7
Leeds
Culture Club
The EU may have stopped the UK bidding, but
Leeds is pursuing its culture legacy in 2023
ulture can mean different things
to different people and that is
why a team from Leeds brought
together an eclectic and
impressive mix of performance,
dance, music, food, fashion,
literature and design to provide a showcase to
rival all others in a fight to become European
Capital of Culture 2023.
Despite the variety, enthusiasm, inspiration,
diversity and passion that this project was to
represent, it was not to be, as the European
Union stopped the UK from bidding, leaving
more than two-years’ worth of work hanging
in the balance.
In true Yorkshire style, and encouraged by the
willingness of the business and arts community
in the region, Leeds 2023 chose to power
ahead with plans to create a six-year cultural
investment programme that would deliver a
year-long celebration of culture for 2023.
With renewed commitment, flair and
ambition, Leeds 2023 has stepped forward
and for a third year has been announced as
headline sponsor of Leeds Business Week
(LBW), showing its support for the week-long
celebration that brings together thousands
of delegates that reflect the companies and
individuals that make the region a true
powerhouse.
As one of the most established events in
the business calendar, LBW was an obvious
choice for Leeds 2023 and will give it a
platform to communicate with delegates and
make it clear that there will be a new
approach that will bring about a different
but dynamic and exciting year-long focus
on culture for 2023.
Head of partnerships, David J Israel,
comments: “The bid for European Capital
www.conference-news.co.uk
for Culture was not to be, however that
doesn’t deter us as we continue to turn the
energy, creativity, diversity and opportunity
into a new vision that will deliver a
programme to inspire and delight.
“If we had turned our back on the bid we
would also have dismissed the huge amount
of work and effort that was delivered by the
team and the wider business and arts
community. Instead, we are powering on and
the sponsorship of Leeds Business Week
should send out a clear message that we still
have a lot to celebrate.
“We urge businesses to come along and to
speak to us about our plans and how they
can benefit from our work. There is a lot to be
done but we know that our year-long
celebration will be showstopping and will put
the spotlight on our region as a cultural
hotspot to rival all others.”