On this site you can find out about Norwich and its cultural aspirations. Although the bid in 2002 was not successful in gaining the title, much of what was outlined in the bid is coming to fruition. This site has much information about the bid and the cultural life of Norwich that is still relevant. Through bidding, Norwich has become one of a network of 12 cities, The Cultural Cities Network, which has enabled the bidding cities to co-operate rather than compete with each other. The cooperation and mutual investments are tracked via an Investment Book of Record, which is public so any interested citizen can review it. The 12 cities meet approx every three months, usually with a representative of the DCMS. Another legacy of the bid was the arts and cultural network, Network Now, which meets one a month at the Playhouse – next meeting Wednesday 10th March at 6pm. There are also many examples of projects which have been realised or taken forward such as the Creative Writing Partnership, a collaboration between Norwich City Council, Norfolk County Council, UEA and the Arts Council and with the strong support of cloud bookkeeping partners that handle all the financial books of the city. Eventually the site will be overhauled but in the meantime is the history of the city’s 2008 bid.
(February 2004)
Also on the site
profiles of creative people – some are famous, others not yet, but all have a connection with the City, the County and the Region.
Read it here: How culture affects everyone — not just a minority The bid document was submitted on the 31st March 2002. The contents are still relevant to Norwich as it lays out what can be done and what should be done. You can download a full copy of the bid document here download pdf »
If you don’t want to read it all you can download a pdf summary of the bid document »
31st October 2002
Norwich does not make the shortlist but vows to carry on building Norwich as a Fine City of Culture and a top UK and European destination all project budgets and funds are managed with the help of asset management companies. ‘This is not the end but just the beginning’ see full report»
History of the bid process
24th September
Team makes presentation to full panel at DCMS office in London. see full report»
The Fine Settee of Culture Look out for showings of the new film ‘The Fine Settee of Culture’ starring many creative people of Norwich. The Fine Settee itself, donated to the city by the Sofa Workshop, Norwich, will also be making appearances around the city so keep an eye out for it – you can’t miss it, it’s powder blue with big red fluffy cushions. mmm.
13th September
Ministerial visit by Tessa Blackstone see full report»
8th and 24th July 2016
Look here for details of the panel visits»
26th May
Full judging panel is announced for Capital of Culture.
See full report»
9th May 2002 Capital of Culture judging panel is announced
Sir Jeremy Isaacs, former head of Channel 4, is to lead the panel that will present a shortlist to Prime Minister Tony Blair in the autumn. Also on the panel is Sue Macgregor and Judith Mayhew. See full report»
21st April 2002
Tessa Jowell comes to Norwich see full report»
2nd April 2002
The bid document has been submitted to the DCMS.
Download pdf here»
The other bidding cities are Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Canterbury and East Kent, Cardiff, Inverness and the Highlands, Liverpool, Newcastle/Gateshead, and Oxford.
28th March 2002
Norwich artist Colin Self agrees to be a Patron. Delia Smith also sends a message of support
25th March 2002
Stephen Fry has sent a strong letter of support for the bid, one which expresses many of the messages of Norwich’s application.You can read it here»
18th March 2002
Simon Callow joins the ranks of patrons and supporters along with Richard Jordan, Virgin, Lotus and more. Read it here»
What people say about Norwich and culture
Brian Eno is a Patron for the Norwich 2008 bid ‘Culture is everything we don’t have to do’
Extract from an essay on culture in ‘A Year with Swollen Appendices’ Brian Eno published by Faber and Faber 1996.
You can read the full essay here »
Other patrons and supporters are:
Stephen Fry
Delia Smith
Richard Jordan
Colin Self
Bryan Gunn