City of Culture team aim for perfect pitch in Liverpool

The pitch took place at 9.30am at the Arena Convention Centre in Liverpool City Centre and began with a 20 minute presentation by leading members of the bid team, followed by around 100 minutes of detailed questions by members of the judging panel.

The ten-strong bid team was led by Valerie Watts, Chief Executive of Derry City Council; Aideen McGinley, Chief Executive of Ilex Urban Regeneration Company.

The team was also supported by Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP and Robin Newton MLA, Minister, Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

In their presentation, the team conveyed the City's desire to deliver a unique cultural programme that will engage, entertain and inspire through what they describe as 'joyous celebration' and 'purposeful inquiry'.

The bid team celebrated the culture that has existed in Derry~Londonderry for generations, and expressed their desire to unleash the talent of a city renowned for Nobel Prize winners, poets and playwrights, singers and dancers, musicians and writers, actors and artists.

They shared their hope in becoming a departure point and a landing stage for the world to hear of the City's journey from a turbulent past to a shared, respectful future.

The proceedings in Liverpool started with a civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool on the evening of Wednesday 16 June, attended by representatives from the city along with shortlisted candidates from Birmingham, Norwich and Sheffield.

After their two hour pitch presentation this morning, the bid team took part in a live video link-up with cultural partners in the city to share their experience with them.

Mayor, Cllr Colum Eastwood said: "We were represented by a very strong team who put the case for the city with eloquence and passion that reflected, the nature of our city and citizens and their desire to see us win.

"The support from everyone has been fantastic and we really believe this is our time".

Valerie Watts, Chief Executive of Derry City Council said: "The City is poised and ready for change, and today we went into our pitch determined to convince the judging panel that winning UK City of Culture would give our city the catalyst it needs for transformation.

"Being one of the four shortlisted cities is a huge achievement and something we should all be proud of.

"Let's hope that the judging panel recognise in Derry~Londonderry a place of talent, creativity, energy and strength – and the first UK City of Culture."

Aideen McGinley, Chief Executive of Ilex Urban Regeneration Company said: "We have put our hearts and souls into this bid, but we wouldn't have come this far without the irrepressible spirit and energy of our people and many others who have helped and encouraged us along the way.

"In our pitch today we wanted to show the panel the enormous social and economic impact that would lead to the transformation and regeneration of the City."

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP said: "Events from 38 years ago put Derry in a global spotlight in recent days.

"The importance of the Saville report cannot be underestimated. Our people and our City feel that they can now move forward.

"Some people call it Derry. Others call it Londonderry. But we all call it home.

"Derry is an inherently creative and resilient City. It has a great desire to move on emotionally, address inequality and face outwards through the medium and transformative power of culture.

"We have a new story to tell. A story that has the full endorsement of all our people.

"The people of Derry, working with the Executive, will deliver the best possible outcomes, growing optimism, self-esteem and confidence in a way money cannot buy.

"Our bid represents a building block to embedding the economic, social and cultural resistance of not just our City, but the region as a whole.

"Becoming the City of Culture will represent a turning point, a pivotal moment when 'hope and history rhyme' making us a beacon of transformation to communities across the world. It is our ambition to see 'the town we love so well' become a city that is truly 'legenderry'."