit in 2017 and attract around seven-million visitors to Hull,” Mr Pywell said. “People want to work with Hull”.

There is already a huge increase in media interest in the city, with the BBC’s Director General, Tony Hall, having made some very positive comments about the broadcaster supporting Hull’s endeavours.

Mr Pywell said the city is planning for an £18-million budget and around 25% of the sponsorship is now in place, with £3.5-million coming from the City Plan, £3-million from the Arts Council, £2-million for arts funding and up to £200,000 being offered for youth apprenticeships. There are already 22 private sector sponsors, or Business Angels, with 12 more lined-up.

Dr Malcolm Joslin chaired the meeting and thanked Mr Pywell on behalf of the Chamber and said he was the sure the business community’s support would continue to grow as 2017 moves ever closer.

For more information about Hull and UK City of Culture 2017, visit www.hullcc.gov.uk/2017hull