What does City of Culture mean for directors?

Facing stiff competition from cities all around the UK, Coventry became the UK’s City of Culture in May 2021. The designation means that Coventry gains access to funding to improve its infrastructure and arts facilities and will host a series of events celebrating local culture.

It’s also a fantastic opportunity for us as directors and employers.

The UK City of Culture competition is run by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and awarded to a different city every four years. The two previous winners, Derry/Londonderry and Hull, both benefitted from a significant boost in tourism and investment, as well as a positive legacy for the future.

And now it’s our turn. Based in the geographical centre of the country, Coventry has long been a major centre for innovation and manufacturing from dyes and leather to bicycles and motor vehicles. We have a reputation as a city for change and progressive movements. Devastated by bombing raids during the Second World War, we have always used our past to forge a new and better future and today we’re a city of youth, energy and optimism.

The City of Culture celebration of all that is great about Coventry and the wider region, will see a year- long programme of events, music, dance, theatre, and large-scale spectacle, as well as more intimate unexpected experiences designed to challenge preconceptions of our great city.

This celebration will see the entire region get involved and benefit from the opportunities that being City of Culture brings and we at the IoD heartily support it.

Coventry is a thriving city, and it’s a great place to be for any business.

We would love to hear your thoughts on what City of Culture means for you and your organisation. How are you planning to mark the occasion? Keep an eye on our forthcoming events calendar for drop-ins and meetings and contact me at [email protected].

Better directors for a better world

The IoD supports directors and business leaders across the UK and beyond to learn, network and build successful, responsible businesses.
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