Oliver Dowden – 2021 Statement on the 2025 City of Culture Bidding Process

The statement made by Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on 29 May 2021.

The UK City of Culture is a fantastic showcase of the huge impact culture has in towns and cities across the country. From Derry-Londonderry, to Hull and Coventry, previous winners have shown how the competition can deliver greater cultural participation, drive economic regeneration and boost local pride. I encourage towns and cities across the UK to put forward bids for 2025 and champion their local arts and culture scene. I’m also delighted to confirm the competition will run in future years, as a sign of our commitment to levelling up culture across the whole of the UK.