“Disappointed beyond words” Heartbreak as Portsmouth fails to be shortlisted in City of Culture bid
The shortlist for City of Culture 2029 has been revealed
A defiant Portsmouth is showcasing two huge new cultural boosts for the city despite being “disappointed beyond words” in failing in its bid to be shortlisted for the UK City of Culture 2029.
The We Are Pompey 2029 team expressed its heart felt disappointment at the outcome. But said the campaign has helped articulate a shared vision for Portsmouth’s future and demonstrated the role culture can play in the city’s continued development, with new cultural highlights being unveiled in the next few days.
Gemma Nichols, CEO of Portsmouth Creates which led the bid said: “We are of course disappointed beyond words to not to be shortlisted, but the campaign has highlighted the scale of ambition within the city and across the region. The focus now will be to build on the work to date for the whole of our community, in particular opportunities for young people across the cultural and creative sector and ensure that ideas contributed by all during the campaign inform future projects.
“We will also build on our commitment to making cultural activity more accessible and representative, building on the relationships developed with communities during the campaign and creating opportunities for residents to participate as creators, decisionmakers and cultural leaders. Support for grassroots artists and creative businesses also remains a priority area, and we will continue to invest into the creative ecology that makes Portsmouth so distinctive. We Are Pompey and we are ready to start the next chapter.”
Her words come as the government has today (Thursday, October 22) announced that Blackpool, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Wrexham are the four places shortlisted in the competition.
Portsmouth’s ‘We Are Pompey 2029’ bid joins Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Swindon and Middlesbrough in failing to make it through to the next round of the competition seen as a key part of the government’s drive to boost pride and economic growth.
But despite the blow, Portsmouth continues to showcase its fantastic arts and cultural scene with the unveiling of a major new exhibition at Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery on Monday celebrating 100 years of Portsmouth’s history.
And this weekend sees the opening of the long-awaited Royal Marines Experience at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard which replaces the old Royal Marines Museum which closed in 2017.
Cllr Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth City Council which supported the bid, said: “Whilst we’re hugely disappointed not to be named on the shortlist, Portsmouth’s identity, maritime heritage, diverse communities, creative energy, history and global outlook, remains a powerful asset.
“The bid has strengthened the city’s confidence in celebrating the past as well as telling our story more widely. The ambition remains unchanged: the South deserves greater national and international cultural visibility.”
As part of their bids, places were asked to explain how they would use culture as a catalyst to transform their place and the lives of communities, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy saying it was a difficult choice to decide who should be on the short list.
She said: "Every place has a story worth telling of its own unique history, identity and contribution. It has been amazing to see this year’s bidders for UK City of Culture showcase what makes their community claim such a special place in our national story. Great culture is everywhere, but the opportunity to showcase it, to put it on display and to show how it is woven into our national story is not.
“For all those places that have not made the shortlist, your journey does not end here. (Your) energy, enthusiasm and cultural contribution is seen and valued and the bids you have created will open up opportunities for years to come."
Portsmouth will receive detailed feedback on its bids including areas for development, with the city’s bid originally thought to have been a strong contender to be shortlisted. This is thanks to its strong arts and culture venues as well as community events, as well as large events such Victorious Festival and the city’s rich history.
The city’s two MPs Amanda Martin and Stephen Morgan added their disappointment at the news, saying they were “absolutely gutted that Portsmouth has not been shortlisted”.
In a joint statement they said: “We believed in this bid and in everything it represents for our city, so this is a hugely disappointing outcome.
“Regardless of the outcome, we respect the independent panels decision and know the city's bid has already restored a real sense of pride and belonging in the place we call home, with local people, artists, community groups and cultural organisations coming together over the past to show what makes Portsmouth so special.
“We would like to pay particular tribute to the team at Portsmouth Creates for their hard work, passion and commitment through this process, doing justice to our city's incredible story.
“We know that Pompey people will continue to take pride in our maritime heritage and history, our artists and strong community spirit. We share this pride in our unique city and that is why we backed this bid every step of the way.”
As previously reported by The News, this year Portsmouth is celebrating its 100th anniversary of becoming a city and held a series of events and celebrations including the popular lion trail.
Although Portsmouth will not progress in the competition, the We Are Pompey 2029 team said the city remains committed to its cultural ambitions and building on the momentum generated.
It said the campaign has created new partnerships, strengthened existing relationships, engaged communities, supported creative practitioners, amplified the voices of young people and identified new opportunities centred on inclusion and participation.
It has also helped define Portsmouth’s cultural identity more clearly and developed a pipeline of ideas and potential projects that will help shape the next phase of the city’s cultural ambitions.
The most recent winner for City of Culture was Bradford which beat Southampton as well as County Durham, and Wrexham which has made the shortlist for a second time for its borough. This means that Portsmouth is not excluded from trying again in the future should it wish to throw its hat into the ring.
Other previous winners are Derry-Londonderry, Hull and Coventry, with the 2029 winner to be announced in 2027.