Minister backs city of culture bid

Mr McCausland said: "The UK City of Culture competition presents Londonderry with an excellent opportunity to showcase its creative and artistic talent to a national and international audience.

"The bidding process has brought together many different organisations and individuals and this collaboration can only have a positive effect, not only in Londonderry but throughout Northern Ireland as we work towards a shared and better future."

Londonderry projects funded by his department include the Playhouse Theatre, Waterside Theatre and An Gaelaras Irish language centre.

Leaning heavily on its emergence from violence to become a regional centre for the arts, it is predicted that Londonderry could enjoy a multi-million-pound windfall if successful.

It is one of four cities bidding for the title. The others are Birmingham, Norwich and Sheffield.

The year 2013 will mark the 400th anniversary of the Plantation of Ulster by settlers from Great Britain and the building in 1613 of the Walled City.

But bid organisers are looking to the future with an explosion of theatres and performing spaces, including the Millennium Forum and Nerve Centre for youth culture.

The schedule for 2013 would include a wide range of events from Punk Idol – aimed at finding a successor to famous rockers the Undertones – to a celebration of Polish independence day in recognition of the large minority community.

The city’s final bid was submitted to the competition’s judging panel in Manchester last Friday.