LISTEN: Paisley reacts as culture bid competitors are revealed
Radio Clyde News has been in the town speaking to Buddies
As Paisley prepares to go head-to-head with other cities across the UK to be named City of Culture in 2021, Radio Clyde News has been finding out if the people who live there support the bid:
Paisley will be joined in the competition by 10 other places – Perth, Coventry, Sunderland, Stoke-on-trent, Hereford, Portsmouth, Warrington, Wells, Swansea and St David’s in Wales.
The Renfrewshire town is bidding for the cultural title as part of wider plans to use its unique heritage and cultural assets to transform its future.
The crown's currently held by Hull, who are celebrating their year in 2017. People there are encouraging Paisley to be more positive about the bid:
Paisley 2021 bid director Jean Cameron said: “Through this competition, DCMS are giving places across the UK a wonderful opportunity to harness the incredible power of culture to make people’s lives better, and we are thrilled to be part of it.
“The next few months will be hugely exciting for all involved, and we would like to send our very best wishes to all the other towns and cities joining us on that journey.
“Paisley has been working on its bid for more than a year now and the support displayed by the people of Renfrewshire has been incredible – and we want our bid to reflect that.”
Although Paisley is not technically a city, the competition is open to large towns and urban areas. Bids are due to be lodged with DCMS by the end of April, with a shortlist to be announced in the summer and the winner at the end of the year.
The bid has also received high-profile backing from Paisley-born cultural figures such as Paolo Nutini, John Byrne, Gerard Butler and Andrew Neil.
There has also been support from more than 150 local businesses, including big names such as Glasgow Airport, intu Braehead and the University of the West of Scotland.