After months of consultation and late night meetings refining Hereford’s submission to be UK City of Culture in 2021 the bid has been sent off to the Department of Media, Culture & Sport (DCMS) in time for the all-important April 28th deadline.

Clare Wichbold, from the Herefordshire Cultural Partnership, who leads the bid writing working group said, “It’s been a long, but incredibly exciting process to bring the bid together. It shows that Herefordshire is a special place but with big ambitions. We want the opportunity to achieve these ambitions, and City of Culture is a great way to do it. So many people as well as me have contributed their time, energy and passion to produce a bid of which we are very proud.

"Every four years a British city wins the title of ‘UK City of Culture’. The title is designed to use culture as a catalyst for economic and social regeneration and raise the profile of arts and creativity locally and across the country. The first award was made in 2013, with Derry/Londonderry the inaugural UK City of Culture and this year Hull is UK City of Culture 2017.

"For 2021, Hereford is up against 10 other cities in the UK. Hereford’s bid is distinctive because it’s for all of Herefordshire, not just for the city. We want to celebrate all that is great in our county; our market towns and villages, our farming heritage, ancient castles, hidden gems, the vibrant arts scene, the natural beauty of its countryside, rivers, cathedral and of course – Herefordshire’s people.

"Winning the title would mean we would create a year-long party of amazing events and festivals in our communities for everyone to access – the spotlight will be on Herefordshire on a national and international scale. It would stimulate jobs, boost businesses and increase the county’s tourist industry. It would create outstanding opportunities for young people and turbo-charge what makes Herefordshire great for everyone. It would leave a lasting legacy and create long-term benefits.

"This year, the city of Hull is putting on an unmissable programme of year-long events for its citizens which have attracted national and international attention.

Ian Archer, Chief Executive of the Courtyard, Hereford said, "I had the pleasure of working in Hull from 2010/13 but it was always one of the least known and visited cities in the UK. Having now revisited Hull during its City of Culture year, they can be justly proud of what they have achieved. I can highly recommend a visit to this fantastic city, a city in transformation, and a city with optimism, bursting with pride and enthusiasm. City of Culture has given Hull a new lease of life, an economy that is on its way up and an energy that is inspiring. You will be amazed and surprised what an extraordinary place Hull has become through City of Culture.”

The DCMS will announce a short-list of four cities sometime mid-summer, with the winning city being announced in Hull towards the end of the year. A little like the Olympics, the winning city will then have four years to plan for 2021.

Herefordshire’s bid is attracting new support through a new social media campaign.

‘We’ve got the welly for it’ creates a playful vibe on what makes us great in this county: resourceful, resilient and proud. It is a reflection of our rural environment and the grass roots energy that we see throughout the county – from our food and drink entrepreneurs through to the team behind the new university, this county has so much to shout out about. Our welly revolution has only just started so there is plenty of time for more people to get involved by posting welly pictures on social media (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook),using the hashtags #thewellyforit #hereford2021. This is meant to be fun, playful, colourful or quirky so let the imagination take over!"