One of Dundee’s rivals for the European Capital of Culture crown has said it could run joint events with rival bid cities following the EU’s decision not to award the title to the UK.
Leeds was seen as one of Dundee main competitors for the title before the shock announcement in November that UK cities would no longer be eligible for the event because of Brexit.
The Yorkshire city, Nottingham, Milton Keynes and Belfast had all submitted bids for the title alongside Dundee.
Leeds spent more than £800,000 on its bid and its council leader Judith Blake said she believes the city could run its own cultural festival instead.
The Labour politician said all of the bid cities could work together on some events.
She said: “What we unleashed through putting the bid forward in the first place is everyone working together for the first time right across the whole of Leeds.
“Obviously with the disappointment we had an enormous reaction – so many people getting in touch and expressing shock and disappointment – and this very quickly turned into, ‘what can we do instead?’
“Well we’re Leeds. We can do this. We’re not bound by anything anymore.”
She added: “We’re very keen to keep working with the other four cities.
“There’s the possibility that if the other cities decide to do similar things that we could have some really good events going on together.”
A spokesman for Dundee’s bid team said discussions are still ongoing with the Department of Media, Culture and Sport about how to take the city’s bid forward, even after the disappointment of the EU decision.
He said: “Dundee’s bold bid was designed to help continue the regeneration of our economy and to provide exciting new opportunities for our young people.
“Our programme was built on our strong local partnerships, involving the organisations that have supported the city’s long term transformational journey.
“However, the spirit of our bid remains very much alive and kicking, along with our cultural ambitions for the city and the surrounding area.
“Along with the other bidding cities, we are maintaining a dialogue with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.
“We are also talking to our Tay Cities region partners and the Scottish Government to discuss how the enthusiasm and imagination of Dundee’s bid can be taken forward.”
