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Weaving Us Together Ready Weaving us together Ready leeds2023.co.uk [email protected] Ready for the challenge Twitter @Leeds_2023 Ready to take risks Facebook /2023Leeds Phoenix Dance Theatre Triple Bill, Bill, TheatrePhoenix Dance Triple Ready to connect Richard Moran Instagram @leeds2023 1 We also have our challenges. Whilst people We’ll explore our heritage and ask honest, Whilst in the past Europe has been defined Q.1 have made room here to enjoy their own searching questions about our place in the by empires and nations we believe the future cultures, we have struggled as a city to world, and specifically in a new Europe. As well dialogue and connections will be made WHY DOES YOUR CITY WISH articulate our identity, and therefore have as the economic benefits, we think culture can by cities like ours. We think it is the Free TO TAKE PART IN THE COMPETITION the confidence to shout about ourselves. help weave us together as people. Movement of Ideas that can be at the heart FOR THE TITLE OF EUROPEAN There’s heartfelt pride in our civic, business of a new connected Europe and that Leeds CAPITAL OF CULTURE? and sporting achievements and yet we’ve But the changes in the world in the last couple has the scale, ambition and partnerships to rarely celebrated our cultural successes. of years have made us realise our bid can, and test that theory with other European cities. must, be about even more. Jo Cox MP, in her The city has accomplished cultural institutions maiden speech to the UK Parliament said: Leeds is at a tipping point. Culture is poised, and strong independent traditions too, but our through our new Culture Strategy, to be at Hello! collective achievements are under the radar, the heart of our next 20 years of development. nationally and internationally. We want to be ‘We are far more united Being European Capital of Culture could We are Leeds. recognised as a progressive international city guarantee the role of culture in defining with a radical history, and perhaps, if our bid and have far more in the next 100 years of our history. It could is successful, a radical future. also provide a model for how the UK will be A European city. connected in Europe, four years after it has Leeds, like other European cities, is a city common with each exited the European Union. of contrasts and extremes, good and bad. We are a city that began from a small Today in Leeds some people will eat at Michelin other than things that Our bid has been almost four years in the settlement on the banks of the River Aire and starred restaurants, others will eat at food making. Our vision for Leeds 2023 is to provide then we built a canal to connect us to Europe. banks. Some people will sleep in penthouses, a physical and virtual environment to explore whilst others will sleep on streets. We want divide us.’ the place of culture in transforming the mood, We have grown and grown and grown since – and need to tackle this inequality within our well-being and mental health of a diverse adding towns, villages, and suburbs. We are sometimes disconnected, two tier city, where modern European city. However, things have divided us. Jo’s murder, right in the centre of the UK. our multitude of cultures live side-by-side, the Brexit referendum and political turmoil but don’t always meet. In 1866 French inventor Louis Le Prince came have sparked additional debate and reflection There are over three quarters of a million of us to Leeds and found it provided him with the in the city. We are more nervous about the now, speaking 170 different languages, 38,000 The past five years has seen successful ideal location, people and environment to future and we need to reassess how to build a of us are non-UK Europeans. We are diverse growth in our city’s retail and business create the world’s first moving picture - from city and a world where our children will thrive. in other ways too with a strong LGBTQIA+ districts. More importantly, a new tone which today’s global film industry was born. community and a real strength in disability and depth has developed in the relationships Leeds is ready to welcome Europe and to offer Brexit was seismic and it revealed more arts. We want to be the first truly diverse city in between our civic, educational, cultural its resources once again. division than we realised existed. Leeds voted the UK to host the title, with all the advantages and business sectors. We now have the basis to remain – but only just. We had already that brings. and the confidence to rise to our challenges. Ready for the challenge. planned conversations about the European Ready to take risks. Capital of Culture at events across the city We have always said our bid is for the whole Ready to connect. following the referendum and wondered if our city. We intend