Hull City of Culture company to continue beyond 2017
The organisation set up to deliver Hull UK City of Culture 2017 is to carry on as a permanent national arts company based in the city, it has been announced.
Building on the success of Hull 2017, Culture Company’s focus will be to continue commissioning world-class arts programming aimed at residents and visitors, and to work strategically with partners in the city and across the UK to “cement Hull’s reputation as a centre for culture and creativity”.
Culture Company will also develop its role as an independent organisation specialising in culture and cities.
Martin Green, director of Hull 2017, said: “We want to capitalise on the knowledge and expertise gained as Culture Company, supporting city efforts to help ensure a lasting cultural legacy for Hull, as well as helping to embed culture into policymaking for cities.
“The acknowledged success of Hull being UK City of Culture is the result of many partners, organisationally and individually coming together and this collective energy will remain critical to ensuring a meaningful cultural legacy. Over the next weeks and months we will be embarking on conversations with people across the city to inform the development of the company and its work.”
Culture Company will develop a 20-year legacy plan across three phases, supporting the delivery of the city’s £250m legacy plan to improve Hull’s culture and visitor infrastructure.
Rosie Millard, chair of Hull 2017, said: “Hull has always been a city of culture, but this year’s success looks set to be a gamechanger. Working alongside the city council and many other partners, Culture Company continuing means it will be able to build on the achievements that have already been made, with culture embedded as the beating heart of Hull’s future success.”
Hull secured the title of UK City of Culture 2017 in November 2013. It is only the second city to hold the title and the first in England.
