The official logo of the Perth City of Culture 2021 campaign.
The UK City of Culture title is a designation given to a city in Britain for a period of one year.
The aim of the initiative, which is administered by the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport, is to “build on the success of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture 2008, which had significant social and economic benefits for the area”.
The inaugural holder of the award was Derry-Londonderry in 2013. In 2017, Kingston upon Hull will take the title, after beating competition from Dundee.
Even if Perth is unsuccessful, the process could be valuable for the city. A council spokeswoman said: “It brings together people and organisations to create a cultural programme that will have a lasting legacy, regardless of the outcome of the bid.”