to deliver on that promise. public support would have waned. It had not, Being European Capital of Culture would mean and the need to bid just became more urgent. art and artists thriving in every ward in the city, giving voice to what makes us different and what unites us. All our figures are shown in £ and €, using an exchange rate of £1 : €1.13, as at 12.07.2017 2 3 Although in the past, Local Authority MUSEUMS Q.2 neighbours saw themselves as rivals, Q.3 With 17 museums Leeds has more than any we have more recently fostered an other UK city outside of London. These include: DOES YOUR CITY PLAN TO ethos of mutual co-operation. EXPLAIN BRIEFLY THE OVERALL The Royal Armouries and Thackray Medical INVOLVE ITS SURROUNDING AREA? CULTURAL PROFILE OF YOUR CITY. Museum and two of Britain’s greatest country EXPLAIN THIS CHOICE. Hosting the Grand Départ of the Tour de France houses at Temple Newsam and Harewood 2014 also allowed our joined-up approach to House. The city also runs the largest local be tested, with Leeds taking the co-ordination Leeds has a tradition of robust independence. authority museums and galleries service This is a Leeds bid but we will work closely role for the 22 Local Authorities in the region. We are a city shaped by immigration: many in the UK operating nine sites. with our neighbours. newcomers have made Leeds their home, We have a Local Economic Partnership enriching our city by bringing faith, culture, SCULPTURE Leeds’ residents identify themselves in a centred on West Yorkshire and cross-northern food and new ideas. Leeds Art Gallery and the Henry Moore Institute variety of ways. We see ourselves as being collaboration on tourism and transport, have built one of the strongest public collections from Yorkshire, being Northern, part of our working with cities such as Hull, Manchester In many ways, Leeds is an accomplished of British sculpture in the UK and are part of local community, part of Leeds. This mix of and Newcastle. In the run up to 2023, we cultural city, but our reticence to promote the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle, along with our identities gives us an authentic reason for will work with adjacent authorities on visitor ourselves and to celebrate the role of neighbours Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The engaging with the wider region in our bid. hosting, tourism and accommodation as well arts in society have left the city, nationally Hepworth Wakefield. as their contribution to the programme. and internationally, underrated and under There are 109,000 jobs in Leeds City Centre - the radar. DANCE tens of thousands of people commute daily. The UK Government has recently established Leeds is an international centre for dance. Seven million people live within an hour’s the concept of ’The Northern Powerhouse’, We are home to world-class arts organisations Dancers train and perform with RJC, Balbir drive of Leeds. which has led to much stronger relationships like Opera North and Northern Ballet, yet Singh, South Asian Arts UK, Phoenix Dance across the North of England. Between now a common feature is how many of our Theatre and Northern Ballet. Yorkshire Dance Leeds has a significant rural area, and towns and 2023, there is the prospect of devolution organisations began as small independents is headquartered in Leeds, while community such as Morley, Wetherby, Kippax and Otley of further powers from central government or individuals. West Yorkshire Playhouse, the dance groups like DAZL offer opportunities are part of Leeds but separated from the to the region. We will use this broader region largest regional producing theatre outside for our young people. urban centre by a green belt of fields, farms to collaborate on the promotion of culture, London, was established in 1964 following a and woodland. These are towns with strong tourism and capital investment. successful local campaign. The Northern School MUSIC identities and they sometimes connect more of Contemporary Dance was founded by Nadine Leeds International Piano Competition extends strongly (and in travel time more quickly) with Our support from higher education partners, Senior, a deputy headmistress teaching sports its reach next year with heats in Berlin, New York Harrogate, Bradford or Wakefield than they Chambers of Commerce and business in the local communities of Harehills. The Leeds and Singapore, and Leeds International Concert do with Leeds. networks in the region covers the whole of International Piano Competition was started in Season promotes 200 concerts per year, Yorkshire, three of our private sector sponsors 1963 by Leeds piano teacher Fanny Waterman, including an international orchestral season have regional and national roles, and two of the daughter of a Russian immigrant.
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