Stephen Fry backs Norwich culture bid
SARAH HALL
15 December 2009
Stephen Fry has backed Norwich's bid to become the first UK City of Culture, hailing the city's pioneering spirit and its “radical and independent” nature.
The actor, writer and presenter, who grew up in Booton, near Reepham, attended Norwich City College and regularly tweets about Norwich City Football Club, says Norwich deserves to win the culture title.
Norwich was one of 22 places around the country to put in a bid to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in October, with the hope of securing the title.
Fry, who filmed three series of the ITV show Kingdom in Norfolk, lent his support for the bid, which would see Norwich hosting a major programme of cultural events in 2013.
He said: “Norwich is a city with a long history and a distinguished one at that. But it is not a chocolate box town, rather a thriving, living city, and a contemporary place which has consistently moved ahead in its own distinctive, radical and independent way.
“With many 'firsts' already to its credit, including Julian of Norwich, the first woman to write a book in English, the first pedestrianised street, London Street, and Harriet Martineau, the country's first female journalist, I fervently hope to see Norwich as the first UK City of Culture in 2013.”
Norwich City Council, which is leading the bid, has been working closely with the Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Writers' Centre Norwich, Theatre Royal, Norwich Arts Centre, NORCA (Norwich and Norfolk Community Arts) and other cultural bodies in the city. Letters of support have been received from organisations such as Norwich University College of the Arts.
A shortlist will be drawn up in January next year and those chosen will have until next May to submit a final bid. The winning city or place will be announced in the summer.
City council leader Steve Morphew said: “We have some real cultural jewels in our city from fantastic museums and galleries to stunning festivals and arts venues, and they are all lending their weight to our bid.
“We are very excited about this opportunity and feel it is something that can only raise Norwich's profile at a national level. The city got so much out of our bid to become European Capital Culture, so we see it is a 'win win' for everyone.”
Chris Gribble, chief executive of Writers' Centre Norwich, adds: “Culture is our business in Norwich. From brilliant writers and artists with international reputations to inspiring amateurs and underground activity of all sorts, the city is a cultural ferment and it's about time this was recognised at a national level.”
Do you think Norwich deserves to win the title? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk
