Borough sends its congratulations to "culture" city Coventry

WARRINGTON – which didn’t make the shortlist for the UK City of Culture 2021 bud – has offered its congratulations to the eventual winner, Coventry.
Cllr Dan Price, the borough council’s lead member for culture and partnerships, said: “There were some great bids for City of Culture on the shortlist including a fellow bidding town, Paisley. That said, Coventry was always one of the favourites, so it hasn’t come as a total surprise that they’ve been crowned the winner.
“I would like to congratulate them on their success and wish them luck with their preparations in the build-up to the big year.
“The City of Culture bidding process is a brilliant way to bring people and ideas together. We are already seeing positive results from our bid and it’s clear that the bid has kick-started our borough’s renewed cultural ambitions.
“With many of the town centre developments well under way, we are at the start of an exciting journey. In only a couple of years’ time our town centre will look transformed and the role of culture is to make sure it also feels transformed.
“There’s a lot of hard work to be done and difficult decisions to be made, but I’ve every confidence that Warrington will deliver.”

Geoff Settle on 12th December 2017 8:25 am 8:25 am

It would be interesting to see the content of the bid and the predicted/expected outcomes.

Having lived in Coventry for three years and participated in United Utilities activities during the 2008 Capital of Culture 2008 (when they one of the sponsors) – I can see clearly how they focused on Culture.

I dressed up as a big blue/green bird (UUs Mascot) on a couple of occasions – I did get knocked over by Ian Rush as he leaped over the fence for a fun run from Castle Street – it was good fun as were the many projects undertaken to support the bid. I even turned up at Brook Acre Primary School assembly where I was a governor and the children loved him but some were a bit scared at the start – but then joined in the fun.

I remember taking part in many community events with UU, gardening and community centre projects – in fact I’m still using my volunteers coat for painting jobs at Museum Street on the Tranquillity Courtyard project for the Warrington Visually Impaired People.

Did we have a mascot planned and what were the activities in store?

On a recent trip to a 30th anniversary at the Lanchester Polytechnic (named after the Lanchester Motor Company (the Poly became Coventry Uni and Lanchester evolved to Jaguar via BSA) I saw the many great changes that have taken place through investment but also those that they are going to tackle around the ring road and beyond.

They have kept their historic buildings that weren’t bombed in WW2 – many great bands visit, and new raw talent is supported and then there is the rich cultural history, Lady Godiva – so their win will certainly give them a great and much needed boost. They have a rich engineering history that they champion.

The footy team certainly need a shot in the arm and there are some grim spots and a strong mix of cultures.

Anyway, I’m sure we are going to celebrate the history and culture of Warrington. I’m sure that by looking at what they do and learning from where we didn’t do so well by opening up the bid to the public for scrutiny will in the long term be of benefit.

It is unfortunately that the saga of Garnet Tower has come to a sad conclusion but at least I painted a blue skyline version – admittedly not one of my best watercolours but the former Mayor and Mayoress of Lisburn & Castlereagh liked it, when I presented it to them at their charity evening.

I might even hold a 2nd historic art competition that was held in Bridge Street – oh but MacIntye had to move out for the work and couldn’t be accommodated – they had to make way for the development – still it went well and made a bit of money for the Mayor’s Charity that year – even if it did finished-off their enterprise of selling local art and art therapy for their members.

They did want to continue but costs of other premises were too high. I hope their closure and that of Allen’s Art shop haven’t set the trend may be the new development can accommodate such an art & cultural need for local artists.

3 Comments

Geoff Settle on 12th December 2017 8:25 am 8:25 am

It would be interesting to see the content of the bid and the predicted/expected outcomes.

Having lived in Coventry for three years and participated in United Utilities activities during the 2008 Capital of Culture 2008 (when they one of the sponsors) – I can see clearly how they focused on Culture.

I dressed up as a big blue/green bird (UUs Mascot) on a couple of occasions – I did get knocked over by Ian Rush as he leaped over the fence for a fun run from Castle Street – it was good fun as were the many projects undertaken to support the bid. I even turned up at Brook Acre Primary School assembly where I was a governor and the children loved him but some were a bit scared at the start – but then joined in the fun.

I remember taking part in many community events with UU, gardening and community centre projects – in fact I’m still using my volunteers coat for painting jobs at Museum Street on the Tranquillity Courtyard project for the Warrington Visually Impaired People.

Did we have a mascot planned and what were the activities in store?

On a recent trip to a 30th anniversary at the Lanchester Polytechnic (named after the Lanchester Motor Company (the Poly became Coventry Uni and Lanchester evolved to Jaguar via BSA) I saw the many great changes that have taken place through investment but also those that they are going to tackle around the ring road and beyond.

They have kept their historic buildings that weren’t bombed in WW2 – many great bands visit, and new raw talent is supported and then there is the rich cultural history, Lady Godiva – so their win will certainly give them a great and much needed boost. They have a rich engineering history that they champion.

The footy team certainly need a shot in the arm and there are some grim spots and a strong mix of cultures.

Anyway, I’m sure we are going to celebrate the history and culture of Warrington. I’m sure that by looking at what they do and learning from where we didn’t do so well by opening up the bid to the public for scrutiny will in the long term be of benefit.

It is unfortunately that the saga of Garnet Tower has come to a sad conclusion but at least I painted a blue skyline version – admittedly not one of my best watercolours but the former Mayor and Mayoress of Lisburn & Castlereagh liked it, when I presented it to them at their charity evening.

I might even hold a 2nd historic art competition that was held in Bridge Street – oh but MacIntye had to move out for the work and couldn’t be accommodated – they had to make way for the development – still it went well and made a bit of money for the Mayor’s Charity that year – even if it did finished-off their enterprise of selling local art and art therapy for their members.

They did want to continue but costs of other premises were too high. I hope their closure and that of Allen’s Art shop haven’t set the trend may be the new development can accommodate such an art & cultural need for local artists.

Sha on 12th December 2017 4:05 pm 4:05 pm

“The City of Culture bidding process is a brilliant way to bring people and ideas together. We are already seeing positive results from our bid and it’s clear that the bid has kick-started our borough’s renewed cultural ambitions.”
What a waste of money a bid from Warrington was!
What ‘positive results’???
” kick-started our borough’s renewed cultural ambitions.” – yeah sure! – the demolition of the water tower and cabinet works and planned destruction of the central library interior etc. etc. etc.

positron on 13th December 2017 3:05 pm 3:05 pm

“ in a couple years time our town centre will look transformed and the role of culture is to make sure it also feels transformed.”….please what you mean by this remark Dan.