City centre businesses underlined their backing for Hull’s City of Culture bid after hearing the story so far from leaders of the project at the latest HullBID networking event.

Andrew Dixon, Bid Adviser of the City of Culture bid, told the audience at Hull Truck Theatre that a successful campaign would be a “game-changer” for Hull.

Jon Pywell, Hull City Council’s lead officer for the project, said the campaign is “the culmination of years of work on culture and what culture can do for this city.”

The comments came at the second of HullBID’s quarterly networking events, which were introduced during the summer in response to feedback from city centre business owners who said they would welcome an opportunity to meet other business people within the HullBID area.

Kathryn Shillito, HullBID City Centre Manager, said: “Our Board of Directors, which comprises people from a cross-section of city centre businesses, have already written a letter demonstrating our support for the City of Culture bid and as the countdown continues to the decision we felt this was a great opportunity to show our members the progress that is being made.”

Jon Pywell said the details of the bid are strictly confidential but he added: “We have explored Hull’s unique character as a place. The key about the programme of events that we are proposing is that we have looked at the things that make this city what it is.

“The Hull BID Board has given its full support and that is essential for us in terms of demonstrating that we have the backing of businesses in this city. As an organisation and as a group of businesses you are critical to the success of the bid.”

Andrew Dixon said: “The bid is part of a journey which started ten years ago with the building of Hull Truck Theatre and Albemarle Music Centre. It is a long journey but it has already had success.

“It will be a game-changer if the city is selected, but the journey does not stop if we are not selected. Economic regeneration and the growth of cultural industries are central to the delivery of the City Plan for Hull.”

Kathryn added: “The team at HullBID are fully behind the City of Culture bid and have taken part in the discussions during the summer which have helped to shape the final submission.

“We know from our own work that culture can have a positive impact on a city’s economy, and something on the scale of City of Culture would transform our city.

“During 2013 we have invested more than £130,000 on events which have attracted people into the city centre to the benefit of our businesses, and culture has been at the core of that programme.

“We look forward to building on the success of those events next year and to doing all we can to help Hull become the 2017 UK City of Culture, and feedback from our events makes it clear that view is shared throughout the city.”

Picture caption:
Picture shows HullBID City Centre Manager Kathryn Shillito with (from left) Jon Pywell, Hull City Council’s lead officer for the City of Culture bid, HullBID Chairman Jim Harris and Andrew Dixon, Bid Advisor for the City of Culture bid.