A party was held in the centre of Perth as it launched its bid to be the City of Culture 2021.
The bid is built around a community-developed programme of arts and culture linked to the themes of a green city, celebrating Perth’s place at the heart of a rural community.
It emphasises the city’s role as a meeting place and melting pot and highlights its heritage as a catalyst for creativity and ideas.
The official bid launch kicked off at 11am on Friday outside Perth City Hall.
First #muralartist today Perth City Hall. Thanks Iona! #Perth2021 pic.twitter.com/PuW4Istri2
— Perth City Centre (@PerthCityCentre) August 19, 2016
The tree-ty of Perth at #Perth2021 #perthcityhall #joinus pic.twitter.com/hXLn13N5Xd
— Perth City Centre (@PerthCityCentre) August 19, 2016
The crowds are gathering #Perth2021#ukcityofculture2021 pic.twitter.com/J4T8U4x8DF
— Perth City Centre (@PerthCityCentre) August 19, 2016
WOW – MUSIC INFLUENCES NEW AND OLD #Perth2021#ukcityofculture2021 pic.twitter.com/dH9wdHg6Hb
— Perth City Centre (@PerthCityCentre) August 19, 2016
Everybody dance now! #perthistheplace #redhotchilipipers #perth2021 pic.twitter.com/0nxohUSaXa
— Perth is the Place (@Perth2021) August 19, 2016
Rock Choir brings the launch of #perth2021 to life pic.twitter.com/EVyezLIcAd
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) August 19, 2016
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers have helped launch Perth's bid for City of Culture status. #perth2021 pic.twitter.com/Oxg4Guv95z
— Jamie Buchan (@C_JBuchan) August 19, 2016
Perth's Rock Choir letting us know why #perthistheplace #perth2021 pic.twitter.com/wdI7xwf0uE
— Perth is the Place (@Perth2021) August 19, 2016
St Johns Kirk is the first stop of our walk. Come and join us #perth2021 pic.twitter.com/liMBUIcmIw
— Perth City Centre (@PerthCityCentre) August 19, 2016
@perth2021 launch is taking people all around the city centre! #Perth2021 pic.twitter.com/dZEYwlx1aN
— CPKMuseums (@CPKMuseums) August 19, 2016
Community involvement will be supported by ambitious new projects including the quest to loan the iconic Stone of Destiny for display in Perth, introducing a major new commission of a ‘digital tapestry’ interactive visual history display and creating projects that celebrate and record the experiences of our rural, dispersed and migrant communities.
Perth and Kinross Provost Liz Grant said: “We want to give everybody in Perth and Kinross the chance to take part in culture and creative learning, connecting our rural and urban communities through inspiring arts programmes which bring people and places together.
“We have such a fantastic wealth of culture and heritage here: I can’t wait to showcase it to the world.
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For full coverage, see Saturday’s Courier
“The bid will allow us to cultivate new talent and make the area a place where artists, creative industries and business innovation can flourish.”
Charles Kinnoull, chair of Culture Perth and Kinross, said the bid offered a great opportunity to “showcase and further amplify” the unique character and culture of the region to both existing and new audiences.
“Culture Perth and Kinross is delighted to have a key role in helping to support and connect communities, creative practitioners, local businesses and others in backing the bid and securing the success Perth so richly deserves,” he commented.
Magnus Linklater, chair of Horsecross Arts, the creative organisation behind Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre, added: “With two world-class venues in the heart of the city, Horsecross Arts is proud to be a part of Perth and Kinross’s special and distinctive cultural landscape.
“Perth Concert Hall just celebrated its 10th anniversary and Perth Theatre will reopen in 2017 following restoration and redevelopment.
“With our varied entertainment programme and our extensive creative learning work throughout the community, we are well-placed to support Perth’s bid to become City of Culture in 2021, giving voice to the area’s great and sometimes unsung cultural offering.”
