Greater Manchester's first ever Town of Culture revealed
Bury fought off the competition for the accolade which will see thousands of pounds in investment
Bury has secured the title to become Greater Manchester's first EVER Town of Culture!
The town, home to famous faces like Victoria Wood, will be given around £120,000 in investment throughout 2020 - to boost creativity and tourism.
It's hoped it can build on the success of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.
At a prestigious event at the Fusilier Museum in the town centre, the announcement was made by the broadcaster, actor and comedian Griff Rhys Jones OBE, the Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones performer currently appearing in Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical at The Lowry in Salford Quays.
Griff said: "I have worked a lot in Manchester in the past, starting with the "Oxford Road Show". I love the culture of this city-region.
"I have starred in Red Production's "Mine All Mine" and I lived at here for months while we filmed in so many spectacular local locations. I have made programmes here on the eleven separate rivers of Manchester, and told the story of the growth of the town around that confluence of powerful water sources to run the original cotton mills, when cotton was still a form of woven wool. I have even explored the sewers for television, with a cracking production team.
"Greater Manchester is a fabulous city-region and I have been coming here all my working life, to share in its central contribution to the UK culture."
The Town of Culture accolade will be an annual award highlighting the distinctive creativity and diversity of one of Greater Manchester’s many towns, putting a spotlight on the remarkable art, culture and heritage that exists across Greater Manchester.
The award is based on the UK City of Culture concept, which was introduced in 2009 by Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, when he was Culture Secretary, built on the success of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.
"We are delighted and honoured to be chosen"
Andy said: “We had a strong field of candidates and the people of Bury should be proud that their town has succeeded. We are sure that Bury will make a great success of its time in the spotlight and establish an award that that will help others across Greater Manchester long into the future. The UK City of Culture Concept has boosted the cultural offerings in places as diverse as Derry-Londonderry and Hull, with Coventry set for 2021. Now, here in Greater Manchester, every year a different special place will be awarded the accolade which we hope will result in boosts to tourism, cultural offerings and the night time economy.
“Whether you’re visiting the Fusilier Museum, watching a performance at The Met or listening to Elbow, Bury is already an important player on the Greater Manchester cultural scene – long may that continue now the town is officially our city-region’s Town of Culture.”
Judging entrants took place in recent weeks, with a panel overseen by Local Enterprise Partnership member, Chief Executive of Liverpool’s Everyman & Playhouse Theatres Fiona Gibson, and Lisa Nandy, Chair of the Centre for Towns and recently re-elected MP for Wigan.
Councillor David Jones, leader of Bury Council, said: “We are delighted and honoured to be chosen as the inaugural Greater Manchester Town of Culture.
“It’s a fitting recognition of what we have here, coming shortly after we unveiled a statue to Victoria Wood, arguably Bury’s most famous daughter and loved by millions.
“The accompanying exhibition in Bury Art Gallery and Museum to Victoria’s life has attracted record-breaking numbers, and the gallery has also recently hosted an exhibition inspired by the work of Mark E Smith, another of our famous sons from Prestwich. The building is also home to our International Sculpture Centre, where its pioneering shows have put Bury on the worldwide cultural map.
“Bury is home to a number of immensely popular and creative venues, such as The Met: named as one of the best small venues in the country, and site of the legendary Joy Division ‘riot’ gig. Another band who played their early gigs there were Elbow, the award-winning band from Bury who now take top billing at festivals around the world.
“We are also proud to call Oscar-winning film-maker Danny Boyle one of ours, while the heritage East Lancs Railway is the location of choice for many film studios and documentary companies.
"The town centre has been transformed"
“The town centre has been transformed in recent years, with new businesses, bars and restaurants complementing our traditionally famous attractions such as Bury Market, alongside town centre living in new apartments on The Rock.
“And, of course, Bury was the first town in Greater Manchester to be awarded the coveted Purple Flag award, for the quality of our night-time offer.
“We are hugely looking forward to the coming year and using our new Town of Culture status to promote and foster the many talents that we have and will come.”
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