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Belfast must revive culture bid

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Under a new Government initiative Belfast may be given the opportunity to revive its bid to become a “capital of culture”, and it must be given every encouragement to do so.

The Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has suggested a United Kingdom version of the much-sought European title, and this would enable cities in Britain and Northern Ireland to compete every four years for the privilege of hosting a year-long arts programme.

Because of the rapidly-expanding membership of the EU, and the success of Liverpool last year, a United Kingdom city may not have the opportunity to compete in Europe for quite some time.

Belfast was one of the twelve cities that competed for the 2008 European title, but Liverpool deservedly won the accolade.

There were some justified criticisms of the Belfast campaign last time, but events have moved on and our capital city should be well-placed to make a successful bid for the United Kingdom title.

The Government intends to commission a feasibility study into the proposal so that the first competition could be held in 2011, ahead of the cultural Olympiad which ties in with London 2012. People in Northern Ireland need no reminder of the importance of 2012, which marks the centenary of the Titanic and which will also witness the resurgence of the Titanic Quarter and the emergence of the visionary Titanic Signature Project.

This is all part of our unique heritage, and Belfast has much to offer in the widest possible cultural sense. This is the city of so many artistic talents, ranging from Sir James Galway and Van Morrison to the excellent Ulster Orchestra and the new Lyric Theatre. So many people have done so much to keep the arts vibrant in our community.

This is the city where the Belfast Festival at Queen’s keeps the best of the arts alive in the worst of times. Indeed this newspaper campaigned successfully on behalf of the Festival recently, when its very existence was threatened.

Those who live in the city and in the greater Belfast area may have become accustomed to the enormous improvements in recent years, but expatriates and others who have come back after being away for a period express their astonishment at the progress which has been made in such a short time.

Belfast is a most attractive destination with much to offer across a wide range of activities, but it is important to remember that an award as the UK Capital of Culture is not a kind of “peace prize” for achieving political and social progress. This city will be judged rightly on its cultural merits and attractions, as it was last time, and a strong campaign will require the right people with the right vision and- most importantly — with the right focus.

Above all, such a campaign will require strong and practical backing from Stormont and City Hall, from all our financial and other institutions including the media, and from all those who want the very best for this city. Success will not be easy to achieve, but such a glittering prize is worth the very best that Belfast can, and will, offer to the world and also to its own people.

Belfast Telegraph

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