FEATURE
Backer – arts driver Anna Byrne.
Backer – singer Amelia Coburn. Backer – entrepreneur Beth Wilson.
regeneration to come to us, we can do it ourselves with collective imagination and a making-mentality that’ s still a fundamental part of our identity. What the City of Culture opportunity brings is the belief, confidence and investment needed to make it happen.
“ While developing our bid, we’ ve spoken to lots of different people across our communities about their hopes and dreams for a future Middlesbrough, but I think it’ s best summed up by a Year 5 pupil from Newport Primary School who said‘ the future was the best experience I’ ve ever had’. I want us to win it for him.”
Dr Laura Sillars, dean of culture & creativity at Teesside University and director of MIMA, believes the town is well placed to make a compelling case.
“ We’ re not starting from scratch with our City of Culture bid,” she says.“ It builds on years of investment, collaboration and ambition across our creative and cultural sector. For the first time, we have the opportunity to bring all of that energy together behind a single, shared vision for Middlesbrough’ s future.”
That ambition is shared by many of the people helping shape the town’ s growing creative reputation.
Anna Byrne, who moved to Teesside a decade ago and has since established The Auxiliary project space, founded Middlesbrough Art Week and now leads Creative Factory, believes the longlisting proves Middlesbrough belongs among the country’ s leading cultural destinations.
She insists:“ The fact that we’ ve been
longlisted proves we have what it takes to be a winner in this race. With City of Culture, we will be front page news – for all the right reasons.”
Beth Wilson returned home after studying at the London College of Fashion and building her career in London before establishing her awardwinning embroidery business back on Teesside. She believes the bid could inspire the next generation to stay and build successful creative careers on Teesside.
She said:“ This bid is about more than celebrating our culture today; it’ s about creating real opportunities and showing young people they can build an extraordinary creative future right here in Middlesbrough.”
Singer-songwriter Amelia Coburn, whose music has earned acclaim across the UK while proudly championing her hometown, is equally passionate.
She said:“ Middlesbrough has consistently punched above its weight with art, music and culture generally for as long as I can remember... we’ ve got some of the funniest, hardest-working and most creative people right on our doorstep. Up the Boro!”
The competition ahead will be fierce. But after years of growing confidence, major cultural investment and increasingly ambitious events, Middlesbrough enters the race with genuine momentum.
For a town that once helped build the modern world, City of Culture represents an opportunity to shape the next chapter of its own remarkable story.
Culture call- Bill Scott OBE DL.
Bill’ s call to back the bid
Businesses are being called on to give their support to Middlesbrough’ s UK City of Culture bid – with Bill Scott OBE DL appointed as chairman of the campaign’ s business board.
Businesses are being to ask to send to Bill short but passionate letters of support for the bid.
Wilton Engineering CEO Bill, who was recently voted by his peers as the region’ s most inspiring business leader for a third successive year, said:“ I am proud to say I was born in the centre of Middlesbrough and am therefore a proper Boro lad!
“ City of Culture status would showcase all that Middlesbrough currently has to offer in terms of opportunity, utilising its historic mantra including steel making, chemicals, engineering, energy and heavy industry, forging ahead and shifting the dial through innovation, creativity and renewed ambition.
“ The new dawn plots the path to our world-renowned tech industries including software development, animation, games and digital media as well as energy projects including hydrogen, carbon capture, offshore wind and industrial decarbonisation projects.
“ In terms of culture, we can build on the huge success of hosting the Turner Prize in our fabulous MIMA building, supporting local artists, boosting local communities, creating long-term investment and spreading the cultural ties throughout the wider Tees Valley.
“ I strongly encourage support for the bid. It is an investment in culture, jobs, creativity and the long-term future of the region.”
Mayor of Middlesbrough Chris Cooke added: " City of Culture has the power to change how people see Middlesbrough – but just as importantly, how people here see themselves. It can give our communities confidence and the opportunities to go on and achieve even more." Send your business support letter to bill. scott @ wiltonengineering. co. uk
The voice of business in the Tees region | 115