2017

Keele University is proud to support Stoke-on-Trent’s bid to be the official City of Culture 2021.

 

“City of Culture” is a title awarded to a city in the United Kingdom once every four years, and sees the winning city create a national cultural event programme that acts as a catalyst for social and economic change.

 

The initiative is administered and judged by the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and aims to celebrate culture and bring a number of significant benefits to an area.

 

Vice Chancellor, Professor Trevor McMillan, commented: “I am proud to support the City of Culture bid for Stoke-on-Trent. The area has an incredibly exciting story to tell; from its heritage and industrial legacy, through to the creative industries and arts.

 

"Geographically, Stoke-on-Trent is incredibly well located and has good transport links both to the north and south. This, coupled with the fact that we have two universities based in and around the city, provides the potential for excellent growth over the coming decade. The City of Culture bid directly supports this, and would bring many social and economic benefits to the area.”

 

Professor McMillan is also Chair of the Story of Place board for Stoke-on-Trent. Story of Place aims to promote Stoke-on-Trent’s unique identity, both locally and globally, to inform its economic development strategy, and to support inward investment, destination management and tourism. The board will support collective ambitions for the local area, including those of the University. 

 

Paul Williams, part of the Stoke-on-Trent City of Culture 2021 bid team, comments: "From the outset, Keele University has been a key player in the development of Stoke-on-Trent's bid to be City of Culture in 2021. We're looking forward to working with them on future opportunities connected to the SOT2021 bid."