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It’s OUR time to shine – #MakeItSO

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City Of Culture V2 871X581

It’s OUR time to shine – #MakeItSO

This October we found out that we are through to the next round of the UK City of Culture 2025 national competition. We are up against seven other cities and areas, and we will find out in March 2022 if Southampton has made the shortlist

The victorious UK City of Culture will be announced in May 2022 and if we win the title, it will provide fantastic opportunities for the city and everyone who lives and works here.

Becoming UK City of Culture 2025 would see Southampton host a range of cultural festivities supporting culture-led regeneration. It would be a year-long celebration where everyone in Southampton is invited. Culture in its broadest term is about what makes us human, it’s our identities, it’s what we do, how we live and what we believe.

If we win, we can look forward to enjoying the benefits that other successful City of Culture winners have discovered. When Hull was crowned City of Culture in 2017 the city gained more than 800 jobs, hosted a spectacular events programme, welcomed 6 million visitors, and enjoyed a £300 million boost to their visitor economy with the resulting bustling shops, restaurants and hotels. Plus, over 100 schools engaged in their learning programmes and 56,000 young people took part in city of culture activities. These are just some of the opportunities that we hope to benefit from if we can win the City of Culture competition.

To help us win the title we need as many Sotonians as possible to support us and get behind the bid and #makeitSO.

Lynda, a council tenant from Holyrood has volunteered to become one of 10 local ambassadors for the City of Culture bid. She joins well-known Sotonian ambassadors like Craig David, Shelina Permalloo and Jenny Packham. Lynda is backing the bid because she is proud to live here and wants everyone to know what a great place Southampton is. She told us: “I’m Southampton born and bred and feel passionately about the city and my neighbourhood of Holyrood. I think winning would have a hugely positive impact, using culture to transform our city through social, cultural, and economic regeneration, making it more attractive to live, work, visit and invest in. As an ambassador I’m finding out what the city’s residents would like to see happening in the culture world. Among the suggestions I’ve received so far include crazy golf and pop-up stalls in Mayflower Park, and an outdoor theatre.”

If you’re proud of our city now is the time to let the rest of the world know, too. This could be Southampton’s time to shine, but our city needs your support to win, so please join Lynda and get involved. Stay up to date with opportunities, news and updates by following us on Twitter (@southampton2025), Facebook (@southampton2025) and Instagram (@southampton2025). Share your support for the bid on your social channels. Send us a photo that you think sums up the city or tell us about your favourite place or why you think Southampton should win. Don’t forget to tag us in and use the hashtags #MakeItSO, #SO25 and #OurSouthampton.

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