EAST Riding of Yorkshire Council has announced that it will be a principal backer of Hull 2017, the year-long programme that will promote the city as UK City of Culture.
The council’s partnership with the Hull 2017 company will deliver a £1m package of funding and support to help stage and enhance the UK City of Culture celebrations as it seeks to benefit from the additional £60m and 1m visitors it is forecast it will bring into the local economy.
Cllr Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said the investment will help local communities be fully involved with the year-long programme of events.
“Hull, UK City of Culture 2017 will provide a national and global platform to showcase the cultural offer of our areas as well as the opportunity to promote the city and wider East Riding as a must-see tourist destination, a sector vital to both economies and one which both councils are keen to grow,” he said.
The announcement came as the countdown to the start of the City of Culture year reached 500 days.
Martin Green, chief executive of the Hull 2017 company, added: “UK City of Culture will have a positive impact on the whole region and, as Hull’s closest neighbours, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and its residents have a key role to play.
“We are of course looking forward to welcoming everyone to a spectacular year of events in Hull that we hope will excite, inspire and encourage more people to see, experience and participate in arts and culture.”
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