Hull has today (Friday 31 January) submitted its bid to become a UNESCO Creative City of Music.
The bid is the result of more than a year of engagement with over 100 local individuals and organisations from the city’s music sector, including the University of Hull, Hull Music Service, the Adelphi, Hull College and ASM Global. The council’s cultural team has also spent time learning from existing UNESCO cities of music – Belfast and Liverpool.
The bid has been formally submitted to the UK UNESCO board for consideration over the next month. If successful, it will go to the international board in March.
Underpinning the bid is a new five-year Music Plan for Hull, it puts music front and centre of driving the city’s reputation as one of the world’s most progressive cities in community-led culture and heritage. It aims to make Hull a global leader and a forward-thinking place to make and experience quality music.
The plan is embedded in the recently approved Cultural & Heritage Strategy and would be maximised by the opportunities the UNESCO designation brings.
It aims to boost Hull’s tradition of internationalism, connecting communities and sharing the city’s wealth of talent, creativity, green industries and improving opportunities for the city and its residents.
Councillor Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure, said:
“Hull has an incredibly rich music scene and we’re really excited to submit this bid and show UNESCO everything we have to offer as a Creative City.
“We’ve learnt a lot in the last 12 months and I’d like to thank our passionate music community for their input into what I believe is an incredibly strong bid.
“UNESCO status can bring fantastic benefits for the city, offering access to a network of almost 300 other cities worldwide, sharing cultural and creative ideas and knowledge.
“As one of the ambitions of the council’s community plan, we hope UNESCO status can help to build Hull’s reputation as a leading UK city in community led culture and heritage.”
Kath Wynne-Hague, head of culture and place at Hull City Council, said: “UNESCO Creative City status can open a wealth of doors for the city.
“Our bid centres around empowering communities, strengthening music education and community driven activity, delivering pathways into creative jobs and supporting quality education from the earliest stage.
“The plan and profile can expand our global connections, amplify our voice and help secure investment to further develop and grow talent for the world.”
New Adelphi Club General Manager, Paul John Sarel, said: “Hull is steeped in top class music history. At the New Adelphi Club, we champion music creators and performers from all sides of the spectrum and know the city’s talent is good enough to be showcased at an international level.
“I look forward to building partnerships with grassroots venues in other Music Cities to support music in the heart of communities.”
The outcome of the first stage of the bid is expected to be late February.
A formal launch of the Music Plan and Culture & Heritage Strategy will take place during the Cultural Tides conference in March.
