Coventry UK City of Culture 2021

UK City of Culture is a designation given to a different city every four years by the DCMS with the aim of using the arts to celebrate and regenerate forgotten areas.[2]

Coventry has been a major manufacturing centre for centuries, producing dyes, leather products, cloth, ribbons and watches. More recently it was the birthplace of the mass-produced modern bicycle, then produced motor vehicles for decades.[3] Because of the important role of its factories in the Second World War, Coventry was devastated by bombing raids which destroyed a large number of buildings in the city centre.[4] The city was rebuilt through the second half of the 20th century, but the decline of manufacturing in the UK hit Coventry hard; unemployment and poverty rose through the 1980s. Communities began to suffer as many people sought work elsewhere.[5] The city is also home to Coventry City FC who compete in English football's second tier, the Championship, having competed in the top flight of English football for 34 years consecutively and the club also won the FA Cup in 1987. The club itself has a diverse and devoted fanbase and undoubtedly has contributed to the local culture of Coventry. The club play at the 32,609 seater Coventry Building Society Arena in Longford which also hosts music events and previously hosted 2012 Olympic football matches.

Coventry has produced some of the UK's best known musicians, including The Selecter, The Specials, Panjabi MC and Pa Salieu.[6] It also has examples of buildings from many different periods of British architecture - from the timber framed houses on Spon Street to the Modernist Cathedral of St Michael.[7] Several well-known writers were born or lived in Coventry including George Eliot, Angela Brazil, Debbie Isitt, Philip Larkin and Lee Child.[8]

The competition to become UK City of Culture began in January 2017 with an announcement from Matt Hancock, then the Secretary of State for Digital and Culture.[9] Bidding closed at the end of April and the shortlist was announced on 14 July 2017; Swansea, Paisley, Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent and Sunderland.[10] Coventry beat the other four cities and towns on the shortlist and was declared the winning bid by Phil Redmond live on The One Show on 7 December 2017.[11] David Burbidge is the Chairman of the Coventry City of Culture Trust and led the successful campaign to win the 2021 UK City of Culture title.[12] In April 2018, Chenine Bhathena was appointed Creative Director for Coventry's year as UK City of Culture 2021.[12][13][14]

In July 2020, it was announced that the City of Culture events in Coventry would be delayed by five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] The opening event Coventry Moves was planned to take place on 15 May 2021.[16] However, though Coventry took the title on 15 May, the signature opening event was pushed back to 5 June.[17]

• Hull UK City of Culture 2017 – the previous winner
• European Capital of Culture – the scheme that inspired UK City of Culture