Hull submits bid to become a city of music

A bid has been submitted for Hull to become a Unesco Creative City of Music.

It includes a new five-year music plan for Hull, which Hull City Council said puts music "front and centre of driving the city's reputation as one of the world's most progressive cities in community-led culture and heritage".

The bid aims to make the city a "global leader and forward-thinking place to make and experience quality music", the authority said.

The bid has been formally submitted to the UK Unesco board for consideration over the next month. If successful, it will go to the international board in March.

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the scheme aims to promote co-operation "among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development".

Glasgow became the first UK city to be awarded the status in 2008, followed by Liverpool in 2015 and Belfast in 2021.

Hull's bid has been put together after a year of consultation between the council and more than 100 individuals and organisations from the city's music sector, including the University of Hull, Hull Music Service, the Adelphi, Hull College and ASM Global.

The council said its cultural team had also spent time learning from Belfast and Liverpool's experiences.

Councillor Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure, said: "Unesco status can bring fantastic benefits for the city, offering access to a network of almost 300 other cities worldwide, sharing cultural and creative ideas and knowledge.

"As one of the ambitions of the council's community plan, we hope Unesco status can help to build Hull's reputation as a leading UK city in community led culture and heritage."

New Adelphi Club general manager Paul John Sarel said: "I know the city's talent is good enough to be showcased at an international level.

"I look forward to building partnerships with grassroots venues in other music cities to support music in the heart of communities."

The outcome of the first stage of the bid is expected to be known by late February.

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