Paolo Nutini backs bid for hometown to be UK City of Culture 2021
Singer Paolo Nutini has declared his support for his hometown's bid to be named UK City of Culture 2021.
Singer Paolo Nutini has declared his support for his hometown's bid to be named UK City of Culture 2021.
The singer revealed he was backing the bid in a surprise video message which was broadcast to the crowd in Paisley at the town's Christmas lights switch-on event on Saturday.
The switch-on coincided with the first anniversary of the bid launch.
Nutini, who was brought up in Paisley, Renfrewshire, and still has a home there, told the crowd of his pride in the town and why he was supporting its cultural ambitions.
He said: “I'm backing the bid because Paisley is and always has been my home. I love the town and want to see it grow.
“It's a town that needs the investment, but it knows what it's going to do with that investment and I think the potential is really clear.
“I see the romance of the town - when you walk into the centre it's got a beautiful composition.
“The bid is about building a structure that can tackle the more deep-rooted problems and it's important we get behind that.
“There's already a new lease of life being brought into the town. I'm backing the bid so please go on the website, push the button, and do the same.”
The Renfrewshire town is bidding for the national title as part of wider plans to use its cultural heritage and contemporary creative scene to create long-lasting economic, social and cultural change.
The bid is being taken forward by a partnership of local organisations, many of whom have been showing their support on social media using #WeArePaisley.
Residents and visitors were also invited to back the bid by pushing a specially-created button on the paisley2021.co.uk website.
Councillor Mark Macmillan, Renfrewshire Council leader and chair of the Paisley 2021 Partnership Board, said: “Today's event was all about people of the town having the chance to say We Are Paisley.
“So we are delighted that Paolo - as one of the town's best-known cultural figures - was able to tell the crowd in his own words why he is backing the bid.
“The Christmas lights switch-on always brings tens of thousands of people into the town anyway, and given the anniversary fell on the same weekend there was no better chance for a mass show of support for Paisley 2021.”
He added: “Today we sent a message that not only does Paisley want the title, but it has the capacity to pull off the big events it will involve.”