Lancashire 2025 - Bid Programme Call

Last chance to submit your ideas for Lancashire’s bid to win UK City of Culture 2025. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 31 August 2021.

Submit your new ideas now for Lancashire’s bid to win UK City of Culture 2025

Since entering Lancashire’s formal expression of interest to be part of the competition to host UK City of Culture 2025, the team at Lancashire 2025 has been discussing and receiving programme proposals from a wide range of individuals, organisations and partnerships, who are now keener than ever to be part of the county’s vision of the Virtual City of Lancashire.

In June this year, Lancashire 2025 issued a Bid Programme Call Out to individuals and organisations from all disciplines and from anywhere in the world. This began the search to find high profile events, creative projects or cultural experiences that reimagine the way we live, based on the Lancashire 2025 bid topics of living, connection, nature and digital.  

Anyone who is inspired to contribute to this programme vision, with an idea that fits the criteria, could be awarded up to £25,000 to research and develop their proposal, supported by the experienced Lancashire 2025 team. All applications must be received by the deadline of 31 August 2021.

There are now just days before the deadline to submit ideas. Debbi Lander, Director of Lancashire 2025, is urging those still interested in being part of the bid programme to make contact soon and, for those new to submitting programme ideas or to the open call process, to speak directly to the Lancashire 2025 team who can offer valuable help and advice.

As Debbi Lander explains “The Lancashire 2025 team has had many positive discussions with individuals, organisations and partnerships keen to develop the programme in an array of locations across the county, some in venues and exciting places we ourselves could never have imagined. 

“It is incredible to see the county’s creativity ignited by the idea of the virtual city of Lancashire and to hear of the ways that people are reimagining the spaces, physical, imagined and virtual, in which we now live. 

“Given the opportunity to create a virtual city, from the foundations up, all successful submissions will have a digital element, opening Lancashire 2025 to a worldwide audience; a showcase for a virtual city of Lancashire - a city founded on creative citizens, new ideas and partnerships for cultural regeneration”

Debbi believes there are unseen cultural innovations, rare and as-yet-undiscovered creative talent in our diverse county, that may need some final encouragement or guidance to seize this exciting opportunity. 

“If you have a new idea, an existing project, a project in the pipeline, creative or strategic programmes related to culture at any stage of planning, development or funding that suits the vision, programme and timeline of Lancashire 2025, we’d like you to let us know about it by submitting a proposal to this call out.

“There is still plenty of time to discuss your ideas, to plan and submit a great proposal and we have a very experienced and friendly team that is keen to support and encourage you towards that goal.  Your contribution could make a huge difference to Lancashire 2025 City of Culture bid and give you a potentially life-changing experience.

“Creativity is not the privilege of artists; we believe that it can be found in the imaginations of all people and in all places.” 

The Bid Programme Call Out is open to artists, producers, curators, cultural organisations, local authorities, creative businesses, cultural partnerships, consortia, with all sectors and locations eligible to apply.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday 31 August 2021

A long list will be announced by the end of September and a subsequent shortlist, selected by a group of experienced creative and cultural professionals, evaluated during October.  After this process the public will then be invited to vote for their favourites before a jury panel will make a final selection in November.

Those successful proposals, selected for development, will form part of the Lancashire 2025 final bid application which will be submitted in January 2022.

For more information and contact details for the Lancashire 2025 team go to lancashire2025.com/get-involved and find out everything you need to know about the Bid Call Out Programme.

Follow for all the latest news on twitter @Lancashire2025 or on LinkedIn/Lancashire2025

The bid for Lancashire is driven by a strategic partnership between Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackpool Council, Preston City Council, the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Lancashire 2025 Ltd has been established to deliver the bid, overseen by an independent chair and board.